“So that’s why you hang it here?”
Rowland smiled. “It’s also my first foray into painting.”
“You painted this?” Edna asked surprised. Aside from the fact that the portrait was not the work of a child, Rowland’s style was different.
“Of course not.” He beckoned her over. Standing her before him, he put his hands on her shoulders to direct her gaze. “Do you see anything odd about that painting? A mistake perhaps?”
They all stared at the portrait. Clyde picked it first. “There’s a highlight on his earlobe that doesn’t belong,” he said, pointing out the dot of titanium white paint. “It doesn’t really fit with the direction of the light.”
“After that day in the woolshed when Father sacked John Barrett and… well you know the story.”
“Yes,” Edna said leaning back against him.
“I was forbidden to set foot outside the house. McInnes called me into the room he was using, to show me the finished painting before anyone else. He felt sorry for me, I suppose.” Rowland frowned slightly. “Then he left the room for some reason I can’t recall.”
“And you painted that highlight to flaw the portrait?” Edna asked tentatively.
“Actually I painted pearl earrings and a tiara on his head.”
They turned to gape at him. Milton laughed first. “Bloody oath, Rowly, you had a death wish, but I’m so proud of you!”
“What happened?” Edna said fearfully. She did not want to hear again that Rowland had been barbarically punished.
“McInnes painted over it. My father never saw what I’d done,” Rowland replied. “But he left that point of white so I’d always know there were earrings and a tiara under there. Sometimes that helped.”
Edna looked back at the painting, seeing it differently suddenly. It was more Rowland than his father now. A symbol of a boy’s defiance, a precursor to the man he’d become. She smiled, delighted. “Does Wilfred know?”
“No. Wil believes I hang the painting here to taunt my father’s image with naked women in his favourite armchair.”
“Will you ever tell him the truth?”
“Good Lord, no!”
“But with everything that’s happened…”
“With everything that’s happened,” Rowland said, laughing, “I’m rather looking forward to going back to not talking about things again.”
Epilogue
Jack Templeton revealed the whereabouts of Ernest Sinclair within twelve hours of his arrest. He had, as Rowland suspected, always liked the boy and intended him no direct harm. Of course, Ernest had, by that time, already been rescued by his uncle and a band of Communists.
Templeton was duly charged with the murder of his father, Charles Hayden, and the kidnapping of Ernest Sinclair. On the charge of murder, the defence argued successfully for mitigation, and he was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter as well as that of kidnapping. The charges against Rowland Sinclair were dropped.
Elisabeth Sinclair sent out beautifully illuminated cards announcing her return to Sydney. Three nurses moved with her and worked tirelessly in shifts to ensure she had around-the-clock care. While she was never again the toast of Sydney society, Elisabeth settled well at Woodlands enjoying the idiosyncrasies of her son’s social connections. She established a particular rapport with Milton Isaacs, whom she believed to be related somehow to Sir Isaac Isaacs, the then governor-general. For his part, Milton did nothing to disillusion her.
Once established, the grounds and parklands developed by Edna Walling at Oaklea became a showpiece of garden design. The rose beds that Wilfred Sinclair had planted for his new bride remained, an eccentricity of box-edged formality in the rambling country estate.
The picture Ernest Sinclair drew for his uncle was duly framed and hung beside the Picasso at Woodlands House. It remained the pride of Rowland’s collection.
The Sane Democracy League continued to pursue Rowland Sinclair in an attempt to recruit him, his fortune and his connections to their cause. Rowland continued to resist. On occasion, however, Milton Isaacs would attend one of their debates or information sessions for his own amusement.
Colonel Eric Campbell unsuccessfully contested the 1935 State Election in the seat of Lane Cove for the Centre Party. The party failed to win a single seat.
After a plebiscite in August 1934, the dual role of Chancellor and Leader of Germany was confirmed upon Adolf Hitler, with an overwhelming majority. Hitler formally became the dictator of Germany.
Rowland Sinclair joined the Movement Against War and Fascism as a fellow traveller, quietly putting his resources behind bringing Egon Kisch to Australia for the Anti-War Congress of 1934.
With his brother’s blessing, Rowland Sinclair invested in Hugh D. McIntosh’s milk bar venture which, initially at least, made the fortunes McIntosh predicted.
The Hon. Robert Gordon Menzies, KC, made the move to federal politics, successfully contesting the seat of Kooyong in September 1934. By October he’d been appointed the Minister for Industry and Attorney-General in the Lyons government. As Attorney-General he played a significant part in the attempt to deny entry to Egon Kisch—the Communist journalist in exile from Germany—who arrived on Australian shores in November of that year. In that respect he and Rowland Sinclair found themselves opposed.
In the absence of any reliable evidence, Henry Sinclair’s murder remained unsolved, and amongst his sons, unmentioned.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For six books now, Rowland Sinclair has been my constant companion. But we have not been unchaperoned. I’d like to acknowledge here those real people whose company along the way has been entirely proper and deeply valued, and whose contributions to this work, and the sanity of its writer, must not go unmentioned.
My husband Michael, collaborator, counsel and enabler, against whom so many ideas have been bounced that he’s beginning to dent.
My Dad, who read this manuscript whilst undergoing chemotherapy, who allows nothing to shake his belief in my work, and who never misses an opportunity to pass on my books (as several nurses and the odd doctor will attest).
My sister, Devini, who is my role model for sibling loyalty and support.
My sons, Edmund and Atticus, just because they’re awesome.
Leith and Jason Henry, who have always had my back, who are involved in my books as friends, as readers and as inspiration.
Sarah Kynaston and Lesley Bocquet with whom I’ve discussed the unfolding plot of A Murder Unmentioned over numerous cups of coffee, and for whom, I have therefore spoiled this book. Sorry. Cheryl Bousfield, whose enthusiasm for my books has been a constant from the very first.
Scorners of the ground, David Tennant, Steve Eather and Kristen Alexander, who made sure Rowland’s Gipsy Moth did not crash—unless it was supposed to. Fellow traveller, Nigel E. S. Irvine, who directed me to the appropriate gaol. Malcolm Stradwick who allowed me to give him the third degree when necessary.
My extraordinary friends in the writing community, who have made me welcome among them. The solitary nature of writing is countered by the wonderful solidarity of writers. I remain buoyed by your compassion, your generosity and your idealism.
Deonie Fiford, my editor. This would be so much more terrifying a venture without the confidence instilled by the knowledge that Deonie won’t let me slip. My cover designer, Luke Causby, who has given all the Rowland Sinclair books a ‘face’ upon which the world can look. Desanka Vukelich, who proofreads my manuscripts into something worthy of print.
All those readers, reviewers and bloggers who have allowed me the privilege of their attention, and who have given Rowland Sinclair an existence that is independent of me. You are truly appreciated.
The people of Batlow and its surrounds, many of whom have lent their names to this novel. There is nothing as fortifying as hometown support.
The Greens, Ali, John, Jenny and Marty, and the talented team at Pantera Press. You have given me a writer’s life, and for the rest of
that life, I will be grateful.
If you enjoyed
A Murder Unmentioned
then look out for the next book in the Rowland Sinclair Mystery Series (For Release 2015)
for more information, please visit:
www.PanteraPress.com
SULARI GENTILL
Award-winning author Sulari Gentill set out to study astrophysics, ended up graduating in law, and later abandoned her legal career to write books instead of contracts. When the mood takes her, she paints, although she maintains that she does so only well enough to know that she should write.
She grows French black truffles on a farm in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains of NSW, which she shares with her young family and several animals.
Sulari is the author of the award-winning Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, a series of historical crime novels set in the 1930s about Rowland Sinclair, the gentleman artist-cum-amateur-detective.
The first in the series, A Few Right Thinking Men, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best First Book. A Decline in Prophets, the second in the series, won the Davitt Award for Best Adult Crime Fiction. Miles Off Course was released in early 2012, Paving the New Road was released in late 2012 and was shortlisted for the Davitt Award for Best Crime Fiction 2013. Gentlemen Formerly Dressed was released in November 2013. A Murder Unmentioned is the sixth book in the series.
Under the name S.D. Gentill, Sulari also writes fantasy adventure, including The Hero Trilogy. All three books in the trilogy, Chasing Odysseus, Trying War and The Blood of Wolves, are out now, and available in paperback, in a trilogy pack, and as an eBook.
Novels in the award-winning Rowland Sinclair series
A Few Right Thinking Men
A Decline in Prophets
Miles off Course
Paving the New Road
Gentlemen Formerly Dressed
A Murder Unmentioned
First published in 2014 by Pantera Press Pty Limited
www.PanteraPress.com
www.SimonandSchuster.com
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Text copyright © Sulari Gentill, 2014
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ISBN 978-1-921997-43-3 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-921997-44-0 (Ebook)
Cover and internal design: Luke Causby, Blue Cork
Back Cover Image: NSW Police Forensic Photography Archive, Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living (045)
Front Cover Images: NSW Police Forensic Photography Archive, Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living (205). And SSPL via Getty Images
Typesetting: Kirby Jones
Printed and bound in Australia by Mcpherson’s Printing Group
Author Photo by J.C. Henry, Lime Photography
Murder Unmentioned (9781921997440) Page 33