Rogue in Porcelain by Anthea Fraser Read Free Book Online Page B

very interested in personal memories any of you might have about your relatives, past or present. I’m hoping to see you individually at some stage, to discuss that aspect.’
    Dessert was served, followed by coffee, and the meal came to an end.
    â€˜Have you everything you need for the moment?’ Nick asked, as they all left the dining room.
    â€˜Enough to be going on with, thanks. As I said, I missed the museum, but it’ll be closed now, so that’ll have to wait till my next visit. I just want a look at the gift shop before I go.’ She turned to Finlay. ‘Thanks so much for lunch. It was good to meet you all.’
    â€˜If there’s anything else I can help with, please let me know.’
    It had been an interesting and informative visit, Rona thought fifteen minutes later, as, slipping her purchase into her bag, she left the shop and made her way to the car park. As she’d intimated, she’d like at some stage to interview each of the Curzons separately, to tap their recollections of earlier generations and family folklore. In the meantime, she’d plenty to sort out before she made a return visit.
    Emerging onto the main road, she set off for home.
    The telephone was ringing as she opened the front door, and she caught it up, pushing the door to with her foot.
    â€˜Ro?’ It was Lindsey’s voice, taut and trembling.
    â€˜Linz! Is something wrong?’
    â€˜Is Max home yet?’
    â€˜No, he won’t be for a couple of hours.’
    â€˜Can I come round, then? Straight away?’
    â€˜Of course, but what’s the matter? What’s happened?’
    â€˜Tell you when I see you,’ Lindsey said rapidly, and rang off.
    Rona frowned, shrugged off her car coat and hung it on the hall stand. She’d intended making a cup of tea, but now she’d wait for Lindsey. She’d sounded upset, Rona thought worriedly, as she took her briefcase up to the study. Dropping it on a chair, she extracted the brochures and leaflets she’d collected and laid them on the desk, ready to be gone through in the morning. She did, however, unfold the family tree Meg Fairclough had given her. Beneath both Finlay and Nick’s names was printed the stark word ‘Divorced’.
    She was still looking at it when the door bell sounded through the house and she ran downstairs to admit her sister.
    â€˜Lindsey, what—’
    Lindsey pushed past her into the house and promptly burst into tears. Thoroughly alarmed now, Rona put an arm round her.
    â€˜It’s not Mum or Pops, is it?’
    Lindsey shook her head and Rona, breathing a tremulous sigh of relief, led her down the basement stairs to the kitchen, where she collapsed onto a chair. Rona put the kettle on and leaned back against the Aga.
    â€˜Now, what is it?’
    Lindsey fumbled in her bag for a handkerchief and blew her nose. ‘Carol Hurst called at the office this morning,’ she said.
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜And Jonathan and I were – together.’
    Rona frowned. ‘ How together?’
    â€˜Kissing, that’s all,’ Lindsey said impatiently, ‘but my blouse was undone. God, Rona –’ she pressed both fists against her temples – ‘I hate myself for what I’ve done to that woman! Letting myself be hoodwinked by all that “what the eye doesn’t see” spiel. Of course we’re hurting her, cheapening her marriage, if nothing else.’
    Rona cut sharply into the tirade. ‘Are you saying she caught you?’
    â€˜No, but only just not.’
    â€˜So why the drama? You’ve known all along what you were doing.’
    Lindsey’s eyes fell. ‘It was the first time I’ve seen them together,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I’d convinced myself it wasn’t a happy marriage, and just – blotted out her and the children. But it’s obvious she thinks the world of him, and she was so trusting ,