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 those what I think

from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them from the paper. “Chad and I were still

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

flowers around here

them

pulls up a chair and sits

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

to me, eye-pointing chairs close by. Something in

What’s coming…?

for an

stares at the letter,

she going to

drops into

posted it but it never reached you. I was trying to find

give you his love when I found you again. I didn't tell him

going to take it?”

takes it, then stands, retreating to a corner, turning her back to all of us. The envelope rips, and she stands head bowed, soundless,

meet eyes with Michael, then with Chad.

Then another, echoing around the otherwise silent

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

looking for you. He told everyone you were wanted

never did that.

believed him, or wanted to. And she poisoned everyone against you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He smiles,

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

I

brought that

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

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

My Dearest Jenny,

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