Page 163 of The Love Letter

‘Then why did you come?’

Rose sighed. ‘Partly because of James, but mostly because of Grace. I may have been part of the establishment by accident of birth, but that does not mean to say I approve of the things they have done, the way other people’s lives have been destroyed to keep the silence. I know I must meet my maker in the next few years. I’d like Him to know I did the best I could for those I cared for on Earth.’

‘I understand.’

‘Why don’t you order us both a drink? I would like a nice cup of tea. Then you’d better tell me what you know and we’ll take it from there.’

Once room service had arrived and been despatched, it took Joanna almost an hour to tell Rose everything – partly due to discovering her companion was a little deaf, as well as Rose wanting to clarify every fact Joanna had discovered twice.

‘And when the locket arrived at the office and I saw the photograph of the Duchess inside, everything fell into place.’ Joanna sighed, and took a gulp of her white wine, feeling breathless with tension.

Rose nodded sagely. ‘Of course, it was the locket at your neck that convinced me that you were the young lady who had placed the advertisement. You could only have obtained it from Grace herself.’

‘As a matter of fact, she gave it to her next-door neighbour, Muriel, as a gift for being so kind.’

‘Then she must have known they were on their way for her. The locket was mine, you see, a gift from her. Grace always loved it. I gave it to her when she left for London, as a talisman. For some reason, I’d always felt it had protected me. Unfortunately, as we know, it did not work the same magic for her . . .’

Later that evening, Simon wandered down to the kitchen. Zoe was at the table, writing a list and drinking a glass of wine.

‘Hello,’ he said.

‘Hi.’ She didn’t look up.

‘Okay to make myself a coffee?’

‘Of course it is, Simon. You know you don’t have to ask,’ she replied irritably.

‘Sorry.’ Simon went to the kettle.

Zoe put her pen down and stared at Simon’s back. ‘I’m sorry too. I’m tense, that’s all.’

‘You have a lot on your plate.’ He spooned some coffee powder and sugar into a mug. ‘Heard from Joanna recently?’

‘No, not since the memorial fund. Should I have done?’

He shrugged. ‘No.’

‘Are you sure you’re okay, Simon? I mean, I’ve not done anything to upset you, have I?’

‘No, not at all. I’ve just been . . . dealing with some problems, that’s all.’

‘Women problems?’ She tried to keep her voice light.

‘I suppose you could say that, yes.’

‘Oh.’ Zoe disconsolately refilled her wine glass. ‘Love. It makes life so bloody difficult, doesn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

‘I mean . . .’ She looked straight at him. ‘What would you do if you were meant to be in love with one person, then found you were actually in love with someone else?’

‘May I ask who?’ The way she was gazing at him made Simon’s heart begin to thump.

‘Yes.’ She blushed and lowered her eyes. ‘It’s—’

Simon’s mobile rang in his pocket. ‘Sorry, Zoe, I’ll have to take this upstairs.’ He raced from the room and shut the door behind him.

Zoe could have wept.