guard,’ Antonia said. ‘I don’t think I can be friends with people who don’t read.’
‘I can’t be friends with people who read the wrong kind of books … Dan Brown, J. K. Rowling, Martina Cole, old McCall Smith, Jeffery Deaver – or is that unfair?’
‘Do you think she’s been considering adoption? A bit old for that,’ Antonia whispered.
‘The books are also old, which suggests she may have considered it when she was younger.’
‘I am worried about her. She is in a febrile state … She seems scared out of her wits.’
Payne’s eyes were back on the photograph. ‘What a magnificent bracelet that is … Now where—?’
There was a tinkling sound as Hortense Tilling reentered the room, a tea-tray in her hands. ‘In case you are wondering, that’s me, yes. You wouldn’t think it, would you? Vogue offered me a modelling contract, but my mother made me turn it down. My mother disapproved of models. She feared for my virtue. It all seems like a dream now. I was an altogether different person then.’ She hummed the tune of ‘ Where Is The Life That Late I Led ?’ She set the tea-tray on the coffee table.
‘I have been admiring your bracelet,’ Payne said.
‘Ah, the Keppel Clasp.’
‘The Keppel Clasp? Is that what it’s called? Exquisite craftsmanship. Is it Fabergé?’
‘It is. You are a connoisseur, I see. As it happens, Mrs Keppel was a distant relation on my mother’s side. The clasp was a present to her from you-know-who.’ She picked up the silver pot and started pouring out tea.
‘Edward VII?’
‘Indeed. From Kingy. I believe that’s what she called him. The stout sceptred satyr … Sugar? No?’
‘It’s in the form of a snake,’ said Antonia.
‘Yes. Are you squeamish about snakes? I don’t blame you. Most people are. But snakes can be so beautiful … The snake’s head and the tail form a knot, did you notice?’
‘Yes. Most unusual. Exquisite craftsmanship,’ Payne said again.
‘The Keppel Clasp was quite unique.’ Hortense sighed.
‘Why the past tense? Haven’t you still got it?’ Antonia asked.
‘I am afraid not. I’d love to be able to show it to you, my dear, but it is no longer in my possession. The Keppel Clasp was stolen from me. A long time ago. I hadn’t even had itinsured. Well, I believe I was punished for being a bad girl.’ A shadow passed across her face.
There was a pause.
‘Delicious scones,’ Antonia said. ‘I love raspberry jam.’
‘It’s home-made. I love making jam. Something comforting about jam-making.’ Hortense perched on the arm of an armchair. ‘How curious that you should have turned up. I was right. I mean I knew that sooner or later someone would ring my front door bell! I knew it was only a question of time, though of course I had no idea who it would be. The police? Private detectives? The intelligence service? Men in black? Anyhow, now that I have met you, the worst is over.’
‘Fear of the unknown is the worst kind of fear,’ Payne said amiably.
‘Well, the heavens didn’t fall and there wasn’t a great bolt of lightning! You are not related to the Remnant family, are you?’
‘Only in an exceedingly distant sort of way. My aunt tried to explain exactly how, but it all sounded too convoluted and far-fetched for words. I met Felicity Fenwick yesterday, for the first time. You are Clarissa’s aunt, correct?’
‘Correct. I am Clarissa’s mother’s sister. Clarissa’s late mother. I am Clarissa’s only living relation. Poor child. I care deeply about my daughter – I mean niece – Clarissa is like a daughter to me … I must admit I always had misgivings about Clarissa’s marriage to Lord Remnant. I’d heard stories . I knew something would go wrong at some point. I felt it in my bones.’
‘Was he really as awful as that?’ Antonia asked.
For a moment or two, Hortense gazed at them, saying nothing. Then she leant forward slightly. ‘ I believe he was truly evil . That marriage
‘I can’t be friends with people who read the wrong kind of books … Dan Brown, J. K. Rowling, Martina Cole, old McCall Smith, Jeffery Deaver – or is that unfair?’
‘Do you think she’s been considering adoption? A bit old for that,’ Antonia whispered.
‘The books are also old, which suggests she may have considered it when she was younger.’
‘I am worried about her. She is in a febrile state … She seems scared out of her wits.’
Payne’s eyes were back on the photograph. ‘What a magnificent bracelet that is … Now where—?’
There was a tinkling sound as Hortense Tilling reentered the room, a tea-tray in her hands. ‘In case you are wondering, that’s me, yes. You wouldn’t think it, would you? Vogue offered me a modelling contract, but my mother made me turn it down. My mother disapproved of models. She feared for my virtue. It all seems like a dream now. I was an altogether different person then.’ She hummed the tune of ‘ Where Is The Life That Late I Led ?’ She set the tea-tray on the coffee table.
‘I have been admiring your bracelet,’ Payne said.
‘Ah, the Keppel Clasp.’
‘The Keppel Clasp? Is that what it’s called? Exquisite craftsmanship. Is it Fabergé?’
‘It is. You are a connoisseur, I see. As it happens, Mrs Keppel was a distant relation on my mother’s side. The clasp was a present to her from you-know-who.’ She picked up the silver pot and started pouring out tea.
‘Edward VII?’
‘Indeed. From Kingy. I believe that’s what she called him. The stout sceptred satyr … Sugar? No?’
‘It’s in the form of a snake,’ said Antonia.
‘Yes. Are you squeamish about snakes? I don’t blame you. Most people are. But snakes can be so beautiful … The snake’s head and the tail form a knot, did you notice?’
‘Yes. Most unusual. Exquisite craftsmanship,’ Payne said again.
‘The Keppel Clasp was quite unique.’ Hortense sighed.
‘Why the past tense? Haven’t you still got it?’ Antonia asked.
‘I am afraid not. I’d love to be able to show it to you, my dear, but it is no longer in my possession. The Keppel Clasp was stolen from me. A long time ago. I hadn’t even had itinsured. Well, I believe I was punished for being a bad girl.’ A shadow passed across her face.
There was a pause.
‘Delicious scones,’ Antonia said. ‘I love raspberry jam.’
‘It’s home-made. I love making jam. Something comforting about jam-making.’ Hortense perched on the arm of an armchair. ‘How curious that you should have turned up. I was right. I mean I knew that sooner or later someone would ring my front door bell! I knew it was only a question of time, though of course I had no idea who it would be. The police? Private detectives? The intelligence service? Men in black? Anyhow, now that I have met you, the worst is over.’
‘Fear of the unknown is the worst kind of fear,’ Payne said amiably.
‘Well, the heavens didn’t fall and there wasn’t a great bolt of lightning! You are not related to the Remnant family, are you?’
‘Only in an exceedingly distant sort of way. My aunt tried to explain exactly how, but it all sounded too convoluted and far-fetched for words. I met Felicity Fenwick yesterday, for the first time. You are Clarissa’s aunt, correct?’
‘Correct. I am Clarissa’s mother’s sister. Clarissa’s late mother. I am Clarissa’s only living relation. Poor child. I care deeply about my daughter – I mean niece – Clarissa is like a daughter to me … I must admit I always had misgivings about Clarissa’s marriage to Lord Remnant. I’d heard stories . I knew something would go wrong at some point. I felt it in my bones.’
‘Was he really as awful as that?’ Antonia asked.
For a moment or two, Hortense gazed at them, saying nothing. Then she leant forward slightly. ‘ I believe he was truly evil . That marriage
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