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Caroline smiled as she entered the foyer. She felt light and free and for the first time in a long time she felt happy. She knew that she cared for Val and the more he spoke to her about his feelings the more she realized she was falling in love with him. Pulling back on her gloves she knew she had an hour more of daylight and as the rain had stopped, she decided to walk to Green Park.
The Green Park was a smaller, triangular shaped park and was a link between St. James’s Park and Hyde Park. Green Park was simply sprinkled with green grass and trees having no lakes or buildings on it. After it rained it always smelled of earth and grass which was why she loved it.
Caroline also recalled one particular story about Green Park from the seventeenth century that made her smile. Catherine of Braganza was the wife of King Charles II. When she caught her husband picking flowers for another woman in Green Park, Catherine demanded all the flowers be removed so he could not gift any flowers to any other woman. As Caroline looked about the greenery, very few flowers could be seen.
Caroline knew in the eighteenth century, the park became a favorite place for Queen Caroline the wife of George II. She built a reservoir called the Queen's Basin and also built a library and the Queen's Walk, which became a fashionable path to the reservoir. She walked along the grass and trees and breathed in the smell.
As she took in the green trees and lush lawns, she felt certain that Val would find the killer. She longed for it more than anything because the families need to find peace. Once the murderer was caught, they could move past their shared grief and loss.
“Caroline,” she heard her name being called and when she turned, she saw Charles Lyttleton walking towards her.
She felt her heart beat heavy inside her chest as she saw his lanky form. She looked briefly around and saw that they were alone. Her first instinct was to turn and walk away from him. But she knew she would not get far. She turned to him.
“Charles. What are you doing here?” She said trying to smile but she felt cold.
She noticed his appearance and he looked disheveled. His hair was not combed properly and his clothes were untidy.
“I’ve been following you,” he told her bluntly.
“Following me? Why would you do that? Does your mother need me?” She asked lightly.
He took her arm suddenly and led her down a less worn path into the trees. “Do you know where I’ve been all night? Do you?”
She shook her head trying not to focus on his fingers which were biting into the tender flesh of her arm. She imagined those fingers around Irene’s throat and felt faint.
“How would I know where you’ve been all night, Charles? What is this all about?” She asked him even as he pushed her down the path. He released her.
“I’ll tell you where I’ve been Caroline. I’ll tell you. I’ve been hauled into the police station for questioning. Your lover is at fault here! Yes! Your upstart lover Valentine Pierce. Detective Chief Inspector if it pleases you,” he sputtered.
A light drizzle had begun to fall and Caroline shivered slightly. “I don’t understand Charles. Why were you at the police station, why was he questioning you?”
Charles gave a slight start. “Why indeed. He thinks he knows everything. He knows nothing,” he looked off into the distance.
“Then tell him that,” Caroline said softly. “Clear your name of whatever he thinks it is you’ve done.”
“You love him,” he said suddenly.
“Charles, please.”
“Do you?” He pressed.
“I care a great deal about him. Just as I care about your well-being.”
“My well-being?!” He scoffed like a petulant child.
“Charles. Why don’t we retur
n to the street and I’ll hire you a cab. It’s getting late and it’s cold. I think it’s going to rain again.”
“I do know things Caroline. I’m not some mummy’s boy like everyone seems to think. Yes. I know people say that behind my back.” He growled.
“I don’t know anything about that Charles. I have nothing but the utmost respect for your mother.” Caroline shivered in the cold.
“He was asking me about my watch and which club I attend,” Charles began to babble on about his time at the police station. “My watch is my business. My father gave it to me. And then he asked about those-those-those women,” he said quietly.
“What women?” Caroline asked as the drizzle came down and the sun was setting.