‘ “Clearly I am not displeased. Anna is perhaps in need of what is termed a father figure after what has been in recent years a trying episode. I can certainly fill that role just as Anna can fill a similar one in the matter of the boy Aneurin—or Nye as we call him. They are inordinately fond of each other.
‘ “Anna, as you know, is childless and for delicate physiological reasons, which need not detain us, will sadly remain so. You may know also I lost my only son who died with his wife in an accident some years ago. The marriage was without issue but it has always been my belief that Nye was the result of a liaison between my son, before his marriage, and the boy’s mother. The woman, Mrs Evans’s daughter, has always refused to confirm this, but to me she has not denied it either.
‘ “By the by, the suggestion which may have reached you, that Nye resembles the late Captain Ogmore-Davies is perfectly tenable. Ogmore-Davies was some sort of cousin to Mrs Evans.
‘ “In any event, with the consent of the mother and the enthusiastic approval of Anna and the boy, not to mention the grandmother and Mrs Ogmore-Davies, we propose formally to adopt Nye after Anna and I are married.”’
Treasure looked up. ‘He then goes on about the picture. Hopes you like it too and that we’ll visit them soon. Oh, and he’s taking a correspondence course in photography.’
Molly smiled. ‘I think Mrs Spring may find she’s marrying a man who’s discovering the secret of enduring life.’
‘You mean so long as one’s ready to start on new things? Did I tell you he has a whole chapel organ in the hall he hasn’t a notion how to drive!’ He chuckled. ‘He’s acquired a new camera. Encloses a picture of Anna. It hardly does her justice.’ He passed the coloured print to his wife while regretting the last comment.
Molly studied it for a moment. The eyebrows had arched again. ‘What a very c—’
‘Common. You’re going to say she’s common. I knew it.’
Molly looked across the table in innocent surprise. ‘Darling, I was going to say what a classic beauty. The high cheek-bones. Those big soulful eyes. I can’t imagine why you should think her common.’
‘I was only—’ Treasure had scarcely begun his protest when Molly interrupted.
‘Pity West Wales is so inaccessible. Patience said the places were lovely but the travelling purgatory.’ She glanced down again at Anna’s picture. ‘We must thank them for the drawing but let’s not commit about a visit. . . not for some time.’ Then after favouring her husband with one of the most famous, practised and disarming of smiles she added earnestly, ‘I do hope they’ll be very, very happy.’
[1] For details see Unholy Writ
Murder for Treasure Page 20