Read Online Sidney Chambers and The Problem of Evil (The Grantchester Mysteries) by James Runcie - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James Runcie
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With God’s help.’
‘They are changed, I know, but not always for the better.’
‘That’s rather uncharitable of you, Sidney.’
‘I sometimes think there is a reason people don’t find themselves . . .’
‘You have always preferred a life in doubt and mystery. I know you of old.’
‘Plato, of course . . .’
Mrs Maguire hovered. ‘Shall I show him in or not?’
Simon Opie smiled and gave her a little nod. ‘So good to see you, Sidney. I am only sorry about the circumstances.’
‘These are very worrying times.’
Patrick Harland was wearing a three-piece pin-striped suit that was too hot for summer, and there was a light sweat across his forehead. He was surprised to see Sidney. ‘I hope I am not interrupting.’
Simon Opie decided to forgo the introductions. ‘I believe you two know each other?’
‘Not well.’
‘I thought you lived in London?’ Sidney asked Harland.
‘I do. But I’m spending the weekend with my sister. She and her husband run a boarding house off Midsummer Common.’
‘I must take a look at it. People are always asking where they might stay. What’s it called?’
‘The Willows. I’m sure she’d be glad to be of service.’
‘I’ll be in touch then. What did you say her name was?’
‘I didn’t, Canon Chambers.’
‘Then would you mind telling me?’
‘She’s Mrs Jay. Bianca Jay.’
‘A bird’s name,’ said Sidney. ‘There’s a coincidence.’
‘I don’t see what makes it so.’
‘We have just come from the aviary and we were talking about Christian symbolism. Is that a subject which interests you, Mr Harland?’
Mrs Maguire trudged into the room without knocking, a cup and saucer in her hand. ‘Would you care for a cup of tea, Mr Harland? There are some quite nice biscuits there if you fancy them. Peek Freans wafers. Popular with all the vicars I’ve worked for. They can’t get enough of them.’
When he returned to the vicarage Sidney was relieved to find that Hildegard had gone out. She had left a note on the table saying that she was seeing an old friend. Sidney wondered who that friend might be and felt an unexpected pang of jealousy before being thankful that this would buy him time to talk to Leonard. It was such a pity he was leaving. He would miss the company of his curate and only hoped that he could find a suitable replacement, especially one with whom he could discuss his criminal cases.
He wanted to explore all the issues surrounding Patrick Harland, Bianca Jay and Jimmy Benson. It was clear that they knew each other and that there could have been something going on between Jimmy and Bianca. He made a pot of tea in the kitchen and tried to sum up his thoughts.
‘The intriguing factor in all of this is that Bianca Jay is married,’ said Leonard. ‘Are there any biscuits? I was hoping for a flapjack.’
‘I had a Peek Freans with Princeps . A married woman can still have a boyfriend, of course.’
‘Or a former lover. That would be more likely. Ah, I see we have some Garibaldis.’
‘Hildegard doesn’t approve of shop-bought biscuits. I wonder where they could have come from?’
‘I think that’s a mystery we can leave aside at the moment. We have to assume, I think, that Jimmy Benson’s love was either unrequited or at an end.’
‘And he, being spurned, turns up on the doorstep . . .’
‘With a bit of blackmail, perhaps? If he suspected Bianca’s husband was the murderer . . .’ Sidney continued.
‘Although he may not have been the blackmailing type. Do you think Hildegard could make some Garibaldis? They are quite ordinary run-of-the-mill biscuits but with lots of raisins.’
‘I prefer shortbread. Mrs Maguire, of course, made the most marvellous shortbread. Do you know they’ve employed her at Westcott House?’
‘Perhaps we could ask her to keep an eye on developments there.’
‘I’m sure she’s already doing that. But I think we should try and speak to Bianca Jay about Jimmy and then
‘They are changed, I know, but not always for the better.’
‘That’s rather uncharitable of you, Sidney.’
‘I sometimes think there is a reason people don’t find themselves . . .’
‘You have always preferred a life in doubt and mystery. I know you of old.’
‘Plato, of course . . .’
Mrs Maguire hovered. ‘Shall I show him in or not?’
Simon Opie smiled and gave her a little nod. ‘So good to see you, Sidney. I am only sorry about the circumstances.’
‘These are very worrying times.’
Patrick Harland was wearing a three-piece pin-striped suit that was too hot for summer, and there was a light sweat across his forehead. He was surprised to see Sidney. ‘I hope I am not interrupting.’
Simon Opie decided to forgo the introductions. ‘I believe you two know each other?’
‘Not well.’
‘I thought you lived in London?’ Sidney asked Harland.
‘I do. But I’m spending the weekend with my sister. She and her husband run a boarding house off Midsummer Common.’
‘I must take a look at it. People are always asking where they might stay. What’s it called?’
‘The Willows. I’m sure she’d be glad to be of service.’
‘I’ll be in touch then. What did you say her name was?’
‘I didn’t, Canon Chambers.’
‘Then would you mind telling me?’
‘She’s Mrs Jay. Bianca Jay.’
‘A bird’s name,’ said Sidney. ‘There’s a coincidence.’
‘I don’t see what makes it so.’
‘We have just come from the aviary and we were talking about Christian symbolism. Is that a subject which interests you, Mr Harland?’
Mrs Maguire trudged into the room without knocking, a cup and saucer in her hand. ‘Would you care for a cup of tea, Mr Harland? There are some quite nice biscuits there if you fancy them. Peek Freans wafers. Popular with all the vicars I’ve worked for. They can’t get enough of them.’
When he returned to the vicarage Sidney was relieved to find that Hildegard had gone out. She had left a note on the table saying that she was seeing an old friend. Sidney wondered who that friend might be and felt an unexpected pang of jealousy before being thankful that this would buy him time to talk to Leonard. It was such a pity he was leaving. He would miss the company of his curate and only hoped that he could find a suitable replacement, especially one with whom he could discuss his criminal cases.
He wanted to explore all the issues surrounding Patrick Harland, Bianca Jay and Jimmy Benson. It was clear that they knew each other and that there could have been something going on between Jimmy and Bianca. He made a pot of tea in the kitchen and tried to sum up his thoughts.
‘The intriguing factor in all of this is that Bianca Jay is married,’ said Leonard. ‘Are there any biscuits? I was hoping for a flapjack.’
‘I had a Peek Freans with Princeps . A married woman can still have a boyfriend, of course.’
‘Or a former lover. That would be more likely. Ah, I see we have some Garibaldis.’
‘Hildegard doesn’t approve of shop-bought biscuits. I wonder where they could have come from?’
‘I think that’s a mystery we can leave aside at the moment. We have to assume, I think, that Jimmy Benson’s love was either unrequited or at an end.’
‘And he, being spurned, turns up on the doorstep . . .’
‘With a bit of blackmail, perhaps? If he suspected Bianca’s husband was the murderer . . .’ Sidney continued.
‘Although he may not have been the blackmailing type. Do you think Hildegard could make some Garibaldis? They are quite ordinary run-of-the-mill biscuits but with lots of raisins.’
‘I prefer shortbread. Mrs Maguire, of course, made the most marvellous shortbread. Do you know they’ve employed her at Westcott House?’
‘Perhaps we could ask her to keep an eye on developments there.’
‘I’m sure she’s already doing that. But I think we should try and speak to Bianca Jay about Jimmy and then
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