A Dark and Painful Mystery by Wendy M. Wilson

Author:Wendy M. Wilson [Wendy M. Wilson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wendy M. Wilson
Published: 2021-07-08T00:00:00+00:00

She left Mary Kane, her emotions in a turmoil. She had to admit to herself that she was missing Frank physically. And they never had any problems finding things to talk about. It was just that she had been hoping to find someone with whom she could discuss books and music.

As if by magic, Cyril Harding appeared from the gateway of his house. “Good morning Mrs. Hardy,” he said. “You look somewhat flustered. Is there something I can do to assist you?”

She shook her head, avoiding his eyes. “I was visiting Mary Kane,” she said. “I took her some sandwiches from the picnic yesterday. Her husband is missing—as I’m sure you know—and she’s very poor. Mr. Tomlinson has very kindly been collecting money for her, but she’s refused to take it.”

He stared down the street towards Mary Kane’s house. “Yes…I offered my assistance as well, but she wouldn’t take anything from me either.”

“That was very kind,” said Mette. Mr. Harding rose in her estimation.

He shrugged. “I suppose it was. But she’s a very stubborn woman. I made her a very good offer, and she refused to think about it.”

Mette didn’t know how to reply to that. An offer? What could he mean?

“Well, I’d best be on my way,” she said. “Thank you for the book you gave me…”

“Did you like it?”

She was a person who found it hard to tell a lie. “I find it somewhat…um…unrealistic…and the writing is…”

He laughed. She couldn’t help noticing how straight his teeth were. Like a shelf of shoe boxes in the drapery. “You don’t like it, in other words,” he said. “Would you like to exchange it for one of Mr. Dickens’ books?”

“I thought you said you didn’t…”

“As it turns out, I have a complete set of his books. The Carleton’s Illustrated Edition from 1873. They were tucked away in a corner. Would you like to come and take a look? You can pick the one you most want to read, and exchange it when you’ve finished. I suggest one of the shorter ones…A Christmas Carol, perhaps?”

She followed him into the house and to the most splendid room she had ever seen. Three walls were lined with books. A fireplace with a mantle made of Heart of Kauri filled the fourth side. Two large, brown, leather chairs faced the fireplace.

He pointed to the wall beside the door. “Here they are. See? Right down near the floor, on the lower shelves.”

She knelt on the floor and opened the glass door of the lower shelf. There were at least ten books, all with identical red covers and gold print. She pulled out one of them—The Old Curiosity Shop—and opened it. The illustrations were beautiful. She ran her fingers over one showing an elderly gentleman with a walking stick being helped along by a young woman wearing a bonnet, a cloak draped over her shoulders.

“What’s this one about?” she asked, turning to Mr. Harding and holding it up. He was leaning against the mantle watching her, with a strange look on his face.

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