"The Silver Ladies"

Gouache on board 17" x 11.5". Not unlike The Black Widow, no? Novel by Margaret Erskine, 1951. "On the night of her elegant coming-out party, Helen Simpson, young mistress of ancient Picts Court, realized that someone was trying to kill her.

Who was the lurker in the shadows? It could have been any of the greedy relatives she supported, any of the servants, even mysterious and attractive William Heron, with whom she was falling in love.
Who wanted Picts Court enough to kill for it?
In a nearby town Inspector Finch was investigating a simple accident. Inevitably he heard about the strange events at Picts Court ... and the seemingly unrelated accident that left a trail leading to the frightened girl in the old house... ."

Provenance: Heritage Illustration Art Signature Auction 2012