Free 02 - Flight of Fancy by Evelyn James Page A

reckoned with too. I always thought they
must have come as quite a shock to dear Goddard, he was a bit too meek and mild
for them! I’m not sure the exact way they met, but by the summer of 1866 they
were walking out and a pretty pair they made. Goddard was quiet but handsome.
He was studying at Cambridge as his father wished, but he rather fancied going
into the army instead. I can picture them now, walking along the promenade,
Florence looking pleased as punch with herself and Goddard trying to keep up
with her.”
    “May I ask an indelicate
question?” Clara interrupted, biting off her wool.
    “What is it?”
    “Did Florence marry for love,
or…”
    “Oh, I see what you mean. The
O’Harris family was wealthy even then. I suppose they did rather eclipse the
Highgrove fortune, but Florence was by no means poor.” Mrs Rhone toyed with her
needle, “I must admit, when I first heard I was a touch surprised. There was a
rumour amongst us gals that Florence had secretly been writing to a young Royal
Marine who had spent time at Brighton. Molly Durrant was adamant she had seen a
letter Florence had written to a young man who was not Goddard, but Molly was a
touch daft and not a good reader, so I never gave it any credit.”
    “But it might have been true?”
    Mrs Rhone wrapped the thread
from her needle round and round her fingers looking rather anxious.
    “It’s not the sort of thing I
ever considered… but I do recall she used to mention a man called Edward, not
often mind, but occasionally she would just slip and mention his name. I never
thought it serious, but then again I was eleven, and Florence was not from a
poor family and her father was really quite liberal so I would see no reason as
to why she could not have married a Royal Marine had she chosen to. No, she
really must have married for love.” Mrs Rhone spoke decisively and seemed to
have settled the matter with herself.
    “I suppose what I am trying to
find out and, really, rather struggling with, is whether Florence had any
reason to want her husband dead.”
    “That is an awful thought.” Mrs
Rhone shook her head glumly, “I really can’t help you there because I did not
know them well as a couple. Florence would come to church and help out at
functions, but Goddard was rarely around. Then I met Isaiah, my husband, and I
moved around for a time. We came back to Brighton in 1900 but it was only after
Goddard’s death that my acquaintance with Florence was refreshed. Let me tell
you this Miss Fitzgerald, when I first encountered Florence O’Harris after all
those years I hardly knew her. I said to myself, there is a woman whose heart
has been broken. I never knew a creature look so sad and downcast. She never
raised a smile in all those remaining years I knew her. I do not care what
logic says or anything else, Florence loved her husband and his passing pained
her deeply.”
    Mrs Rhone went briefly back to
her sewing. A clock in the front room ticked methodically and then chimed the
hour. Clara slipped her needle through the woollen squares and let this new
information sink in. If Florence had truly loved her husband then his death was
even more illogical.
    Abruptly Mrs Rhone looked up.
    “Have you found her diary?”
    Clara ceased sewing too.
    “No, I wasn’t aware she wrote
one.”
    “I am pretty certain she wrote
one, right until her last days. I doubt it has been touched since her death.
Her bedroom has not been altered, I believe. Captain O’Harris has enough rooms
without interfering with his aunt’s. Her diary should be there. I saw her
carrying it once or twice. It was covered in green leather with a stamped
detail of butterflies.”
    A ray of hope seemed to light
up before Clara. This could provide vital new clues, of course she could hardly
expect a confession written in the diary, but then again…
    “Thank you Mrs Rhone, I do
apologise for disturbing you once again.” Clara handed back her completed
squares and Mrs Rhone took