“My theory is Lawrence gave it to her. But I did some more research into the prince. The year the pendant went missing is the year he formally became engaged to the woman he married a year later. From what I found out, the two were destined to marry from the first year they were born. An arranged marriage of sorts. Who knew they still did that in the 1920s, but I guess they did. She was some kind of royalty too.” Dale set down his cup.
Brent sat looking thoughtful, then spoke. “I wonder if Lawrence and Vera were…” He looked at Gran. “Ah, an item. Maybe they were involved, but then the prince chose his duty and obligation to his country over Vera?”
“Maybe giving her the pendant was his way of saying he was sorry to Vera?” Dale guessed.
“Maybe.”
“Or maybe they were just acquaintances. And she found the pendant after he left. We don’t really know what happened. And it’s not right to make guesses, now is it?” Gran stared at all three of them.
“No, you’re right. We don’t know anything for certain.” Brent looked up, and she saw what he was saying without words. They should show Gran the letter.
Dale rose. “Well, I should head back to the shop. Darlene, thanks for the coffee.” He turned to Brent. “Let me know if I can help with any more research.”
“I will. You’ve been very helpful.”
Dale left, and Brent stood. “I should go too. I want to do some more research on my mother’s family. I’ll see you two later.” He gave her a meaningful stare before leaving the kitchen.
“Gran, we need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. This nonsense about Vera and Lawrence is just gossip and rumors.”
“Actually… it’s not.” She pulled out the letter and handed it to Gran. “We found this in a hidden compartment in the storage room.”
Gran took the letter and walked over to where her reading glasses rested on the counter. She slipped them on and slowly unfolded the pages. She read the pages, then set them on the counter, standing quietly for a moment.
“It appears the prince did have feelings for Vera,” Gran finally said.
“It does look like that.” She took a step closer to Gran. “And he asked her to go away with him.”
“But Dale said he was engaged to some woman from royalty and married her.”
“It does seem like that happened.” She nodded.
“What is Brent going to do with this knowledge?” Gran frowned, eyeing the letter.
“I’m not sure. It is a bit of the island’s history. Especially interesting since it involved a prince.”
“But surely their private life doesn’t need to be made public,” Gran asserted, as if there was no doubt.
“I’m not sure what Brent plans to do.”
“He should do the right thing and just let all this go.” Gran took off her glasses, handed her back the letter, and strode out of the kitchen.
But she wasn’t sure that Brent would agree with Gran’s assertion.
Chapter17
Darlene walked down the quiet street toward Eleanor’s house, her steps measured and full of purpose. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the well-manicured lawns of Magnolia Key. As she approached Eleanor’s house, she could see her old friend sitting on the front porch, Winston curled up at her feet.
Eleanor looked up as Darlene climbed the steps, a questioning expression on her face. “Darlene, what brings you by this afternoon?”
She settled into the chair next to Eleanor, taking a moment to pat Winston’s head. The old dog thumped his tail lazily against the wooden porch.
“We need to talk. I’m afraid I have some news that might be… unsettling,” she began, her voice low and careful.
Eleanor’s eyebrows knitted together. “Oh? What’s happened?”
“It’s about Brent and Felicity’s research. They’ve found something. A letter, actually.”
