A Christmas Resolution by Anne Perry

Author:Anne Perry [Perry, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2020-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The next day, having only light duties, Hooper set out to learn what he could of Seth Marlowe’s past, in those years before he came to live in the same parish as Celia. It was simple enough to find this in parish records. Hooper was surprised to learn that it was no more than four years ago—or, to be precise, three years and ten months. Marlowe came from a parish across the river, and Hooper figured a trip to the Church of St. Stephen would be easy enough.

It took a while to locate the vicar, the Reverend Mr. Soames, but once Hooper did, the man had no hesitation recalling Seth Marlowe. He was writing his sermon for the following Sunday and seemed delighted to have any excuse whatsoever for putting it aside. He was a big man with a handsome, almost white mustache, who wore his black cassock with the aplomb of a dowager in her best gown, and invited Hooper to come in and sit down by the fireside.

“What can I do for you, Mr….Hooper…is it?” Soames asked, coming across the floor of the spacious vicarage sitting room with a fire blazing in the hearth. Christmas ornaments, colored paper chains, and red wax candles were much in evidence. He saw Hooper’s glance. “Ah, yes! For the grandchildren, you know. Besides, my wife likes it. Bit of a change from the regular round of cleaning up after one and thinking what to cook for dinner.” He smiled in an avuncular fashion. “What is it you would like to know about Mr. Marlowe? He was here for some two or three years. I hope he is not unwell?”

“I think he is in excellent health,” Hooper replied, watching the reaction in Soames’s face, which as yet he could not read. It seemed kind, filled with good humor, and yet his hand on his lap was tight, fingers gripping at nothing but cloth.

“Then what may I help you with?” Soames did not appear any more at ease, but his smile widened a little. “Who did you say you are, again? Mr. Hooper of…?”

“I belong to the parish in which Mr. Marlowe now lives,” Hooper replied. He did not yet wish to mention the Thames River Police. As far as he knew, there was nothing that would have concerned them. Anonymous threatening letters were not in their purview.

“And your concern about Mr. Marlowe?” Soames was a trifle more aggressive now, although the expansive smile did not change.

“He is being harassed by someone in the form of a rather unpleasant letter—anonymous, of course. Such things usually are. It is not very serious, but it is unpleasant.”

“Did Seth ask you to pursue this for him?” Soames was now openly incredulous. He shifted in his seat a little to face Hooper more directly.

“No.” Hooper had planned to be honest in everything he could. “But he has accused my wife of being involved—in fact, of actually writing it.” Anger slurred Hooper’s voice, although he had not intended it to.

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