“I see the initials C-E-S-B. There is also the wordquatre. Which is the French word for four.”
“French?” Dimity was shocked. “My… my father worked in France before I was born.”
His eyes green eyes were bright suddenly, alive with color as they looked at her.
“Well now, that’s interesting,” he said, studying the locket.
“B-But I’m not French.”
“Very possibly not, but then we must look at all avenues, Miss Brown. Can you tell me when your father was in France?”
“He left during the revolution.”
“A terrible time for many,” he said, still studying the locket. “Do you mind if I open it, Miss Brown?”
“Please do.” For some reason, Dimity couldn’t draw a breath. Her chest felt like a fist was squeezing it tight as his hands worked on the latch that opened the locket.
“Wh-What does it say?” She knew there were more words in there.
“Notre peu amour,” he said softly. “It means ‘our little love,’ Miss Brown.”
“M-My father said it was ineligible. Why would he say such a thing when clearly it wasn’t?”
“I am unsure, but it’s my hope we will get you answers.”
She sat there staring at the top of his head as he continued to look though his glass at her locket.Dear Lord, what does it all mean?
“Ah, here are my sisters now.”
She hadn’t heard them approach, but soon the door was opening and in walked two young ladies, one dressed in cream, the other in peach. There was little doubting they were sisters and related to Mr. Sinclair.
“Dorset, Somerset, this is Miss Brown. She has come to us for help,” Mr. Sinclair said by way of greeting. “I need you to draw her locket for me please, Dorrie.”
“Oh, hello, how lovely to meet you,” they both said in unison.
“Twins,” their brother said. “You get used to them given many years of close acquaintance.”
“The Duchess of Raven and Mr. Cambridge Sinclair are your brother and sister,” Dimity said before she could stop herself. “I’m sorry, that came out close to a shriek, but your brother’s discovery has me unsettled.”
“He has a way of doing that.” One of the twins took Dimity’s hand. “How do you know our siblings?”
“They came to my employer’s home. The Duchess of Yardly. There was an impromptu salon one day.”
“I heard about that. Lord Raine fell off the chair because a large dog pushed him,” Warwick Sinclair said. “I had wished it was Cambridge, but alas it was not.”
“You work for the Duchess of Yardly? I don’t know whether to offer you safe passage somewhere or give you a hug,” one of the twins said, looking horrified.
“She’s actually rather sweet,” Dimity felt she needed to say.
All three of the Sinclairs laughed.
“Do you know, I don’t believe I’ve heard her called that before,” Warwick said.
“Of course Cam would have been there for the food, although I’ve not heard the Duchess of Yardly is overly generous with her tea tray,” one of the Sinclair sisters said. Which one, Dimity had no idea.
“Here is the locket.” Mr. Sinclair handed it to one of them, and she took it to her desk and began to draw.
The woman called Samantha came in with the tea.
