Precious Bones Read online

  Precious Bones

  A Novel

  By Irina Shapiro

  © 2011 by Irina Shapiro

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the author.

  All characters are fictional. Any resemblances to actual people (except those who are actual historical figures) are purely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  March 2010

  I poured milk into my coffee and padded into the living room to catch up on yesterday’s mail and current events. Plopping down on the sofa, I turned on the television and turned my attention to numerous bills and store circulars that had accumulated in my mail box over the past few days. I was just staring in disgust at a particularly high credit card bill when something on TV caught my attention. The newscaster was reporting from the Blackfriars neighborhood of London, standing in front of a charming Tudor house, her face infused with artificial concern. She pointed to the house behind her just as a team of police officers carried out something to a waiting police van.

  “A grisly discovery this morning as workers stumble across the remains of what appears to be a woman and an infant entombed behind the kitchen wall of this historic building. There is no way of telling at this time how long the remains have been in their hiding place, but we will have more information for you on this gruesome find as soon as we hear back from our forensic experts. As of now, the location is being treated as a crime scene by the Metropolitan Police and no one is allowed to enter the premises. All work on the house has been suspended until further notice.”

  The reporter dropped her false sorrow and went on to say something about world markets, but I wasn’t listening to a word she said. A tidal wave of sorrow washed over me as I saw the body bag carefully deposited into the vehicle, and the door slammed shut by a burly policeman. I wiped a tear from my cheek whispering, “Oh, my darling.”

  Chapter 2

  I spent the rest of that day feeling weepy and listless. I started several projects, but left them unfinished due to my inability to concentrate. I had no idea what prompted these feelings since, as far as I could recall, I had never set foot in the house in Blackfriars. My thoughts kept turning to the news report. It would take days, or possibly weeks, for the forensic report, but deep down, I already knew what they would find. How I knew, was an entirely different story.

  I spent a restless night dreaming of strange faces and airless tombs, and was up at the crack of dawn searching the internet for any updates on the strange story. There were no new developments yet, so I powered off the computer disappointed, and pulled out my appointment diary. I had nothing on the agenda for that morning, and I had blocked out the time to start working on my new novel. My latest manuscript was already with my agent, and she would call once she had some feedback from the publisher.

  I had been putting off starting a new novel for weeks because, frankly, I had the worst case of writer’s block that I’ve ever experienced. I wrote my first novel while I was still at university and although it took a long time to find a literary agent who was willing to even consider looking at it, once I got signed on, it had been smooth sailing. My novel went on to become a bestseller in several countries, and I was hailed by the critics as one of the best writers of my generation. It’s hard to allow praise like that not to go to one’s head. I basked in the glory of my newfound fame for months until I finally began work on a new book.

  The second novel sold even better than the first, and now my third manuscript was with the publisher. It was time to start writing a new book, but I had no clue what to write about. Normally, an idea would pop unbidden into my head, but this time, my mind felt as barren as the desert. I sat at my desk staring at the empty notepad. Usually, I would start by writing down the bones of the story. Once I had a premise and an ending, filling in the events in-between was easy enough. Half an hour later, I threw the notepad into a drawer and went to get dressed. I wasn’t getting anywhere, and the best way to deal with my frustration was to go take a nice, long walk by the river.

  The sun was already up, and the cool breeze off the Thames cleared some of the cobwebs from my mind. I walked along the Victoria Embankment, enjoying the sunlight sparkling on the water and the faint smell of seaweed that filled my nostrils. A few small piles of dirty snow still lay in the shaded areas, but the winter was clearly on the way out. There weren’t too many people about at this time of the morning, and I had another hour or so before the sleeping city began to stir itself and get ready for another day. I didn’t even realize that my steps were taking me toward Blackfriars, and it wasn’t until I was standing in front of the house from the news that I realized where I had been heading all along. The house was a typical Tudor structure built in the post-and-beam fashion where the space between the beams was filled with plaster to create walls. The beams could be seen on the outside, a stark contrast to the white plaster that filled the gaps. The second floor overhung the first by at least a foot, leaving the front door and the windows of the first floor in permanent shadow; the steep roof boasted a large, brick chimney and several dormer windows that must be the attic.

  The house was set back from the street and surrounded by a wrought iron fence complete with a creaky gate. At the moment, there was yellow police tape warning the nosey passerby that this was a crime scene and not to be tampered with. I stood with my hands on the gate looking up at the house. I was positive I had never been there before, but in my mind, I could see exactly what the house looked like inside, down to the last detail, and I could almost see myself climbing the narrow stairs up to the attic. For some reason, the thought of the attic filled me with dread, so I let go of the gate and turned to leave. I was startled to find a man standing across the street watching me intently. We stared at each other in mute appraisal. He was very tall, with broad shoulders and a lean, athletic build. His dark hair fell into his eyes and hadn’t seen a pair of scissors for at least six months; his slanted gray eyes were watchful and predatory. He reminded me of a wolf stalking its prey, and I thought he would make a great character for one of my novels. His mouth slowly stretched into a smile. “I knew you’d come,” he said as he turned around and walked away before I could ask him what he could have possibly meant by that comment.

  I watched him disappear around the corner and shook my head. He must have mistaken me for someone else. I’d never seen him before. I would have remembered someone as striking as him. I suddenly realized that I was famished, and I turned toward home. Tristan would be back from his business trip today, and I couldn’t wait to see him. He’d been in China for the past two weeks and I felt instantly better knowing I wouldn’t sleep alone tonight. We still maintained separate flats, but I spent at least four nights a week at his place, and we were seriously discussing moving in together. I picked up a cappuccino and a danish from my favorite bakery, and went upstairs to have my breakfast and wrestle my imagination for a good story.

  Chapter 3

  I kissed Tristan lightly on the brow and tiptoed out of the bedroom. He was still jet-lagged and would probably sleep for hours. I got quietly dressed in the other room, grabbed my purse, and scribbled a hasty note on a piece of paper before letting myself out of the flat and heading to the elevator. I would go home, shower, change, and then meet my agent, Joanna, for breakfast. She sounded a little mysterious in the message she left on my mobile, and I was wondering why she suddenly wanted to meet. At this point, Joanna was more friend than colleague, so it was odd she wouldn’t just blurt out what was on her mind. She sounded very circumspect, and I suddenly thought that maybe she wanted to discuss something personal, rather than my manuscript. Maybe she had a fight with Mark again. They’d been divorc
ed for six months now, but they still found something left to fight about. I chuckled at the thought.

  Tristan and I hardly ever fought. Our relationship was never the volatile terrain that some couples tread over constantly in fear of stepping on another land mine. We met at a party at Oxford shortly before graduation and got along like a house on fire. We shared similar political views and goals for the future, and despite our very different temperaments, we managed to approach every problem calmly and rationally. Tristan was my soul mate, and we frequently gloated over how lucky we had been to find each other. Even our looks complemented each other. Whereas I was dark with glossy black curls, hazel eyes and olive skin, Tristan was blond and blue-eyed with fair skin that never got darker than bronze, even in the sun.

  I pulled on a pair of jeans, a cashmere sweater in moss green, and a pair of comfortable, suede boots. After running a comb through my curls and putting on nude lip gloss, I decided I needed some ornament, so I reached for my favorite necklace. I found it last year at a jumble sale and rarely parted with it since. The necklace had been carelessly tossed into a cardboard box labeled ₤1 with an assortment of shiny beads, mismatched earrings and a few plastic bracelets. It was covered in grime and looked like a worthless piece of junk, but I’d gone antiquing with my grandmother many times and knew how to spot a gem. I handed the woman behind the stall a pound note and made off with my loot.

  I couldn’t wait to get home and clean it to see what treasure lay beneath. I got the silver polish from the cabinet beneath my kitchen sink and set to work. As I polished away the grime very carefully I saw a glint of gold. I’d been sure the necklace was silver. I cleaned the chain and moved on to the pendant. It was the size of a small apricot, round with an intricate design etched into the metal.

  Once I cleaned the front and back of what now appeared to be a locket, I carefully tried to open it to see what was inside. The two halves were stuck together, and I briefly considered leaving the pendant as it was, but then curiosity won out. I got a knife and gently tried to insert it into the seam. It took a few tries, but eventually the glue gave and the locket opened. Inside was a miniature portrait of a young woman. The bodice of her gown, being the only part of the dress that was visible, looked to be Elizabethan; her brown hair was artfully piled atop head and covered by a hair net set with gems. It was hard to make out the color of her eyes, but they appeared to be either blue or green, and her pouty lips and fair complexion would have made her a real beauty in her time. She would have been a beauty in our time as well, I thought.

  On the inside of the front half was an inscription “C&R”. I couldn’t stop wondering who C & R were, but there was no way to find out. I took the locket to a jeweler, and his eyes lit up as I laid it on the counter. He examined the outside carefully before gingerly opening the locket and peering at the portrait inside.

  “May I ask where you acquired this?”

  “I found it at a stall at the Portobello Road flea market. Do you think it’s valuable?” I was suddenly nervous, afraid that my serendipitous find would turn out to be some cheap trinket.

  “This is definitely gold, Elizabethan, and the miniature is of the finest quality. I can’t say for sure without showing it to an expert, but I believe it might have been painted by no other than Nicholas Hilliard himself. He was very popular during the period and often given commissions by members of the Court. This could be very valuable. I have no doubt that if you put it up for auction at Christie’s you could make a substantial sum.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not interested in selling.” I walked out of the jeweler’s shop feeling very pleased, enjoying the weight of the necklace round my neck. I knew I could sell it for a large amount of money, but I felt a strange connection to my lady of the locket. She and I would not be parted.

  Chapter 4

  I slid onto a chair opposite Joanna. She was sitting at a table by the window at a little patisserie we frequently met at, stirring her coffee thoughtfully. She looked up as I sat down and gestured for me to help myself to a pastry. I ordered a pot of tea and waited for her to speak. She gave me a guilty look and asked me if my croissant was fresh.

  “Jo, my croissant is scrumptious, now spit it out. What’s on your mind?”

  “I’ve heard back from the publisher. It seems that there have been some changes since last we spoke. Mr. Turner has finally decided to retire, and his grandson has taken over the company. I hear that heads have been rolling since the new regime came into power and Mr. Turner, the Younger, has requested an audience. We have a meeting with him at noon. “

  “Is there reason to worry?” I wasn’t sure what she was getting at. I was under contract with Turner and Randall and couldn’t see how this change would affect me unless they decided to terminate my contract, which would land them in court. Joanna shrugged, taking a sip of coffee.

  “I didn’t get a very positive feeling when I spoke to Turner’s secretary. The woman sounded like she was on the verge of a nervous collapse. Let’s just wait and see, shall we?”

  I took a gulp of my tea and put down the pastry. I suddenly lost my appetite. “I wish you would’ve told me this earlier. I’m not dressed for a meeting and it’s already after 11am.” I wish I had worn something more professional, although I wasn’t sure what difference it would make.

  “You look great. Let’s just see what he has to say.”

  Joanna and I took a cab to the posh offices of Turner and Randall and were promptly shown into the waiting room where we had often waited to meet with Mr. Turner Sr. He was a charming old man, with snow-white hair and a good-natured twinkle in his blue eyes. He always flirted like a man half his age and most of all, he loved my work. I had no idea what to expect from Mr. Turner, the younger, but judging by the nervous manner of his secretary, nothing good. Finally, the assistant told us to go inside, and I followed Joanna through the door. I froze in my tracks when I saw the man behind the desk. I had seen those eyes before, and I knew exactly where. It was by the house in Blackfriars a few days ago. Turner didn’t seem surprised to see me and motioned for us to sit down.

  “Good afternoon, ladies. As I’m sure you have already heard, my grandfather has finally retired and left me in charge. I’ve been making a few minor changes, hoping to bring this place into the twenty-first century.” His eyes never left mine as he spoke and Joanna gave me a nervous look. I didn’t respond and waited for him to go on.

  “I’ve just finished reading your latest manuscript, Ms. Blake.” There was a dramatic pause. “I was almost disappointed that I don’t suffer from insomnia, because this surely would have cured it.” With that he pushed the manuscript toward me, inviting me to take it back. I was at a loss for words. I’d been very proud of this book, and his brutal review left me humiliated and angry. Joanna opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind and remained silent waiting to see what he would say next.

  “Your story is so cliché. Why don’t you write something a little more autobiographical? I trust your life is interesting enough to use as inspiration?” His mouth curved into a smile and he gave me a questioning look.

  I wanted to tell him what an insolent bastard I thought him to be, but smiled back instead. “Perhaps since you find my writing to be so uninspired, you would be willing to release me from my contract to your firm. I’m sure I can find someone who would have a higher opinion of my talents.” I thought that would satisfy both of us, but he shook his head.

  “No, I don’t think I will. I would prefer it if you were to write another book, one that I can publish. You are a talented writer, and you can do much better than this.” He glanced at my manuscript and then back at me. I took the novel off his desk and marched out the door followed by an outraged Joanna. We didn’t say a word until we walked out of the building into the weak, spring sunshine.

  “What a wanker!” Joanna exploded. “Can you believe the gall?”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. Turner’s comments had hit a nerve. What if he was right?
What if my novel was crap? He wasn’t very diplomatic, but that didn’t necessarily make him wrong. What did he mean when he said I should write something autobiographical? What did he know of my life? I was loath to admit that my existence would not make for very good reading.

  I was distracted from my turbulent thoughts by a call from Tristan. “Hey, sweetheart. How did your meeting go? Will it be another bestseller?” I promptly burst into tears.

  Chapter 5

  The year of Our Lord 1586

  March

  Pippa pulled Constance along by the arm, pushing her way through the throng of people. The square was already packed and various vendors were calling out their wares. There were hot meat pies, oranges, and bunches of violets. The crowd was ready for a good show, and parents were hoisting children onto their shoulders for a better view. As soon as the two girls got to the front, the cart rumbled into the square pulled along by a tired looking horse. The woman in the cart looked over the crowd, smiling like a queen ready to receive her subjects. She held her head high and smiled serenely, as the cart pulled up to the scaffold, and the prisoner was escorted up the rickety steps. The crowd fell silent in expectation of the speech. It was usually the best part of the hanging and today promised to be an extra-special treat. Mary Conway was a well-known madam, accused of stabbing two noblemen in her brothel and chopping them into pieces, before feeding them to a pack of hungry dogs.

  The executioner placed the rope around Mary’s neck and forced her up on a bench situated beneath the gallows. Mary looked around dramatically, waiting for people to give her their full attention. “Ladies and Gents,” she began. “I am an innocent woman sentenced to die for a crime I did not commit.” She smiled conspiratorially at the expectant crowd, “but if I did commit the heinous deed they are accusing me of, I would say that those wastrels deserved whatever they got and more. My dogs would have feasted that day on the remains of thieves, murderers and sodomites who didn’t deserve a Christian burial. That’s all I’ve got to say on the matter. God Bless the Queen!” With that she gave the hangman a look, and he kicked the bench from under her feet, making her swing like a pendulum while she choked and tore at the rope at her throat with her nails. Pippa craned her head trying to get a better view while Connie looked away in horror.