A Death Overseas Read online

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  Published by Accent Press Ltd 2016

  ISBN 9781682994726

  Copyright © Caroline Dunford 2016

  The right of Caroline Dunford to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers:

  Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN

  * * *

  [1]Richenda’s ill-fated first fiancé.

  [2]I joined on our return from Sir Richard’s wedding and, never one to be left out, Richenda had insisted I also submitted a subscription from her. I do not yet know if Hans is aware of this...

  [3]My mother never would.

  [4]The start of April in 1913 remained prone to frosts.

  [5]There is a limit to Bertram’s belief in the ability of the fairer sex to take care of themselves.

  [6]And which came so hard to my own mother, who was more used to making Dukes cry.

  [7]See my journal A Death for King and Country.

  [8]Educational purposes and ancient languages do most certainly inform a young woman more than any mother might want!

  [9]I wish the reader to note that Bertram was not being stupid here. In these times everyone believed in God. Everyone went to church. Our faith in a benevolent Father had not yet been tested by the horrors of the Great War. Being a Christian in 1913 Britain was as normal as wearing shoes on your feet.

  [10]Although one can barely imagine the chaos she could have caused.

  [11]Actually I was thinking I must pry such information out of him. How had a carefree Bertram, with no heart condition to hold him back, behaved when young?

  [12]He definitely had had a glass too many.

  [13]Richenda’s sartorial failures were infamous.

  [14]Though I know my mother would have wanted me to ignore his insinuation as something a lady never speaks of. Bertram does bring out the worst in me.

  [15]As you can see, he spoke like a truly perceptive man!

  [16]See my journal A Death for King and Country

  [17]I am not one of these silly women who will not eat in front of gentlemen and pretend to be delicate flowers that exist on air, but order secret meals to their rooms. Usually I make a good breakfast. Though not as much as Bertram. I have never seen anyone eat as much as Bertram for breakfast.

  [18]Though the truth is I have often travelled with them before, but not in so public a fashion.

  [19]I know he had said he was fluent in the tongue, but rather unfairly I do not generally think of Bertram as being very clever. Of course he is, but he also gets unreasonably distracted by food, pretty girls and does do some very silly things. Especially when he falls in love.

  [20]Not that I think I have ever been truly hysterical. I do admit to doing some uncharacteristic actions when in shock.

  [21]The sweet part is the hardest to maintain.

  [22]This is not true. It’s simply that if I am not wearing something awful Richenda has bought me I am liable to be sporting something run up by our country seamstress. Her work is perfectly adequate, but cannot compete with the London fashions, let alone the Paris ones. I would rather like to own fine dresses. I only have one.

  [23]You will understand why I do not name him.

  [24]At this point I made a mental note to check with Hans that he had used a reputable company when he had had electrical lighting installed at the Muller estate.

  [25]This was during one of adventures for the sake of the nation and covered by the Official Secrets Act.