Julian Banning lifted it out carefully.
“You have good taste. It’s gold and enamel and is what’s called mourning jewellery. Very collectable and a good example of Victorian craftsmanship.”
“Morning, as in the ladies wore it in the mornings?” he asked.
“No, Sergeant.” He lifted a catch and opened the brooch to show Tom the hidden compartment. “Mourning as in the deceased. That is a lock of someone’s hair. Sometimes it was just a photograph, especially if it was a locket. The Victorians knew how to remember their loved ones. In the basket over there are photographs of dead family members, propped up and dressed in their Sunday best.”
“You’re kidding. Someone’s dead relative’s hair. Hmm. How much is the brooch, not that my wife is getting it? I think I’ll stick to her perfume.”
“The gold
