that she thought Bath was the loveliest city in England. Putting two and two together, I mentioned her name at a board meeting and they were as excited about it as I was. The next thing was choosing a part that would tempt her and someone came up with Sally Bowles.’
‘Why didn’t you go for the musical?’
‘
‘So who made the approach?’
‘Yours truly.’ He smiled. ‘I can be persuasive.’
‘Had you met Clarion before?’
‘No, this was my chance. I asked her out to lunch in London and sold the idea to her. She leapt at it. Neither of us mentioned that it’s been a while since she had a big hit, but it was a factor. And she still had the acting bug. Tough negotiations followed with the agent, of course.’
‘Tilda Box. I met her at the hospital.’
‘You did?’ Melmot was beginning to treat Diamond with caution, if not respect. ‘Miss Box is a hard bargainer. Eventually we got the terms reduced to a realistic figure. God knows what we’ll have to pay now.’
‘Only if they can prove you were negligent,’ Diamond said. ‘I’m no lawyer, but these were special circumstances.’
‘Denise Pearsall was in our employment, unfortunately. If the fault was hers I can’t see us avoiding a substantial payout. Is there anything else you need to know? I really ought to be meeting my visitors.’
Diamond suggested walking back to the orangery, talking as they went. ‘When Clarion came to Bath to start rehearsing, was anyone with her?’
‘Tilda, making sure she was satisfied with the arrangements.’
‘No one else? Where did they stay?’
‘I don’t know about Tilda, but Clarion put up here for a couple of days.’
‘Here?’ Diamond pointed a thumb at the stately home. ‘You had her as a house guest?’
‘I suggested it early in the bargaining process, as an incentive. One of the things I know about millionaire pop stars is that it pleases them to mingle with old money. It makes them feel more secure.’
‘A couple of days, you said?’
‘Yes, when they started rehearsing until late she moved to the Royal Crescent Hotel.’
‘For you as a fan, it must have been a dream come true.’
The colour rose in the fan’s cheeks. ‘It was all very proper. My mother lives here too, you know.’
‘I met her when we arrived,’ Diamond said. ‘Famous for her cake.’
Melmot clicked his tongue. ‘Is that what she tells people as they arrive? She’s incorrigible.’
‘I was also told about your late father.’
‘The whole family saga? Oh my word. It makes one cringe. She’ll talk to anyone. Father had an accident while cleaning his shotgun. Mother was typically calm about the whole thing, I have to say. They weren’t close.’
Diamond could understand why. ‘Are any other members of your family living here?’
He shook his head. ‘Just mother and me. I’d offer to show you round, but I’m supposed to be available to answer questions about the plants and if you don’t mind I really ought to be more visible now.’
They’d reached the orangery. Diamond thanked him and went looking for Halliwell.
He found him at a table on the terrace overlooking the south lawn. He had a cup of tea in front of him and an empty plate that he slipped deftly under the saucer. ‘I thought if I waited here, guv, you’d come by sooner or later.’
Diamond pointed. ‘Was that the lemon drizzle?’
‘It was.’
‘Good?’
‘The best ever. I was lucky. I had the last piece. You can still get a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘There could be flapjacks.’
‘I break my teeth on them.’ Muttering, he went over to where the tea was being served by the Wellow Women’s Institute.
‘I don’t want you thinking this has anything to do with the cake I missed out on,’ he said to Halliwell when he returned to the table, ‘but tomorrow morning you’re standing in for me at the post-mortem.’
10
Late the same afternoon in Manvers Street, Diamond shut himself in his office and sank into the armchair he rarely used. On the face of it, the case could now be closed. Denise’s suicide could only mean she held herself responsible for the damage to Clarion’s face. What other interpretation could be put on it? By some freakish oversight she had used caustic soda with the regular make-up. It was unlikely to have been deliberate. Nobody knew of any feud between them. Everyone spoke of her as a balanced, conscientious member of the full-time staff, good at her job. Her horror at what had happened must have driven her to take her own life.
