Miss Riddell's Paranormal Mystery: An Amateur Female Sleuth Historical Cozy Mystery (Miss Riddell Cozy Mysteries Book 6) by P.C. James

Author:P.C. James [James, P.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: James Gang Publishing
Published: 2021-10-29T16:00:00+00:00

19

The Lover Unmasked

While Pauline was excited at the prospect of hearing from Steve’s new witness, Mrs. Langton’s revelation that Fergus Drummond was the one the rumor mill had settled on as Shelagh’s lover had taken hold of her imagination. Mr. Drummond had kept that from her when they’d spoken earlier, and she wanted to know why that was. On her way home from work, she called into his office. His receptionist checked Mr. Drummond was free and then invited Pauline to go through.

After the customary greetings, Pauline dived straight in. “I can understand this might be painful, but could you tell me about your affair with Mrs. Langton?” she asked.

“Oh, you heard about that did you?” he said. “Well, it was painful for years after but that’s long past now. She was going to leave him and marry me, but he found out somehow, I guess. Maybe she told him herself. Shelagh was a very honest, truthful woman. She hated the way we were behaving behind Bruce’s back.”

“You think he killed her?”

“Everybody thought so,” he said. “I saw no reason to think different.”

“And now?”

“I still think so,” he said. “The reason we didn’t find her body is he took the secret with him to his grave.”

“Yes, I can see how that would be,” Pauline said. “When did your relationship with Mrs. Langton begin?”

He frowned and fiddled with his wristwatch. Then he said, “I’m ashamed to say it began when she was married.” He paused. “In fact, it was after she’d had her daughter. Shelagh was very low in spirits and one day, when we met in the street, I tried to lift her out of the blues she was in with some light chat. Just as a friend, you understand. She was pushing the baby in a buggy, I remember.” He smiled sadly and fell silent.

“It was as simple as that?”

Drummond nodded. “Yes. She thanked me for making her laugh and we went on our way,” he said, “but there she was, next day, as I was making my way out for lunch. Our office at the time was down that end of town where they lived, and you now live. We talked, she was happy again, and it became a daily event. One we both looked forward to.” He fell silent, his eyes focused on a point far away in time and space.

“And it moved on from there,” Pauline said.

Drummond nodded. “It just felt natural,” he said. “It was as if we were meant for each other. We were soul mates,” he held up his hand, “and I know everyone says that but it’s the way it felt.”

“And then?”

“And then it continued,” he said. “She was married and had a child. She didn’t want to hurt Bruce, she said, and the child needed her real father. Like I said, she was very honorable that way. I found it heartbreaking, having to see her only when he was at work and I could sneak away from the office, when what I wanted to do was marry her and have our own kids.

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