The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 25
The Secret Of The Silver Locket
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- 25. The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 24
- 26. The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 25
- 27. The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 26
- 28. The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 27
- 29. The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 28
HARRY wasn’t in the mood for browsing fossil collections, much as he loved the things. He needed to clear his head.
He walked the length of Park Avenue towards the Serpentine and found a Lyons Corner House where he nursed a cup of black coffee, ignoring tasty sandwiches and cakes.
But it wasn’t in Harry’s nature to give up on something so dear to his heart. This was why he’d refused to study medicine and make his parents proud. He opted for geology and the quiet life of an academic, leaving high grades and tennis championships to his younger brother.
His coffee cooled as an amazing idea came to him. He threw some coins on the table, picked up his hat and jammed it on his head, going out into the busy street and turning back the way he’d come.
When he found his way back to his car, he got into it and drove to the house of his uncle, losing his way once or twice and having to stop and ask a policeman for directions.
He felt a sense of relief as he pulled up outside yet another spacious town house on a quiet, leafy street. His knock on the door was answered without delay.
An elderly woman showed Harry into the study where his uncle sat at a writing desk.
“My word, young Harry. We weren’t expecting you for dinner until seven but you’re welcome none the less.”
Harry shook hands with Edward Rossiter and didn’t waste any time.
“Uncle Eddie, could you advise me the best way to travel to Edinburgh? I guess that’s a long way for me to drive your beautiful car.”
“It’s also a long way to travel to see more fossils.”
Harry grinned.
“I’ve met a girl.”
“I thought as much. So you’re chasing after her and visiting her home?”
“Not in so many words…”
“I think,” Uncle Eddie said, “you and I had better take a wee dram while you satisfy an old man’s curiosity as to why your face lights up like a Christmas tree when you tell me you’ve met a girl.
“In her last letter to me, your dear mother was bemoaning the fact that you seemed on course to remain a bachelor, lurking among your collection of dusty fossils for the rest of your life.”
****
Harry armed himself with several newspapers and magazines before taking his seat upon the London and North Eastern Railway service from London to Edinburgh.
His uncle had acquainted him with some of the landmarks to look out for during his journey and of course Harry spent much of the 392 miles between the two capital cities daydreaming about his possible future with Grace.
If his suspicions were founded, she’d be shocked but once she recovered from that shock he hoped to receive a different answer from her when he next popped the question. He chatted for a while to an elderly couple travelling as far as York to visit their daughter and enjoyed a good lunch of Brown Windsor soup and Dover sole in the restaurant car en route to his destination.
He alighted eight and a half hours after boarding, overnight bag in hand and wondering whether he should take a cab and check into his hotel rather than go barrelling into the Maxwell residence.
Harry had made a telephone call to the household the evening before, saying he was visiting Edinburgh and would like to renew his acquaintance with the family.
His friend’s parents were attending the theatre but the person answering the telephone assured him Lady Maxwell had no engagements for the next couple of days and that his message would be passed on to her. Harry’s uncle had recommended a hotel to him and telephoned to reserve one single room for two nights.
