The Secret Of The Silver Locket – Episode 34


ROWENA swallowed a mouthful of ham, dabbed her lips with her table napkin, excused herself to her mother and Grace and left the room, following in Emma’s wake.

“What’s all this about?” she asked Emma as soon as she closed the dining room door.

“There’s a telegram boy on the front doorstep, Miss Rowena. He won’t give what he’s delivering to anyone else but you.”

“How strange. Of course I’ll come but if it’s Sir Redvers playing a jape, he’ll have to answer to her ladyship if I get into hot water.”

Rowena marched to the open door.

“I’m the Honourable Rowena Carmichael.”

“I’m to give this to you, miss. And you’re to give it to someone called Grace.”

“I don’t understand. On whose instructions, pray?”

The boy stuck a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the gardens.

“That bloke on the bench over there’s the one who told me what I had to do.”

Rowena gazed across the road.

“Oh, my goodness. Yes, all right, young man. I understand perfectly now. I imagine he’s tipped you?”

“Too right, miss.” He handed over the telegram. “Ta-ra now.”

Rowena left the door open while Emma stood by, looking worried.

“Don’t move an inch from this spot,” Rowena instructed her. “It’s important Grace reads whatever this message has to say. It has something to do with Harry Gresham because he’s waiting across the way but I have to go and keep my mother from having forty fits. I’m relying on you, Emma.”

She raced back to the dining room and opened the door.

Moments later Grace appeared, holding the telegram, a very puzzled expression on her face as she walked along the hallway.

“Emma, what’s going on? Rowena said I must open this in front of you because it’s important I read whatever it says. Could this be something to do with the solicitors? I don’t understand.”

“Please open it, Grace. I don’t know anything either but if you don’t open it, you’ll never know, will you?”

Grace ripped open the yellow envelope and scanned the message it contained.

DARLING GRACE STOP I WAS MARRIED TO YOUR FATHER WHEN I GAVE BIRTH STOP YOU ARE LEGITIMATE STOP MARRY HARRY STOP BE HAPPY STOP IONA X

Grace burst into tears and pushed the telegram into Emma’s hands.

“Read that,” she sobbed. “Tell me I’m not seeing things.”

She glanced through the doorway and saw Harry rise from the bench opposite.

Emma managed not to burst into tears.

She handed the message back to Grace.

“You’re not seeing things. Your mother’s doing the right thing by you.”

“Harry’s waiting across the road,” Grace whispered.

“Then why don’t you go to him?”

Grace whirled around at the sound of Rowena’s voice.

“You love him,” Rowena said. “He loves you. We can sort the rest out later.”

“So what are you waiting for?”

Tears were streaming down Emma’s face.

 

 

 

 

 

Tracey Steel

Having worked on a number of magazines over the years, Tracey has found her perfect place on The Friend as she’s obsessed with reading and never goes anywhere without a book! She reads all the PF stories with a mug of tea close by and usually a bit of strong cheese too!