“Phoo to the College of Arms!” Edgar cried, shaking Sam’s hand vigorously. “What about the rest of them, eh, Pearson?”
“According to the letters from Marie-Claire, her second son, Timothy was born in 1833. Her last letter dates from 1850, and seems to have been carried by Timothy to Paris, where he was sent to escape from the typhoid that killed her. He was Vincent’s grandfather, who moved to England in 1870 to escape the Franco-Prussian war.”
“An unsettled family,” Geraldine observed. “And next?”
“The third son was Josiah, born in 1837. Perhaps Mr. Crowley can fill in some of the history of that branch of the family?”
“Not much. Ben’s father, Luke—Lucas was my friend. I don’t know when Josiah arrived in Trinidad, but I found a record of Luke’s father’s marriage, John he was, giving his father’s name as Josiah Dalrymple of Jamaica. John married Luke’s mama, Dolores, all right and tight. One of Ben’s sisters is named after her. Luke was born in 1889—he was a bit older than me. He married Susanna, and produced four zanfan before—”
“Zanfan?” Daisy asked. “Children?”
“That’s right. Creole. In 1917, Luke volunteered. He didn’t come back. I’d promised to look after the zanfan and Susanna. We were married in 1922. She died having my baby. The baby died too.” A murmur of commiseration arose. “So here I am with four stepkids and I hoped … Oh well, that’s the way the dice roll. Lord Dalrymple, I don’t suppose you’d lend me fifty quid to get me and the boy back to Port-of-Spain? Or a hundred would be even better.”
“Gladly, my dear fellow, but … Geraldine?”
“Mr. Crowley, Edgar and I have grown quite fond of your stepson in the past few days. We would like to propose to you that he remain here at Fairacres, with his brother and sisters coming to join him. We have plenty of room, even if Sam and Martha decide to make their home here, as we hope. We’ll see that they complete their schooling, and it would, I believe, solve a difficulty for you.”
“Would it ever! Carlotta, here I come!” In his exuberance, Frank seized Geraldine in a hug, from which she emerged patting her hair but smiling.
By then, Lowecroft and Ernest, having lingered long enough to hear the outcome, had opened two bottles of champagne.
“Port for the servants,” Daisy whispered in Edgar’s ear.
He gave her a startled look. “Is it customary? Yes, by all means. Lowecroft, a bottle of port for the servants to drink to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel’s health!”
* * *
The champagne bottles were empty. Sam had gone to tell Martha that the lawyer accepted his claim. Frank had gone to find out what Ben thought of Geraldine’s proposal.
“Though,” as he said to Daisy with a wink, “you can be sure I’ll see that he’s happy to agree. It’s best for all of us. Sam’s offered to bring the others over when he fetches his girls.”
With a happy sigh, Daisy said to Alec, “All’s well that ends well. Except for poor Raymond. And Laurette’s children. Alec, you don’t think we—”
“No! Apart from other considerations, I hardly think they’d be happy living with the police officer who arrested their parents.”
“Oh dear! I suppose not. Besides, it would probably be too much for Mother’s nervous system. What she’ll say about Edgar and Geraldine adopting Ben and his siblings boggles the mind!”