“I did not!” She gasped.
“You did.”
“You also said you would cook my favorite meals.” He recalled.
“Now I know you’re lying. I don’t cook.” She smiled.
“That’s what I said. Then you said, we should plan our engagement,” he told her coolly.
“Our engagement? I don’t remember you asking me to marry you.”
He pulled her towards him holding her in his arms. “Caroline. If I take this house in my next step towards becoming a member of society, it’s with the intent that one day you’ll be mistress of it.”
She felt her heart flip at his words. “Val you shouldn’t—“ she pressed a hand to his chest.
“I don’t need an answer because there’s no question. I want you to know. I want you to understand that my intent is such. You don’t need to do anything.”
“You don’t want to know what I think about this?” She asked him.
“I do want to know. Someday. Just not today,” he said smiling.
He kissed the tip of her nose and released her. “It seems like Mr. Davies has a buyer.”
“It is beautiful.” She looked out about them at the new houses being built and the lawns of green.
They left the deck and walked back into the room. “So, what do you say, desk and chair there,” he pointed, “two tables there,” he pointed, “and the bed here.”
“I’m not indulging you.” She returned.
“How cruel! To be so insensitive to your fiancée,” he teased her.
“I’m sure you must get back to the office,” she said as they walked down the intricately carved stairs.
“And you? What plans do you have?”
“Visit the tenants, check on the plans for the second house and tea with my friend Prudence at Claridge’s.”
“It sounds like a day well spent,” he nodded.
She locked the door behind them and gave him the key to the house to return to the estate agent.
“Thank you for taking the time to show me the house. You didn’t have to.” He added.
“I’m glad you liked it. I think it will suit you well.”
“It will,” he smiled and hailed a cab and they parted ways.
✽✽✽
Val had only been in his office long enough to hang up his coat and hat before Felix entered the room.
“Where have you been?” He asked frustration in his voice.
Val gave him a look and he backed down a little. “Sir. Another body has been found.”
“A woman?” Val straightened.
“Yes.”
“Where was she found and when?”
“She was found this morning. At Regent’s Park.”
“Damn,” Val swore suddenly. “I thought we’d get him before this.” He retrieved his hat and coat. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 17
Felix and Val traveled to the edge of Regent’s Park where the body had been found. Val hated that the killer chose the prettiest spots in London to place his menacing deeds for the world to see. When they arrived at the scene, two constables were standing watch over the body which had been covered with a blanket.
“Who found her?” Val asked.
One constable pointed to an older man who was standing nearby with his scruffy little black dog. Val nodded to Felix who went to speak to the man.
“I’m Detective Sergeant Felix Grant. You are?” He asked the man.
“I’m Jim Terrance. This here is Roger,” he said pointing to the dog.
Felix glanced down at Roger who cocked his head at him.
“Did you see anything Sir?” He asked the eyewitness.
“What do you mean did I see anything? Ain’t that a dead body over there? Is that enough?”
Felix sighed. “Before that Sir. Did you see anyone leaving? Did you see anything strange?”
The witness seemed to give this question much thought before answering. “Well now that you mention it, Roger did seem a little upset. He barked more than usual.”
“Why do you think that was?”
“Can’t say. Roger don’t like everybody. He likes you though,” the man said.
Felix looked down at the dog who looked back at him.
“Can you give me your home address?” Felix asked. “We may need to ask you more questions.”
The man did as Felix asked and then nodded. “And when you do come, bring shortbread biscuits.”
“Why would I do that, Sir?”
“Roger likes them.”
Felix shook his head as the man and his dog walked away. “Loon.” Then walked back to Val who was crouching over the body.
He watched as Val made several notes in his notebook and then stood up. “Strangled. Poised. Primrose.”
Felix nodded. “Our witness didn’t see much. The dog is probably smarter than his master anyways,” he added.
Val continued to stare at the woman.
“It will probably be some time before we know who she is,” Felix said.
Val shook his head. “I know exactly who she is.”
✽✽✽
Caroline brushed down her lavender colored skirt as she entered the hansom cab. She was pleased with herself. Her meeting with Peter Davies had gone very well. The second house was being renovated and quicker than the first because he had the men lined up from the first house and ready to begin.
The tenants in the Irene Derry House were doing better than she had expected. Two of the women were working with Stella to improve their education and were being tutored in their reading and writing, while one of the older daughters was interested in becoming a lady’s maid.
Caroline would have to ask Lady Lyttleton if anyone in her circle needed a maid to be trained. One of the older gentlemen in the house was drinking to excess so she had to speak to him about that. She didn’t want the family to suffer because of his addiction.
All in all, she was pleased with the day’s events and couldn’t wait to tell her grandmother and father about the progress. She settled into the cab for the short ride to the hotel for tea.
She thought back to the morning with Val and smiled. The house was a beautiful one. It was new and well-constructed with beautiful wood flooring and handsome colors; it would be a home to be proud of.
She could imagine herself coming down the stairs and greeting guests as she welcomed them into her home. She blushed at the thought. She found Valentine Pierce was on her mind often. She respected him as a man. When he kissed her, she felt things she had never experienced. When he said he had taken the house with the intent that one day she would be mistress of it, her heart had skipped a beat.
His eyes were warm upon her when he said it and she knew he was not playing games. He was sincere. He meant it, but what did it mean? There was too much she wanted to achieve, too much she wanted to do, and a husband was not something she had ever thought of. She had her father’s name, his protection and money, and it helped her begin to change the city she loved into a city she would be proud of.
When she entered Claridge’s she took a table overlooking the street and ordered a pot of tea. She would wait for Prudence to arrive before she ordered food. She looked at the afternoon sky and watched the people walk past the window and the carriages move along.
She smiled. Things were going well. It was almost too perfect to be believed. The housing project was moving forward, everything was going right. She sipped her tea and was so taken in by the street life outside that she didn’t realize someone was standing beside her.
“Miss Derry.”
She smiled and looked up and then frowned when she saw Val. “Inspector. What brings you here?”
“I need to speak with you.”
“I’m meeting my friend here. I think I told you.”
“This is important. Please.”
“Very well. Is everything all right? Is my father ill?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Gran?”
He sho
ok his head again. “Please come with me.” He held out his hand. “I’ll leave word with the hostess that you needed to leave.”
Caroline stood up and took his hand even as Val paid for the tea. “You’re scaring me,” she said softly so no one would hear.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to.” He added. “I’ll take you home.”
In the short carriage ride home, Val said nothing. Caroline looked outside as the horse drawn carriages and pedestrians went about their business. When they arrived home, no one was in except the servants.
“Let’s go into the parlor, shall we?” He directed, and when they entered it, he immediately went to the small bar and poured out two brandies.
“I don’t care for brandy,” she told him.
He acted as if he hadn’t heard her and pressed it into her hand.
“What is this all about? You’re acting very strange.”
He took a deep breath and they both sat on the couch.
“I honestly don’t know how to tell you. I would give anything not to have to tell you this Caroline,” he said, and Caroline saw the tears in his eyes.
“Val, what is it? Please.” Her heart was thudding inside her chest.
He took a deep breath. “A body was found this morning in St. Regents Park.”
“No. Not another one,” she said staring down into the glass.
“It seems it’s the same killer. There was a primrose found on her.”
Caroline shook her head. “He’s a mad man.”
“Caroline. Listen to me. I saw the body. I know who it was. And she’s been identified by her family.”
“She has? Who is she?”
“Caroline, it’s Prudence Finch.”
“Prudence? Oh no. You’re mistaken. Prudie was at the supper last night. She was there, you saw her.”
“I did.”
“So, you’ll have to tell them it was a mistake. It’s someone else.”
“It’s not someone else. I saw her myself. I remembered her from the party. And her family has identified her.”
“No,” Caroline shook her head.
“Caroline.”
“What is this?” The glass she was holding fell to the floor as she turned to him. “What’s going on? Why was my sister killed and now my dearest friend? Why are women being hunted down and killed in London—why? Am I next? Am I?” She said, her voice rising.
“I was just as shocked when I saw her. I had hoped there wouldn’t be a fifth victim. I had hoped to stop him long before now.”
“But you haven’t. You haven’t stopped him! You’ve let him do this. How long has my sister been dead and nothing has been done. And now Prudie is gone.”
“Caroline, please. You don’t how many people we’ve interviewed trying to link the murders together to find a common thread. I do have a lead but—“
“But what?” She stood up and he stood as well. “What? Instead of trying to seduce me at every turn—“
He grabbed her arms. “Caroline! I know you’re overwrought and I know this news is dreadful but you can’t do this. You can’t blame me! I’m trying to find the killer. I’m trying to get justice for these women.”
She wrested out of his grip. “Are you? Five women are dead in this city, and you’re no closer to finding the killer than you were with the first victim.”
Val looked away. “I don’t want to fight with you. I am sorry about this. I truly am.”
Caroline said nothing.
Val nodded. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I knew you were at Claridge’s so I came to tell you what had happened.”
“At every turn you seem to be ruining my life. Everyone is dying around me and nothing is being done.”
“Caroline—“
“Just leave, please. You’re like the angel of death,” she said with angry tears in her eyes.
Val sighed and left the room. When Caroline heard the door open and close, she sat back down on the couch and closed her eyes tightly. She had handled that all wrong, lashing out at Val when he had done nothing wrong. She felt horrible and angry at herself. When she thought of Prudie lying cold and alone in the morgue she threw an arm over her forehead and let the hot tears spill out.
✽✽✽
Val felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders as he left Caroline’s townhouse and headed back to the office. He knew she was angry and lashing out but her words stung him deeply. He felt angry and unhappy when he returned to the station. Felix was at his desk reviewing files when he returned.
“Let’s go take another look at the opium den,” he said.
“Right Sir,” Felix said sharply.
It was almost sunset when they arrived at the opium den. Val knocked on the front door but they gained entrance through the back door as they had done before. Once inside they were in for a surprise.
“Oh, Jesus and the saints,” Felix swore as they made their way through the den.
The den was almost entirely empty. There was some trash here and there but no furniture, no red lanterns and almost nothing to give them any clue about the occupants.
Val shook his head as they walked through the empty rooms. He kicked at the trash left behind and bent down to rummage through it. Old newspapers and bits of nothing so he moved on. In the last room that was actually the front room nearest the main door there was another pile of trash. Felix moved away from it but Val bent down to look through it.
When he saw the object he almost started to grin. All this time he had had his doubts, but no longer. He thought perhaps he was trying to make leads where there were none. But now here was the proof in his hand. He smiled and called out to Felix.
He showed him the object and Felix whistled lowly. “I’ll be damned.”
“He’s playing with us. I’ll make him rue the day,” Val promised as he looked down.
Inside the palm of his hand was a beautifully formed primrose left behind by the killer as a token to taunt Val. He placed it in his jacket pocket.
“Let’s go.”
✽✽✽
Caroline picked at her mutton while her father and grandmother ate their dinner with gusto.
“What’s wrong, my dear?” Her grandmother asked.
“I was going to save it until after dinner. It’s not for table discussion.” She told them both.
“Has something happened?” Her father asked.
“Yes.”
“Something bad.”
She nodded.
“Let’s leave it for after dinner. In the meantime, do you want something lighter? Bread and cheese? Soup? Broth?” Malvina asked.
“No Gran.” She took a long sip of the water.
“Something else is troubling you?”
“I quarreled with the Inspector. With Val. I’m afraid I was very cruel to him.”
Hubert smiled at this. “No doubt he understood you were not yourself.”
“That’s not an excuse. I’ll send him a note tomorrow.”
After dinner, the trio retired to the parlor for coffee and brandy. Hubert pulled out his cigar while the women were served coffee.
When Caroline told them the news of Prudence’s death, they were both shocked.
“This is dreadful. Makes you not want to walk the streets of London,” Malvina said.
“You must take care, Caroline. I don’t want you out alone after dark.” Her father said. “Until this is resolved you must take care. You must take the greatest of care.”
“I will Father. Of course, I will.”
“I will write to Prudence’s family with our condolences,” Malvina said.
“I will as well. I’m going to retire, good night,” Caroline said wearily and kissed them both on the cheek.
Upstairs she undressed and pulled on her shift but she lay in bed for several hours staring out the window and watching the wind flick the trees about. When she finally did sleep her dreams were clouded with death and despair.
✽✽✽
Coming downstairs the next mo
rning, her grandmother was seated at the breakfast table reading Punch, the weekly magazine that focused on humor and satire.
“My dear, you’ve made this week’s edition of Punch,” Malvina said slowly.
“What?” She asked frowning. “That’s not possible. Why would I be in a magazine?”
Handing the magazine to her, Caroline read the small paragraph about the strangler still on the loose and Inspector Pierce romancing the sister of one of the primrose victims.
“They can’t do this!” She said shocked.
“They’ve done it,” her grandmother returned.
Caroline looked about the room and then realized what she must do. “I must speak to Val’s Superintendent. I may be angry with him and that may be misplaced, but I won’t let this rag besmirch his reputation.”
Malvina nodded. “That is commendable.”
“I can do no less. I can’t just let this go,” she told her grandmother.
Caroline dressed quickly and taking the magazine in hand she made her way to the Metropolitan police station. Instead of seeking out Val, she asked to see the Superintendent. The clerk brought her to his office and she entered it.
“Superintendent Osgood this lady needs to see you,” the clerk said.
“Miss—“
“I’m Miss Derry,” she identified herself. “Caroline Derry.”
The Superintendent seemed to look behind her for a second and she heard the door close.
“I came here as quickly as I could. I understand that this rag,” she placed the magazine on his desk, “has written some libelous filth about myself and the detective working my sister’s case.”
“Please Miss Derry—“
“I wanted to come here right away to inform you that Inspector Pierce has been very dedicated to the case and there is absolutely nothing between us.”
“Is that so?”
“Nothing beyond a proper working relationship,” she added. “I wouldn’t want his reputation harmed because some drivel that’s printed to sell magazines.”
“Hmmm.” He nodded. “And you were coming to tell me what, Inspector?” He directed the question behind her.
Caroline turned to see Val standing in a corner of the office that she had not seen before. His arms were crossed over his chest but he uncrossed them as he moved toward them both.
Of Night and Dark Obscurity Page 19