Page 33 of A Curious Ending

‘Oh my goodness,’ Lara said, feigning admiration. ‘You used to buy and sell pieces for Lady Porter, didn’t you?’ Lara said, trying to find something useful to chat about while she thought of a new way to get into the back of the shop. As soon as the words were out she knew she had made a mistake.

Jason turned his cold, calculating eyes upon her and she felt the tension in the room.

‘Indeed,’ was all he eventually said.

Again the shop fell silent. Lara appeared to study the jug trying to buy some more time so she could come up with an idea. Her mind was completely blank. When Jason spoke Lara jumped.

‘Are you thinking of purchasing it Miss… er, Lara?’ There was something very unpleasant about the way Jason asked this, as if he knew she had an ulterior motive for being in his shop. Lara also noticed that he kept glancing uneasily in Abby’s direction. She was sure he could not see her Kindred Spirit, but it did seem he got some sense of her presence. This suddenly gave her inspiration.

‘I didn’t know you had anyone to help you in the shop?’ she said pleasantly, snipping a snapdragon stem with her scissors.

‘No, it’s just me, Miss McGregor. A one man show I’m afraid.’ Jason said, continuing to study her.

‘Oh, I was just wondering who was out the back?’ Lara said, apparently puzzled.

‘What?’ Jason said, looking up sharply.

‘Can’t you hear someone moving around? I was sure I heard something. Maybe I’m imagining things,’ Lara said, placing the last rose in position.

‘Well, that’s me done…’ she started, but realised she was talking to Jason’s back as he headed swiftly through to the area behind the shop. He was closely followed by The Honourable Abigail Rossmore.

From her position by the open inner door, Lara could hear other doors being opened and shut and what sounded like a drawer being pulled or pushed to. When Jason returned to the shop a few minutes later Lara was placing the jug, now filled with flowers, back into the window. She noticed that Jason was eyeing her suspiciously.

‘Was there anyone there?’ she enquired casually.

‘No… Yes… No,’ Jason faltered, looking narrowly at her. ‘No,’ he repeated more firmly, ‘but it felt like someone had been there,’ he added under his breath.

‘Give me Monty any day,’ Abby declared, neatly side-stepping Jason’s bulky form. ‘Far more sensitive,’ she said dismissively.

With that the two women left the shop.

‘Tell me what you found,’ Lara urged, ‘and before we have to go back into the shop. I’m fed up with Becky looking at me oddly when she finds me talking to myself.’

‘I do not believe Mr Honeybourne is an honest man,’ Abby announced.

‘Well, that doesn’t surprise me,’ Lara replied, thinking of Jason’s reluctance to even let her into the kitchen area.

‘There was evidence in the storeroom that is highly suggestive. As I am sure you predicted, he immediately rushed to the things that he would not want anyone to see. I observed pieces that I believe have been tampered with in an attempt to give them an appearance of much greater age.’ Abby smiled mischievously. ‘Which is interesting since it appears Mr Honeybourne is going to some lengths to ensure that he looks younger than he is.’

Lara looked confused.

‘There was a box of Manly Shine Golden Russet hair dye in his office,’ Abby enlightened her. ‘And the smell of hair oil was almost over-powering.’

‘Oh, don’t,’ Lara laughed, ‘we shouldn’t.’

‘As to that, Mr Honeybourne should not try to cheat time. Or his customers,’ Abigail declared roundly. ‘However, I have no wish to dwell on Mr Honeybourne’s style of hairdressing. There is something far more important to discuss.’

Lara paused in front of her shop, pretending to adjust the street display, and waited expectantly.

‘In Mr Honeybourne’s office drawer I saw some very fine examples of Meissen china. Two saucers, one teacup and one small plate to be precise.’

‘And…?’ Lara said encouragingly.

‘He appeared most anxious to check on this which suggests to me he does not wish anyone else to know that he has them. I believe I have seen the same design in Gillmore House. It is very distinctive. Colourful birds encircling oriental scenes.’

‘Do you think he’s stolen them?’ Lara speculated.

‘A distinct possibility and I think it is very likely that he is trying to steal more,’ Abby replied. ‘One or two pieces would be of some interest to collectors, but I imagine a full service would be worth a vast amount. Even in my time Meissen was very much sought after. I still recall Aunt Augusta’s face when we were having tea on the lawn and Uncle Henry smashed one of her Meissen teacups with a cricket ball. It really was the most marvellous shot. You would almost have imagined he had done it on purpose,’ Abby said smiling fondly.