Lord James Harrington and the Spring Mystery by Lynn Florkiewicz

Author:Lynn Florkiewicz [Florkiewicz, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lynn Florkiewicz
Published: 2013-11-24T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Kushal reached behind him and picked up a manila folder from his desk. He slipped a pair of spectacles on.

‘I have much history with our mutual acquaintance. Myself and Delphine go back to around 1916 and we worked together on many projects.’ He peered over his glasses. ‘There is much I cannot speak of, but some information I can share. I am asking, however, that you be most discreet when discussing this.

‘Delphine Brooks-Hunter was born in 1883 to an unmarried couple. The third of three illegitimate children. The mother came from a wealthy background; her parents used to reside not far from here, in Kew.’ He steepled his fingers. ‘Did Mr Bateson provide an overview of the family rift following the birth?’

James went through the details as he knew them; the two sisters had remained together, while the brother went to the father’s family. His host closed his eyes and commented on how dreadful the whole affair must have been.

James agreed. ’But the mother and father presumably stayed together for a while,’ he said. ‘They must have done to have had three children.’

‘Ah yes,’ replied Kushal, ‘but such behaviour brought much shame upon the family. Arrangements were made to...’ He searched for the appropriate phrase. James pre-empted him.

‘ “Cover up” is the phrase I believe you’re seeking, Kushal. Do I take it that the family went on an extended holiday and came back with their offspring, or made out they were at school abroad or something?’

Kushal bobbed his head from side to side to confirm the assumption. ‘The times are changing, James, but even now such a thing is frowned upon in respectable families. This is most especially where my culture is concerned.’ He presented James with a sepia photograph of a young lady.

‘Ah ha,’ said James. ‘I may not have known her then, but you can’t mistake those sparkling eyes. What a stunning lady our Delphine was.’

‘She was certainly a very striking woman,’ replied Kushal. ‘This was taken in 1901, when she was aged eighteen.’

‘Do you have a picture of her sister?’

Kushal held his palms up in despair. ‘Unfortunately, I have yet to meet the sister. After all of these years, there are so many secrets I am not privy to. I am sometimes thinking Delphine did not wish me to meet her. Skeletons in the closet, I believe is the phrase.’

James confirmed that it was, indeed, the phrase and wondered what the skeletons could be. Could the rhyme reveal everything? Jackie Connor’s statement about family history rushed into his mind. He returned the photograph.

‘So, Kushal, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. We’re not here to discuss her family history, are we?’

Kushal shifted in his chair and gave James an earnest look. ‘What exactly do you know about Delphine?’

‘I have to confess – very little. My knowledge is that she’s lived in Cavendish since around 1930 or perhaps two or three years later. I’m not sure of the exact time of her arrival; not sure if she was ever married or had children.

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