Of Night and Dark Obscurity

She smiled as he walked her out. She breathed in the London air and smiled again recalling his compliment. It was coming together. She walked a little bit down the street and found herself outside the café where she and Inspector Pierce had shared a meal.

She opened the door to the café and was greeted warmly. She asked for a table near the window to watch the passing traffic. Seated at another window seat by himself was the Inspector. She watched as he sketched absently and when she drew nearer to him, she saw it was a scene of the street.

“Inspector Pierce,” she greeted him.

He looked up and when he saw it was her, he smiled. “Miss Derry. What brings you here?”

“I was visiting my estate agent nearby. I happened upon the café. This was the one you brought me to wasn’t it?”

“It was. Sit with me.”

She glanced up at the waiter and nodded as she sat across from him. “You’re sketching the passerby’s?”

“There’s always something to see in London.” He placed his small sketchbook away. “What would you like to eat?”

“Nothing too much. Soup and bread,” she said and the order was duly placed.

When the soup arrived, she ate slowly as he sipped his tea.

“It was a surprise to see you here. Sketching as you always seem to do.” She said.

“It clears the mind.” He told her. “I am headed to the British museum after to view the print and drawings of the late Felix Slade.”

“Who was Felix Slade?”

Val added more milk to his tea. “He was a solicitor and collector. He never married and devoted himself to the law and collecting antiquities. He supported many different charities including the Nightly Shelter for the Houseless.”

Caroline smiled. “He sounds like a good man.”

“He died in 1868 and bequeathed his entire collection to the museum. It’s quite a collection. You might enjoy it.”

“I might,” Caroline said impulsively.

“Then you’ll come with me?” He asked expectantly.

“I will.”

Chapter 8

Caroline had been to the British Museum numerous times over the years. She had always admired the grandeur of the building and her father had delighted in showing her and Irene his favorite parts of it.

Her father had always admired the Assyrian discoveries of 1857 by Charles Newton. Newton had discovered the 4th century BC Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

“My father took us here often,” Caroline said as they wandered the halls of the great museum. “He loved the ancient civilizations, especially the Assyrians. He found them to be an ex

ceptional people.”

“They were,” Val agreed as they walked to the Felix Slade exhibition.

Unconsciously Caroline tugged on her gloves and placed a hand to her hair to pat it down.

“You look fine,” he whispered to her as they joined the group of people at the exhibit. “Perfect, actually.”

She glanced up into his blue eyes and realized again how handsome he was. He was a quiet man but there was an underlying sense of surety in him that was attractive. Caroline blushed at the thought.

“There seem to be quite a few people here,” she remarked.

“He had a superb collection, or so I’ve read.” Val said as he led Caroline to the glass cases which contained the rare books Slade had collected.