family tree open beside her, ticking names on it as she discovered corresponding likenesses. Some photographs were so faded that theyâd need a lot of work to make them clear enough to reproduce, but then not many would be used in the articles anyway. As Finn had foreseen, their chief advantage was to her personally, in bringing to life the people sheâd be writing about.
The most recent album covered a longer period than the others, with only a few photos taken after the end of the 1950s. This could have been either because the Curzons became less interested in recording events, or because slides took over from prints at about that time. However, it did contain one of particular interest, showing three fair-haired children on a beach, squinting against the sun. It was labelled: Edward, Jacqueline and Finlay. August 1969 . Rona studied it for several minutes. The two little boys, aged, she estimated, ten and six, were in swimming trunks, their legs caked with sand. Their sister, between them in size and presumably also in age, was wearing a large sun hat that left part of her face in shadow, and appeared more interested in her ice cream cone than in the photographer.
Rona flicked through the remaining pages, but there were no further pictures of the children, and in fact the last few leaves were left blank. There might, of course, be later albums, but she was aware of her disappointment. In particular, sheâd like to have seen the woman Finlay had married and later divorced.
She clamped down on the thought, and was relieved when the phone on her desk broke the silence with its warbling.
âRo? Reporting back as promised. Hugh phoned last night.â
âAnd?â
âInvited me out to dinner.â
âYouâre going?â
âYes, though I turned down the first two dates he suggested. No point in seeming too eager.â
â Are you eager, though? To get involved with him again?â
âWeâre already involved.â
âTo go further, then.â
Lindseyâs sigh came over the wires. âI admit I was annoyed he didnât even try to make a move at the weekend. If he had, I doubt if I could have held out. You know the effect he has on me.â
Not a satisfactory response. After a moment, Rona asked, âAnd Jonathan?â
âIs anxious to continue as before.â
âAnd how do you feel about that?â
âGod, I donât know. Iâm tempted there, too.â
âSo your conscience has gone into hibernation?â
âOnly partially.â Another sigh. âThe trouble is that there are complications with both of them. What I could really do with is someone completely new.â
âOh, yes; Iâd forgotten the latest object of interest. Any more sightings of him?â
âNo, but I think heâll be at a party Iâm going to on Saturday.â
âGoing to with whom?â
âItâs not that kind of party. Iâll go along by myself, then Iâm not beholden to anyone.â Lindsey paused. âHow about the two attractive men you had lunch with last week?â
Rona bit her lip. âOne of them was round here on Monday. He brought me some photo albums to look at.â
âMakes a change from etchings.â
âLindsey, for Godâs sake!â
âAll right, all right. No need to snap. I was joking, but it seems I touched a nerve.â
âOf course you didnât; itâs simply that your one-track mind gets a bit wearing.â
âBeg pardon, Iâm sure.â
Rona drew a deep breath. âSorry, Linz. Iâve been poring too long over these dusty books and am in need of some fresh air. Youâre not free for a cup of tea at the Gallery, I suppose?â
âSorry, I canât. Iâve an appointment in ten minutes.â
âNever mind, I have to go out anyway. Gus needs his walk, and I must get the ingredients for tonightâs dinner, or Max will kill
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
Karl Iagnemma
Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham