‘Wouldn’t dream of turning you down, Sandilands.’ Edward smiled. ‘I was just on my way.’ He tugged down his tails, adjusted his tie and extended an arm to Lily. ‘I think this is one corpse that had better get up and dance. May I have the honour of the last waltz with you, my dear? If you have the knees for it, that is?’
‘I’d be delighted, David.’
Joe watched as the pair of them made their way on to the dance floor, where they were greeted by a wave of relief and pleasure from the crowd.
Lily began to feel a rush of something she identified as euphoria. Whatever it was called, it carried her on the lightest of feet around the dance floor.
Edward seemed to be experiencing the same elation. ‘I think we can crawl out of the bunker now,’ he whispered. ‘Danger past. Sandilands thinks he’s drawn the venom. Which is what all this is about, you know. Well, for this evening at least. All the same … I don’t know what your orders are, but I’ve been advised to make a swift exit if we ever reached this stage. So we must enjoy the last flourish. What an evening! You must let me lay on a motor car to take you home.’
‘Thank you, sir, but I think my evening is only halfway through. There was murder done tonight and the commander has no one in handcuffs. The snake has wriggled away.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
Joe was waiting for them when they returned to the table. ‘Ah! There you are, Lily my dear. All done here for the moment. Time to say goodnight and thank you for having me to these nice people. I want you to come straight back with me now. You’re in for a sleepless night, I’m afraid.’ He took her arm and clamped it under his.
‘Good Lord!’ murmured Connie Beauclerk, watching their hurried departure with sly amusement. ‘Commander Sandilands is very direct, isn’t he? His Scottish cousin, did I hear someone say that girl was? Mmm … a fashionable thing to be, but I do wonder. David, it’s my opinion your new girlfriend’s just been snatched by the dashing detective from the Met — right from under your nose. She surrendered and went quietly — and, gosh! one quite sees why — but you’ve lost her.’
Edward looked thoughtfully down at the wreckage of the table. ‘But I didn’t lose my life, Connie. And I think I was meant to.’