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.

close. “Are those

back between me and Michael. “Yes, they’re the ones you gave me, that first day.” She lifts them free from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

of flowers around here

have given them to

and sits beside her. “Jenny, sit down

keeping them so long.” She’s smiling, radiating almost, as she combs

his chin to Michael, then to me, eye-pointing chairs close by. Something in his tone penetrates. Her

What’s coming…?

for an inside pocket, plucking out an envelope, offering it to her.

at the

she going

she drops into

it never reached you. I was trying to find you. I picked it up from

you his love when I found you again. I didn't tell him you'd not received his letter, but I kept it so I

to take it?”

stands, retreating to a corner, turning her back to all of us. The envelope

with Michael, then with Chad.

still low, there's a sob. Then

one, the three of us stride forward, then Chad, flushing, backs away again, gesturing Michael to her. He tries

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

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

never did

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. “He

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

but I

brought that

letter… From your old friend… Does it say the things you would have hoped it

nods and offers it to me. I read it then pass it to

My Dearest Jenny,

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