Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Shakespeare by J.R. Rain, Chanel Smith Read Free Book Online

and was received by Llewelyn Kendricks. He offered me tea and we sat and talked for a while.
    After an hour, I questioned him on his knowledge of the Galham family and the tragedy that had taken place at Galham House.
    “You know, it was, in fact, the old earl who interceded and helped me get this position,” said the younger Kendricks.
    “Was it now?”
    He nodded. “Lord Galham was a good friend. We met in London, at the Welsh Society.”
    “The Welsh Society?”
    “Lord Galham’s mother was the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Pembroke. He spent many a month in Wales as a child and he was always fascinated by the history, the language and the culture. The only place close to the center of power to speak the Cambrian tongue was at the Welsh Society, and it is thus we met. We became close friends and spent rather a lot of time together. When his father passed and left the estate to him, he retired to run the house and the estate. I think he felt lonely, and as I was still looking for a steady position in London, he interceded to get me this job.”
    “You would not rather have stayed in London? It seems a country notary is not the same as a position in the city.”
    “I would, but I decided the security of this position would be preferable over a lower position in London and the uncertainty that often goes with it.”
    “And being close to a friend, I take it?”
    Kendricks smiled. “And that too.”
    “Is there not a Mrs. Kendricks?” I asked him then.
    He looked down and shook his head. “Alas, no. It, therefore, has been rather lonesome here since the tragedy that shook us all to the very cores of our beings. All I have had to distract me from the tragic loss of my friend is my work and that is hardly a suitable distraction all the time. And unfortunately after several years, I am still essentially a stranger here. An alien, so to speak.”
    “I can understand that. My wife hails from Berwickshire and still often feels an alien in London. It must be worse still in a country town like this.”
     
    ***
     
    After our conversation, Mr. Jennings, his business partner, came into Kendricks’s office and invited both of us to supper with him and his wife. I tried to decline, but I could not do so gracefully and thus accepted.
    I left Kendricks for a few hours, allowing him to complete his business for the day and allowing myself to enjoy the old town of Stratford-upon-Avon. I bought a hat for my wife and found one shop that sold excellent stockings, which I also obtained for her. A bookshop provided me with some more reading material for that evening, including the local newspaper. I returned to the inn for a while to have some tea and then joined Kendricks again.
    Together we walked to the edge of the town, where he resided. A boy opened the door and, upon recognizing Kendricks, he let us in. He led us through the house to the parlor. His father, Mr. Arnold Jennings, was seated in his chair in the sitting room at the back of the house. The parlor was an unusual room, as one wall was nearly taken up by an entire window, but I could see why it had been constructed in such a manner. The room faced south and was flooded with light. The view was of their sizable garden and the river beyond. I remarked upon it and Jennings graciously and smilingly accepted the compliments.
    “Some stately homes have rooms like this, but it is rare the middle classes will have such a design. I invested a fortune rebuilding this part of the house, but it was worth every penny.”
    “When did you have this done?” asked I.
    “Only in the last two months. Some investments of mine worked out rather well and after a little conclave with my wife, we decided this would be a marvelous way to spend the money.”
    “It is indeed,” I replied. “My wife would dearly like to have a room like this in our own home. I doubt, however, it will work as well in London as it does here.”
    Jennings smiled. “Indeed. Maybe it will work in