‘Well, at least you know the real reason why the 31st of May was so important to her.’ He said, handing the letter back. ‘Did you even know she was married?’ ‘Not a clue. This last letter has brought me down a bit, to be honest. I didn’t know her at all really, did I?’ ‘Her story isn’t over yet.’ He paused for a second. ‘Can I give you some advice, Grace?’ ‘If you like …’ ‘Rosamund may have been your mother, but first and foremost she was a woman in her own right, and I get the impression that it’s this side of her personality – her life as a woman rather than your mother – that she’s going to reveal to you. So, just for now, I wouldn’t think of her as Mum, but as Rosamund.’ ‘Don’t you mean Frances?’ I asked, with a slight edge to my voice. ‘Exactly. You have four more letters to read, so maybe, by the end, you’ll come to see what the point of it all is.’ Alasdair stared into his swirling brandy before slugging it back in one go.
