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

you gave me, that first day.” She lifts them free from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them from

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

around here

them to

up a chair and sits beside her. “Jenny, sit down

fine. Thank you, Chad, so much, for bringing these. For keeping them so long.” She’s smiling, radiating

chairs close by. Something in his tone penetrates. Her smile fades.

What’s coming…?

I have.” He reaches for an inside pocket, plucking

the

going to

drops into

it but it never reached you. I was trying to

were for me to give 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 could give it

to take it?” I say.

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

meet eyes with Michael, then with

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

flushing, backs away again, gesturing Michael to her. He tries to take her in

would talk to me. They just said you'd left and Mr Kalkowski had died. They wouldn't

he was a policeman, he came looking for you. He told everyone

never did that.

mother believed him, or wanted to. And she poisoned everyone against you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

but I

What brought that

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

offers

My Dearest Jenny,

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