Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 10

James

Books.

What’s new?

She’s consistent…

‘Principles of Geology’ by Charles Lyell - well-thumbed, ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Marvels of Pond Life’ by Henry Slack - very dog-eared… The list goes on and the only thing any of the texts have in common is that they all look well-used. A second-hand bookstore would describe them as slightly foxed, but it looks as though the bears, the boars and the badgers have been at them too.

She stacks them in a neat pile, then rummages…

Some odds and ends of jewellery; cheap stuff, yellowed with age but seeming little-handled…

A rock. “Oh!” She smiles as it weighs in her hands.

Michael gives me a ‘wtf?’ look and I shrug.

Chad sees our expressions and smiles, then moves to stand close by Michael. He murmurs, “You’d better be ready. She’ll probably get pretty emotional soon.”

Michael shoots him a glance, then nods.

The rock seems to be just that; a rock, prettily striped in green and red, polished to a smooth round..

Curiosity gets the better of me. “Charlotte?”

She almost caresses the pebble and when she looks up, her eyes are full…

“Tell me later,” I say.

She separates out a book, a heavy volume, leather-bound, old looking. Her eyes lift to Michael, then me, and she chews at her lips. Sliding a finger to the pages, she lifts, and the book falls open on…

Flowers?

Yes, pressed flowers; dainty, delicate their colours faded, but recognisable as violets.

“Are

page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them from the paper. “Chad and I were still at school. He picked them for me, from the

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

of flowers around

have given them

pulls up a chair and sits beside her. “Jenny,

for bringing these. For keeping them so long.” She’s

then to me, eye-pointing chairs close by. Something in his tone penetrates. Her smile fades. Michael and I sit, he next

What’s coming…?

reaches for an inside pocket, plucking out an envelope, offering it

at the

going

she drops

it never reached you. I was trying

at the end, in the hospital. Almost his last words were for me to give you his love when I found you again. I didn't tell him you'd

going to take it?” I say.

turning her back to all of us. The envelope

meet eyes with Michael,

low, there's a sob. Then another, echoing around

again, gesturing Michael to her. He tries to take her in his

back to the farm once, that first Christmas. But no one would talk to me. They just said you'd left and Mr Kalkowski had

one who said he was a policeman, he came looking for you. He told everyone you were wanted for

never did that.

up his palms. “I believe you. But my mother believed him, or wanted to. And she poisoned everyone against you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He smiles, places his hand over hers.

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

I changed to

What brought

Is the letter… From your old friend… Does it

me a startled glance, then smiles, nods and offers it to me. I read it then pass

My Dearest Jenny,

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