matinees, as some of my fellow residents don't care to be out after dark. Occasionally, we even take a trip to one of the West End theatres. We have a charabanc to pick us up and bring us back. It's all most wonderful fun.’
Llewellyn, who, until now, had sat unobtrusively taking notes, put a stop to the telling of these jolly japes with a pertinent question to which they already had the answer. ‘And did Mrs Mortimer join you on these outings?’
Rafferty struggled out of the grip of the sofa, curious to see how Miss Frobisher handled the humiliating revelation of her rebuff at Clara Mortimer's hands.
Amelia Frobisher, given Rita Atkins's previous failures at discretion and 'family' solidarity in the face of hostile, questioning outsiders, had apparently decided she had no choice but to admit that she had been rebuffed. But it was clear from the strained laugh and narrowed, unforgiving gaze, that Rita's little rebellion that necessitated such an admission, would not be lightly forgotten.
‘No. Regretfully, Clara was inclined to be a little anti-social. It was such a shame, I thought, that she seemed to want to hide herself away in her apartment rather than make friends with her fellow residents, that I – perhaps foolishly in hindsight - persisted with my invitations. I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but really, her manner was quite ungracious. Not the way I was taught was the polite way to turn down invitations.'
With her faintly regretful air, Amelia Frobisher seemed to be trying to make light of the matter. But Rafferty had no difficulty catching the underlying implication that Clara Mortimer, with her ungracious manners, her slovenly daughter and the daughter's strutting toy boy wasn't quite the lady she had put herself forward as being.
Rafferty preferred to give the late Mrs Mortimer the benefit of any lingering doubt. He could believe that politeness would prove but a frail defence against the assault of an Amelia Frobisher determined to fill the seats of the hired charabanc to capacity.
'As the resident with the longest tenure, I feel it's my duty to welcome newcomers, especially those, like Clara Mortimer, who lived alone, even when, like Clara Mortimer, they rebuffed my overtures.'
Obviously keen that they should share her mystified dismay at Clara Mortimer's discourteous rebuff to her friendly overtures, she proceeded to give the other, apparently more biddable residents, a metaphorical pat on the head as though to display how very unreasonable the late Mrs Mortimer had been.
'All of the other residents appreciate and value my friendship and that I spend my limited free time in arranging theatre trips and so on for them. They're grateful to have a willing listening ear when they want to talk about their children and grandchildren. Really, I think that without my adoption of them, most would be as isolated and alone as Clara Mortimer. Although I share Clara's more cultured tastes for the opera and the ballet, I defer to the majority preference, so we mostly go to popular shows and musicals. I suppose, like myself, Clara developed a taste for high art in her youth. I understand hers was quite a privileged one.’
Another reason for Amelia Frobisher to resent her, Rafferty guessed. It was clear that Amelia considered herself the ‘Queen Bee’ of Parkview Apartments. She wouldn't have relished the rebuff from a woman of equal or maybe even higher social and family status.
Perhaps the galling pity bestowed on her by her fellow residents was another reason for Clara Mortimer's reserve, Rafferty reasoned, before Amelia Frobisher spoke again.
With an air of reluctance, she told them, ‘Though, having said that we all look out for one another, I have to add that, as warden, Mrs Atkins isn't always as careful as she might be.’
Here we go again, Rafferty thought as he waited to learn what other piece of ‘family’ tittle-tattle he was about to hear, though in a murder inquiry, he was more than
Llewellyn, who, until now, had sat unobtrusively taking notes, put a stop to the telling of these jolly japes with a pertinent question to which they already had the answer. ‘And did Mrs Mortimer join you on these outings?’
Rafferty struggled out of the grip of the sofa, curious to see how Miss Frobisher handled the humiliating revelation of her rebuff at Clara Mortimer's hands.
Amelia Frobisher, given Rita Atkins's previous failures at discretion and 'family' solidarity in the face of hostile, questioning outsiders, had apparently decided she had no choice but to admit that she had been rebuffed. But it was clear from the strained laugh and narrowed, unforgiving gaze, that Rita's little rebellion that necessitated such an admission, would not be lightly forgotten.
‘No. Regretfully, Clara was inclined to be a little anti-social. It was such a shame, I thought, that she seemed to want to hide herself away in her apartment rather than make friends with her fellow residents, that I – perhaps foolishly in hindsight - persisted with my invitations. I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but really, her manner was quite ungracious. Not the way I was taught was the polite way to turn down invitations.'
With her faintly regretful air, Amelia Frobisher seemed to be trying to make light of the matter. But Rafferty had no difficulty catching the underlying implication that Clara Mortimer, with her ungracious manners, her slovenly daughter and the daughter's strutting toy boy wasn't quite the lady she had put herself forward as being.
Rafferty preferred to give the late Mrs Mortimer the benefit of any lingering doubt. He could believe that politeness would prove but a frail defence against the assault of an Amelia Frobisher determined to fill the seats of the hired charabanc to capacity.
'As the resident with the longest tenure, I feel it's my duty to welcome newcomers, especially those, like Clara Mortimer, who lived alone, even when, like Clara Mortimer, they rebuffed my overtures.'
Obviously keen that they should share her mystified dismay at Clara Mortimer's discourteous rebuff to her friendly overtures, she proceeded to give the other, apparently more biddable residents, a metaphorical pat on the head as though to display how very unreasonable the late Mrs Mortimer had been.
'All of the other residents appreciate and value my friendship and that I spend my limited free time in arranging theatre trips and so on for them. They're grateful to have a willing listening ear when they want to talk about their children and grandchildren. Really, I think that without my adoption of them, most would be as isolated and alone as Clara Mortimer. Although I share Clara's more cultured tastes for the opera and the ballet, I defer to the majority preference, so we mostly go to popular shows and musicals. I suppose, like myself, Clara developed a taste for high art in her youth. I understand hers was quite a privileged one.’
Another reason for Amelia Frobisher to resent her, Rafferty guessed. It was clear that Amelia considered herself the ‘Queen Bee’ of Parkview Apartments. She wouldn't have relished the rebuff from a woman of equal or maybe even higher social and family status.
Perhaps the galling pity bestowed on her by her fellow residents was another reason for Clara Mortimer's reserve, Rafferty reasoned, before Amelia Frobisher spoke again.
With an air of reluctance, she told them, ‘Though, having said that we all look out for one another, I have to add that, as warden, Mrs Atkins isn't always as careful as she might be.’
Here we go again, Rafferty thought as he waited to learn what other piece of ‘family’ tittle-tattle he was about to hear, though in a murder inquiry, he was more than
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