Page 73 of The Vanished

“Rory asked Geneva to marry him, but she had serious reservations about the relationship.”

“She didn’t love him?”

“Geneva was an inexperienced young woman whose only points of reference were the novels and films she had seen. And she and Rory had some very real differences that became more pronounced as they got to know each other. Rory was Catholic, which would make life difficult for them both, especially if they remained in England. He gave Geneva the claddagh ring she was wearing at the time of her death.”

“So, she accepted his proposal, then?” Rhys asked.

“She must have,” Quinn mused, although, from what she had seen, it didn’t seem likely that Geneva would have changed her mind. And she had clearly not worn Rory’s ring for any length of time, since Quinn had been unable to see even the briefest of memories.

“Just before Christmas, Rory told Geneva that he had a job offer in Pennsylvania. It was an opportunity not to be missed, and he was going to leave at the start of the new year. He asked her to come with him or join him when she was able, but I don’t think she ever seriously considered it.”

“Why not?” Rhys asked. “It would have been a way out for them.”

“She felt guilty about leaving Honor and dashing her father’s hopes. If she married Jesse, she wouldn’t have to give anything up. And I think she was genuinely attracted to him.”

“What was he like?”

Quinn considered the question. The truth was that Jesse Bellamy had come as a surprise even to her. He was attractive, charming, and brave. The aircraft he would have flown during the war would have been little more than wood, wire, and stiffened canvas, the contraption held together by skill and nerve. And he must have volunteered in England if he had flown with the Royal Flying Corps out of Kent. Jesse had made no promises about the future, but he appeared to be fond of Geneva, and, all things considered, the situation could have been far worse.

“He was rather dazzling, actually—a fine prospect for Geneva,” Quinn said. “I have yet to find out more about him, but I think he exceeded anyone’s hopes.”

“That must have put a spanner in the works for the estate manager,” Rhys mused. “He must have expected someone old and unpleasant, and in walked this Prince Charming.”

“Geneva thought Rory might have been trying to sow seeds of conflict between her and Honor.”

“In what way?”

“Rory made it clear that Honor was jealous and would gladly stab Geneva in the back if that got her what she wanted. He told Geneva that her sister had made a play for him.”

“And what do you think? Would Honor betray Geneva in that way?” Rhys sounded hopeful, since romantic rivalry always made for good television and offered a credible motive for murder.

“I’m the wrong person to ask.”

Quinn could barely suppress the bitterness that had taken root in her soul. It wasn’t so long ago that her own sister had tried to seduce Gabe, and knowing that her husband’s betrayal would cause Quinn unbearable pain had probably been an added incentive.

“I’m sorry,” Rhys said softly. “That was insensitive.”

“It’s not your fault Jo tried to destroy my life. But I didn’t sense malice from Honor. I think she loved Geneva and looked up to more than envied her.”

She hadn’t sensed malice from Jo either, but she had been dead wrong to trust her sister. Perhaps Honor was just as good at keeping her true feelings to herself.

“Did Rory Sullivan know about the well?” Rhys asked in an obvious attempt to steer the conversation away from Jo and the deadly consequences of her choices.

“He did, but so did Jesse. He came upon Rory and Geneva having a heart-to-heart by the well and even asked about it.”

“Would he have had reason to murder Geneva? Perhaps he found out about her and Rory and saw it as a betrayal?”

“I really can’t answer that, not yet. Our only real clue is the ring.”

“Which points to Rory Sullivan, since he never reported her missing and presumably continued with his plans.”

“But why would he leave such an obvious clue? Surely, if he had been responsible, he would have removed the ring.”

“Maybe he didn’t realize she was wearing it,” Rhys suggested.

“Or maybe the real killer wanted to frame him. Geneva thought someone had gone through her jewelry box. If they had, they would have known about the ring.”

“What do we know about Rory Sullivan?” Rhys asked. “Did he go to America as he planned?”