Murder Dancing by Lesley Cookman Read Free Book Online Page B

A couple of people have been a bit – well – a bit … surprised that we’re danseurs playing women.’
    â€˜Really?’ Fran handed over the cake. ‘Not unusual, is it? Apart from recent pieces, what about La Fille mal gardée ? The famous clog dance.’
    Jonathan and Dan both sighed and rolled their eyes.
    â€˜Why does everyone know that?’ Jonathan shook his head. ‘And I bet most people couldn’t tell you what the hell the ballet is about.’
    â€˜It’s a bit of a hotch-potch, isn’t it?’ said Fran. ‘The general public only know the Frederick Ashton version, I would think.’
    Dan and Jonathan looked at her with respect.
    â€˜Sorry,’ said Jonathan. ‘I sounded rude.’
    â€˜Don’t worry about it,’ said Fran. ‘I suppose the people who object are those who only view witches as women with hooked noses and tall hats.’
    Dan snorted. ‘Fairy tale witches.’
    â€˜Arthur Rackham witches,’ said Jonathan surprisingly.
    â€˜Well, yes, though his were scary,’ said Fran. ‘But it was the Victorian view, wasn’t it? All witches were female, when, in fact, they weren’t.’
    â€˜The Pendle witches were female, though,’ said Dan.
    â€˜So you’re saying that a woman could have been scandalised enough to play nasty tricks on the company just because the piece is danced by men?’ Fran looked doubtful.
    â€˜It does sound a bit naff, doesn’t it?’ Dan sighed. ‘Oh, well, just a thought. My wife actually thought of it. She says women have much nastier minds than men!’
    â€˜Not all men,’ said Jonathan. He looked round the room, his eyes resting suggestively on Stan Willis and Seb, who, as usual, was looking gloomy.
    â€˜Who are they?’ asked Fran.
    â€˜That’s Stan Willis, the stage manager,’ said Jonathan.
    â€˜And company manager,’ added Dan.
    â€˜And that’s Seb with him. He’s Stan’s partner.’
    â€˜And ASM,’ added Dan.
    â€˜Which is which?’
    â€˜Stan’s the one with the glasses, and Seb’s the miserable looking one with red hair.’
    â€˜Doesn’t he like being the ASM?’ asked Fran.
    â€˜I don’t think he much likes being Stan’s partner,’ said Jonathan with a giggle.
    â€˜So which of them has the nasty mind?’ asked Fran. ‘You implied that one of them had.’
    â€˜Oh, Stan, of course.’
    â€˜Shhh, Jon!’ Dan nudged Jonathan sharply. ‘Don’t stir anything else up.’
    Fran raised her eyebrows, but nothing more was forthcoming. She went across to join Libby, who introduced her to Phillip Newcombe and Will Davies.
    â€˜I must say I’m finding all these names very confusing,’ said Fran, ‘especially when everyone has a character name, too!’
    â€˜Oh, don’t worry about it,’ said Phillip. ‘We’re all interchangeable. Just a load of poofy dancers to the general public.’
    Fran looked shocked.
    â€˜Don’t take any notice, Fran,’ said Libby. ‘I’ve only known Phillip a couple of days and I’ve already decided he’s the wasp of the company.’
    Phillip beamed delightedly. ‘Darting around hither and yon seeing whom I can sting.’
    â€˜I see you were making friends with Jonathan and Dan,’ said Libby.
    Fran nodded. ‘Jonathan said he thought whoever had been playing tricks on the company would still be in London.’
    â€˜Unless it’s one of us,’ said Will.
    â€˜Why would one of you do something like that?’
    â€˜Perhaps it’s Jon himself. To get to dance Demdike.’ Phillip eyed the two women with glee.
    â€˜I shall consider you seriously,’ said Libby.
    â€˜You will?’ Phillip looked taken aback.
    Libby grinned. ‘Not really. But it must have been rather upsetting for you all. What actually