The de Vere Deception (David Thorne Mysteries Book 1) (37 page)

            Thorne found himself drifting toward Bada and the Oxfordian point of view—the idea of a man, unfamiliar with the life of the Royals and locales in Italy, being able to write about them, seemed doubtful. He immediately forced himself to stop thinking about the subject. He realized the controversy would continue—at least for his lifetime. He shuddered when he imagined himself spending the rest of his life studying a controversy where there was no answer. He would drop it—he had other things to occupy his life.

The sun was setting over Stratford-upon Avon when Thorne returned to his hotel. The last vestiges of light produced a golden glow on the uppermost walls of Kilshire Castle and reflected off the windows of the queen’s Keep. Four hundred years ago Queen Elizabeth would have had a grand view of her subjects from the high windows, had she chosen to do so. But, it was never to be.

            The capricious, and contemptuous, attitude of the most prominent woman in English history, casually cast aside the efforts of one of her most loyal subjects. Moldar’s efforts proved to be for naught. The secret of his gift to her was taken with him to his grave and remained there for four hundred years.

            Thorne contemplated the strange choices of those creatures called women. He had always had a soft spot for all women, but realized they are often drawn to the men not always worthy of them. Quick, eccentric and social were their choices as if they were flitting moths drawn to the danger of the flame.

            As Thorne relaxed on the balcony of his fourth floor room, these thoughts of the fickleness and inconsistency of womanhood swirled about him. Still, in spite of her attraction to Forestal, his thoughts of Gweneth were pleasant. She would always be special to him.

            His room was one of the most expensive in The Avon Vista Hotel, Stratford’s finest. He usually took the more modestly priced accommodations for lodgings. Ignoring the cost, he had chosen this specific room far in advance when he knew he would be coming back. He’d taken it for the view.

            Looking east, he made out the roof of the Royal Shakespeare Theater below, and across the Avon, the glowing mass in the setting sun that was Kilshire Castle. Still farther up the hill the setting sun reflected off the windows of the Bada manor house.

            The lights had been going on in the manor house for the past half-hour. It appeared a festive event was planned for the evening, and now a long line of limousines and cars worked their way up the winding road to the large motor court. Women in evening dress and men in tuxedoes emerged from the cars parked around the flood-lit fountain.

            Thorne supposed it was an important event—perhaps a birthday party for Gweneth—or perhaps . . .

            Interesting, he thought. In all their conversation, those wonderful conversations with her, he had never inquired about Gweneth’s actual age or birthday.

            When he determined he would return to Stratford, he had made no plans to see anyone of the Bada family. He wasn’t sure he wanted to resurrect old memories.

            He went back inside and washed up before going out for an evening drive and one last look at Stratford. He remembered Beth Wright and her invitation. Three years had passed, maybe she was married—maybe she was not. He took her card out of his wallet. Maybe he would call her—it couldn’t hurt. If she was still single, she might enjoy a drive down to London. He had heard a performance of The Music Man was playing in the West End.

            He was in no hurry to get back to Arizona.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Larry and Mary Anne Gessner, Pamela
Morgan, Kelly Sheppard, Samuel
Clemons, Heather Justesen, and my wife Vita.

Other Works by this Author

102 Arizona House Plans

The Clemons Scenebook for Actors

About the Author

Loy Ray Clemons is a mystery writer living in Lehi, Utah, He is a former actor, architect, and president of LRC Design, Inc., an architectural and construction company. He has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, and Mexico, and is married to his wife, Vita. They have two adult children, Petra and Peter.