The Lost Ancestor by Nathan Dylan Goodwin Read Free Book Online Page A

dumbfounded that his request to speak to someone about the
family archives had reached the upper echelons of the house.
    Daphne Mansfield stepped forward and
offered her hand.  ‘Lovely to meet you,’ she said with a smile.  She
was a good twenty years Milton’s junior with perfect make-up and a short blonde
bob.  ‘You look familiar.  Mr Farrier, did you say?’
    ‘Yes, that’s right.  I’m a forensic
genealogist…’ Morton was interrupted by a raucous laugh coming from the other
side of the library.  He turned to see one of the Americans taking photos
of the other draped over a life-size cut-out of The Friary’s leading
man.
    ‘Excuse me a moment,’ Daphne said, about
to intercept a pink-lipstick kiss being planted on the cut-out.
    ‘They love the show over there,’ Milton
said.  ‘So, how can we help you, Mr Farrier?’
    ‘Well, I’m really after looking at any
staff or household accounts and records which you might have here pertaining to
the period around 1911.  I’m assuming they’re here as there is very little
for Blackfriars at East Sussex Archives,’ Morton said.  To his right, he
noticed that Daphne, mid-way through a polite chastising, was looking at
him.  She cast a doubtful smile in his direction then returned her
attention to the Americans.
    Milton nodded enthusiastically. 
‘Yes, all of our records are still kept in-house.  A small fire in 1939
did some damage, but pretty well we’ve got a good collection down there. 
We’ve got an archivist, Sidney Mersham, who oversees it all.  I don’t know
off-hand exactly what we’ve got for the period you’re interested in.  I’m
afraid Sidney is rather busy today, the poor chap’s being hounded by the
writers of The Friary.  I’m sure he wouldn’t object to a quick
discussion at another time.’
    ‘That would be great,’ Morton
replied.  He fished in his jacket pocket and handed over a business
card.  ‘Perhaps Sidney could give me a call?’
    ‘I’ll pass it on to him right away.’
    Daphne, having subdued the Americans,
returned to her husband’s side.  ‘I’ve realised from where I recognise
you.  You’re the one who brought down the Windsor-Sackville family, aren’t
you.’  Her smile had faded, leaving her disapproval etched on her face.
    ‘That old bunch of crooks!’ Milton said
with an exaggerated guffaw.  ‘That needed doing centuries ago!’
    Morton noticed Daphne firmly squeeze her
husband’s arm.  ‘May I ask what it is you’re looking for at Blackfriars,
Mr Farrier?’ she asked.
    ‘Not what I’m looking for— whom, ’
Morton said, before briefly explaining about the outline of the Mercer Case .
    ‘I see,’ Daphne said.  ‘And what is
it that you hope to find among our records?’
    ‘Anything which might give a clue to her
daily routine here, particularly people she worked with.  I’m working on
the premise that somebody at the time knew what happened to her.’
    ‘Well, we’ve nothing to hide, unlike the
Windsor-Sackville rogues,’ Milton laughed.  ‘Have a good rummage, you’ve
got your work cut out trying to conduct a missing person’s enquiry more than a
century later.’
    Morton smiled.  ‘I’ll find her,’ he
said confidently.  ‘I look forward to hearing from Sidney in due course.’
    ‘Yes, we’ll let you get back to your
tour.  Enjoy,’ Milton said.
    Daphne nodded with a cautious smile and
then threaded her arm through Milton’s and led him from the room.  As soon
as they were out of his earshot, she turned to him and instigated what looked
to Morton like a very animated conversation.  He had a gut feeling that
had Daphne remained in the conversation, he would not have received the
invitation to meet with Sidney and possibly search among their archives; he
hoped that her influence would not now jeopardise his access.
    Morton took one final look around the
library before continuing the tour upstairs past various bedrooms, which were
all well-appointed