Of Night and Dark Obscurity

by Nicola Italia

  “I won’t,” she said, her eyes straying to where Val stood near the door.

  Victoria picked up a glass and touched a spoon to the side of it to gain everyone’s attention. “I would like to thank you all very much for being here tonight. I have the distinct privilege to know this lady beside me, Caroline Derry and Prudence? Stella?” She called out to them and they raised their glasses in acknowledgment. “These fine young ladies with Caroline at the helm are helping to find good, safe housing for people residing in the slums.”

  “Here, here,” said one male voice.

  “They currently have six families in the Irene Derry House and another house is being renovated as we speak,” Victoria said, smiling as the footmen carried trays of champagne and one was handed to Caroline.

  “So, while I’ve invited you here to partake in the music, food and drink, I would also remind you that Miss Derry and I,” she said touching a jeweled hand to her large bosom, “would welcome your contributions.”

  Caroline smiled awkwardly, not comfortable in asking for such financial assistance.

  “Let’s raise a glass to Miss Caroline Derry and her Guild members,” Victoria raised a champagne glass.

  “Miss Derry and her Guild members,” everyone said following suit.

  She was tapped on the arm and she turned to stare into the face of Peter Davies.

  “Mr. Davies! That was kind of Lady Lyttleton to invite you.” Caroline said smiling.

  “I suppose as an investor and member of the Guild she thought it appropriate,” he admitted.

  “It’s very appropriate. It’s good to see you,” she smiled.

  A footman passed by with a tray of glasses filled with champagne, and not thinking, Caroline discarded her empty one and reached for a new one.

  “I say!” Peter Davies called out. “How are you Inspector?”

  Caroline turned to see Val standing nearby and at Peter’s wave he joined them.

  “I’m well Mr. Davies. And you?”

  “Good. I’m excited to show you the new property. I think you’ll be impressed.” Peter said as he sipped his champagne.

  “What new property is this?” Caroline asked.

  “I’m thinking of a change,” Val said mysteriously.

  “He’s looking to join the world of matter and means. I’m going to show him the new homes they are building around Westminster.” Peter said smiling. “Elegant and well suited for the Inspector.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Caroline nodded.

  “We go to see the property tomorrow,” Val told her. “I would welcome your opinion of it.”

  “I don’t know of such things. We’ve lived in the townhouse my entire life,” she said.

  “Excuse me both, will you? Lady Lyttleton is flagging me down,” Peter said before he left them.

  They watched him go before they returned to their conversation.

  “That’s not true you know. You have experience now with your buildings,” he added.

  “My experience is quite scant but you’re welcome to it,” she said.

  “Excellent.”

  Stella walked by laughing with a drink in hand speaking to Rowland Pierce.

  “Your brother,“ she began as she watched them pass by.

  “Yes?”

  “I would not have guessed you were brothers,” she admitted.

  “Why is that?”

  “You seem very different.”

  “That’s true.”

  “He seems more outgoing,” she said.

  “He is.”

  “You seem more intelligent.”

  Val said nothing to this.

  “Are you your mother or father’s favorite?” She asked.

  “Neither. They both adore Rowland. But I guess it stands to reason as he’s the heir.”

  The gas lights burned low and the music drifted into the room from somewhere. Caroline took a long sip of her champagne and looked at Val. “If I had to choose between, Charles Lyttleton, Rowland Pierce, Peter Davies and yourself, I would choose you.”

  His eyes seemed dark in the low light. “And why is that?”

  “Because you are the most intelligent of all of them.” She reasoned.

  “Am I,” he asked slowly.

  “And,” she took another long sip of the glass and emptied it, “the most handsomer.”

  “The handsomest,” he corrected her even as he felt his heart skip a beat.

  “Handsomer,” she said and giggled.

  “How many glasses of champagne have you had, Miss Derry.”

  “One, maybe two.” She looked at the empty glass.

  “Maybe three or four,” he challenged.

  She shrugged and smiled. “It’s my night. Things are going well. We have a second house in the works. I’m celebrating.”

  “Let me take you home.”

  “I couldn’t. Not unchaperoned.” She seemed shocked.

  “I’ll tell your father. He’ll agree and you’ll be safe with me.”

  She shook her head. “I doubt it and I absolutely refuse.”

  “Get your wrap,” he ordered as he went to seek her father’s approval.

  Chapter 16

  Inside the carriage headed back to Mayfair, Caroline was sulking.

  “That was very rude. Taking me away from my guests,” she said pouting.

  Val tried to steer his thoughts away from her pouty mouth and what he ached to do. “Actually, they were not your guests. They were Lady Lyttleton’s guests.”

  “They were there to acknowledge my good works,” she returned.

  “Yes, they were,” he said.

  “Tell me Inspector. Do you normally become so close to the families of your victims?”

  “No. Never.”

  “Then I’m special,” she said with glee.

  “You are.”

  “How special?” She asked.

  “Very special.” He regretted offering to take her home. This carriage would last an eternity.

  As the carriage swayed, she suddenly moved to sit beside him. “I know you have been helping us. Trying to find who the killer is.”

  “I have been.”

  “I’m grateful. My family is too.”

  “There’s no need for gratitude. This is my duty.”

  “I know. Your duty. You are very strait-laced.”

  “Am I?” He watched her face in the dark.

  “You’ve only let your devil mask spill a few times.”

  “Well I’m half human,” he teased her. “And you are too lovely by far.”

  “Am I?” She smiled like a little child.

  “You are.”

  “A devil makes a poor partner though,” she said.

  “Unless his partner matches him,” he reasoned. “A devil needs someone sweet, pure, angelic.”

  “Or someone equally demonic,” she said smiling in the dark.

  She reached out to touch him and her hand skimmed inside his jacket.

  “Caroline go sit on your side.” He commanded.

  “Why should I?” She asked her eyes boring into his soul.

  “Because it’s best.”

  “You never said such things when you were trying to seduce me.” She told him lowly.

  “Are you trying to seduce me?” He asked, his voice husky in his ears.

  “I wouldn’t even know how,” she smiled.

  Just look at me like that, he thought.

  “I never tried to seduce you. I only kissed you.” He told her.

  “Only kissed me? That’s the beginning. That’s everything.” She said breathlessly.

  Val smiled. “What would a little innocent like you know of the beginning of a seduction?”

  “I know things.”

  “Like what things?” Why was his mouth suddenly so dry?

  She pressed her hand to his chest and moved it downward. “You should tell me to stop.”

  “Stop,” he said automatically.

  “You should grab me as they do in those me
lodrama plays, that’s what they always do.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because then you kiss me. And that’s all you really want to do.”

  Val tried to steady himself. “Be a good girl. Go sit on your side of the carriage and stop talking.”

  She looked to the other side of the carriage and then back at Val. “When you dream of me, what am I doing?”

  Oh my god, thought Val.

  “Who said I dream of you?” He asked.

  “Well it stands to reason. If I dream of you, you must dream of me,” she admitted.

  “Caroline—“ he began.

  “I want to whisper something to you, may I?”

  He shook his head but she leaned in and he strained himself to hear the words. Instead she said nothing but nipped his neck lightly. He groaned.

  He looked up at her and then grabbed her upper arms. “You’re drunk, Caroline!”

  “So? It feels lovely. Like floating,” she smiled at him and he released her.

  “Like floating?” He asked.

  “Yes. Why aren’t you floating too?’

  “Because I can hold my liquor unlike you,” he told her.

  “Should I marry Charles?” She said looking at him.

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Peter Davies?”

  “Equally no.”

  “You?” She teased him.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you asking me?” She wondered her brows arched.

  “Why don’t you sleep awhile? Until we reach the townhouse.”

  Caroline nodded. “I am sleepy. Can I sleep next to you?”

  He nodded though he did not want her to. She moved to sit close to him and placed her head on his shoulder.

  “You’ll be home soon enough,” he said.

  “I will make you a good wife.”

  “No doubt you would,” he agreed.

  “I’ll cook your favorite meals,” she said.

  “You probably can’t even make porridge,” he teased her.

  “I can’t,” she said looking up at him smiling.

  Val almost groaned. She stretched out her hand and he entwined it with his.

  “Val?” She asked sleepily.

  “Yes dearest?” He let the endearment slip out and she said nothing.

  He looked over at her and saw her eyes were closed. She was a lovely thing. In sleep she looked angelic and innocent. She was the perfect match for a devil as she had called him.

  “Don’t leave me,” she said suddenly. Her voice a whisper.

  “I won’t. We should be home soon.”

  “And then we can plan our engagement,” she whispered.

  Val smiled. “Yes. Then we’ll plan our engagement.”

  The carriage seemed to last an eternity and Val was stuck in a beautiful, hellish heaven. He could smell the jasmine perfume that clung to her and when she fell asleep her arm draped along the inside of his thigh. He would give his soul to kiss her mouth and press her against the cushions, but he would never take her in the carriage like some doxy.

  He ached for her but even sober he could do almost nothing. The kisses he had stolen up until this moment had been exquisite bits of torture that had happened and nothing more.

  Societal dictates were in place and she was a well brought up daughter from a good family so it ended there. As the carriage swayed in the night, he imagined a life with Caroline. Coming home to her each night, a quiet dinner with only the two of them. Reading, attending the theater, discussing the latest books. He would come home and relay his cases to her; she would tell him about her social work.

  And at night. He sighed. At night he would spend his time making sure she never forgot how much he adored her. Then with the natural occurrence of time, children would follow. Caroline was loving and kind, she would make a good mother.

  He looked down at her sleeping face and smiled. She must be protected and looked after.

  When they finally arrived in Mayfair, Val watched as the maid walked a very drunk and sleepy Caroline upstairs to her room. He would see her again soon enough. They had plans for the next morning to see the house he might purchase.

  ✽✽✽

  Caroline opened her eyes slowly and even the soft morning light from the windows was jarring to her.

  “Oh god,” she muttered.

  Dressing slowly for breakfast she went downstairs and was greeted by her father and grandmother.

  “Dearest,” her grandmother said smiling.

  “My head hurts and the sun is far too bright,” she told them both in an almost whisper.

  Her father grinned. “Perhaps, daughter, you drank too much champagne last night.”

  “I don’t remember that,” she said.

  “I daresay you don’t remember the night at all,” he teased.

  She sipped on her coffee and looked up. “I remember the night Father. I remember talking to Val quite a bit and the party.”

  “Val?” Her grandmother quizzed.

  “The Inspector.” Caroline clarified.

  “Yes. He took you home.” Hubert nodded and returned to his newspaper.

  “He took me home?” Caroline repeated.

  “Yes. You were a bit too tipsy, my dear and it was still early. So, he offered and I saw nothing wrong with it. He’s a Detective Chief Inspector after all.” Hubert reasoned.

  “It was a long drive, but fine,” she said though she remembered very little of it. “We’re supposed to meet this morning. He wants my advice on a new house. He’s thinking of a change.”

  “That’s excellent,” Hubert nodded. “The man needs to move on and up in the world. Most likely he’ll be made Superintendent soon. He’s just what this city needs. Good, decent men.”

  ✽✽✽

  Pulling out her black gown she laid it beside her other gown made of lavender. It was a deep lavender color with a scooped neckline and quarter length sleeves. She looked at them both and decided upon the lavender gown. She did not want to be disrespectful to her sister’s memory but it was her grandmother who said they could transition slowly to the half mourning colors.

  Coming downstairs, her grandmother caught a glimpse of her.

  “You look very fine in that gown, Caroline. I’m glad you’ve taken my advice,” she smiled.

  “Yes Gran, I’m late,” she said kissing the older woman’s cheek and stepping outside to the hansom cab Wilmot had secured.

  Val had given her directions to the property’s address and it was a quick jaunt to Westminster. When they arrived, Peter Davies was outside and he greeted her.

  “Ah, Miss Derry,” Peter Davies said as he joined her. “Glad you could come. I understand our Inspector values your opinion.”

  “It’s flattering to be asked but I’m sure you know much more of these things than I. And surely, he will be able to tell with his own eyes,” she smiled.

  Peter shrugged. “You never can tell with these things. People see different things. Come. I don’t have much time. I’ll show you the property and leave the key with you so you can show the Inspector.”

  “I show it?” She said confused.

  “Yes, my dear. I have another appointment and I’m afraid I can only wait a short time.”

  Just as he said, Peter Davies hastily showed her the spacious property as they walked through it together before he looked at his pocket watch, gave her the key and departed.

  Caroline sighed. She sat on the vacant window seat which overlooked the street and counted the minutes. She would wait ten minutes and then be on her way. She heard movement in the next room and she saw Val striding towards her in a dark suit with a lighter colored waistcoat.

  “Caroline? Miss Derry,” he corrected himself. “Where is Mr. Davies?”

  “He had another appointment. He left me the key and showed me about. So, I’m your interim estate agent,” she smiled.

  “A nice surprise,” he waved a hand. “After you.”

  She nodded. “It’s quite lovely, th
e home.”

  Together they walked into the reception hall and he followed her as she made a circular motion through the first floor of the home.

  “Here’s the dining room, the pantry and kitchen, the porch, the den and the living room,” she pointed out each room as they entered it.

  “The oak flooring and wood throughout is very attractive,” Val commented.

  “I agree. It’s very warm and welcoming,” she said opening the French doors to the next room. “Here’s the sun room,” she motioned to it.

  “I do like a conservatory or sun room as they call it. To be able to sit inside and read while still enjoying nature.” He looked about the warm room.

  “You could plan a garden outside to enjoy the flowers,” she mentioned.

  “Do you garden?” He asked.

  “No but I admire them.” She went out into the hallway. “Shall we go upstairs?”

  He followed her up the staircase and looked at the layout.

  “There are four bedrooms with closets, two bathrooms with indoor plumbing and a sleeping porch,” she pointed each out to him.

  “Four bedrooms?” He said.

  “Yes. Each room has a dressing room and a stairway to the attic for storage. The servants’ quarters are completely separate and have a stairway to the kitchen.”

  They walked together through each of the bedrooms passing the bathrooms, which Val admired for their indoor plumbing. He turned on the water and it rushed out. Caroline smiled as they continued to move through the rooms making a second circular motion. At the last bedroom there was a deck and they stepped out into the sunshine.

  An older couple was passing by with their dog and the man doffed his hat off to them.

  “You’ll love the neighborhood,” he said smiling up at them. “My wife thoroughly enjoys it. I’ll wager a guinea your wife will do the same,” he said moving on his way.

  Leaning against the railing he gazed at Caroline softly.

  “The house is too large for one person.” He began.

  “You’ll have a Cook, a valet and a maid no doubt,” she countered.

  “They will see to my needs, but only a wife can assuage other needs,” he said lowly.

  Caroline looked away. “Indecent,” she muttered.

  “You said you would make me a good wife in the carriage ride home,” he told her.