by Helen Goltz
‘Can I leave you to discuss what needs to be done and deliver by the deadline?’
‘Of course, Mrs Lawson,’ Matilda agreed, moving to evacuate the editor’s office.
Alice looked thrilled. ‘Thank you, I’m sure we shall achieve a great deal.’
Matilda laughed. ‘Let’s start.’
One hour later, as Matilda departed from The Women’s Journal office with a firm plan in place, she felt a little more relieved that she did not have to face the ladies of the “Freak Show” by herself. One other small thought nagged at her – Mrs Lawsons’ reminder that indeed Thomas could do as he pleased as a single man. Not that she had a right to be, but she felt just a little envious of the applicant of the rouge on the detective’s collar.
*****
‘What have we got?’ Harry asked bearing two large cups of tea, the contents the colour of dishwater, as he joined Thomas in his office.
Thomas grimaced, but thanked his partner. After all, it was the thought that counted, he conceded, even if Harry couldn’t make a cup of tea to save himself. Thomas seated himself on the edge of the desk while Harry grabbed a piece of chalk in readiness to fill in their blackboard, which still had two other current cases on it.
Thomas gulped the weak but hot tea and began. ‘Mr Alfred E. Burnham, Freak Show proprietor, bludgeoned to death by one or several hands – the blows inflicted multiple times to the body and throat. Exhibitors of his show that we interviewed say they are happy with their wages and touring conditions, but that requires some further digging and once we find out if any of the exhibitors have criminal records, I’d like to speak to them with our translator and without Mrs Wilks present.’
Harry agreed. ‘Speaking of which, we have a manager and his wife who is second-in-charge – Morris and Irina Wilks – now running the show. Perhaps they thought they could do a better job of running it and it is now convenient that Mr Burnham is out of the way.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ Thomas mused. He waited while Harry caught up on scribbling the names and motives. Checking the pages of transcript from the constable and his own scribbled notes, Thomas continued. ‘We’ve got the giantess’s husband, Carl Tufton, who saw Mr Burnham that night to discuss an increase in his wife’s wages or a share in the profit; he probably thinks his wife is the major attraction. We’ve got the giantess herself, Anna Tufton, who says she wants a divorce and nothing more to do with her husband. She might have thought getting rid of Burnham would close the circus down and she’d be free of obligation.’
‘Or the giantess could have agreed with her husband that she was worth more, they could be in on it together,’ Harry mused, putting chalk dust on his suit as he crossed his arms to view the board. ‘It’s a little odd that she hired legal help before speaking with us.’
‘Yes, although Amos says that was about her potential divorce and it was just opportune, in his opinion, that he was there,’ Thomas agreed. ‘But it is odd that she should request his services that very morning when Burnham is found dead… or was it a coincidence?’
‘I think she knows something for sure,’ Harry said and, finishing his tea, thumped his large cup down on the table.
Thomas continued on that train of thought. ‘And I’d like to know exactly what the giantess said to get Matilda and Amos there to see her before we questioned her. Why the urgency if it was just a divorce query and was she surprised Burnham was dead or did she know?’
‘Or, it might have been an uprising and every member of the Freak Show surrounded Burnham and took a turn at delivering a blow,’ Harry said, and visibly shuddered.
‘Maybe he was cruel or miserly,’ Thomas added.
‘Well, we’ve got plenty to keep us busy then.’ Harry sighed. ‘By the way, did you want me to have a word with Miss Matilda Hayward about her timely arrival at the Freak Show this morning and how that came about?’ Harry asked, teasing Thomas.
Thomas snapped to look at him at the mention of Matilda’s name and saw him smiling.
‘You’ll keep,’ he said with a wince.
Harry laughed. ‘It’s a shame you didn’t look your best this morning; Miss Hayward looked lovely.’
‘Yes, she pointed out to me I looked below her standards.’ Thomas scowled at the memory.
‘Let’s start at the top and work our way down then,’ Harry said, looking at the names on the board.
Thomas agreed. He thought about interrogating Matilda, and the thought secretly thrilled him. He decided it was best to leave that for a day or two and approach her with a fresh shirt and no smell of liquor upon his breath.
Chapter 14
Mrs Samuel Bloomfield – Aunt Audrey – peered over the Hayward family cook’s shoulder to personally inspect the roast for tonight’s birthday dinner. It glistened with juices, was perfectly browned, and the smell was mouth-watering.
Cook held the roast out for inspection. Years of cooking and many offers to move to grander households had never swayed her and mainly for that reason – Audrey might poke her nose into the kitchen a few times a year, but Mr Hayward gave Cook complete free rein and now in her fifties, she did not feel the need to cower to a family matron. Besides, several nights a week Mr Hayward liked cold roast meats and salads, so that was what the entire family ate. It was wonderfully easy, and Cook could finish early for the day. It also allowed Cook to use leftovers, and with her spare time to bake some sweets as a treat for the boys – she refused to acknowledge they were grown men able to feed themselves. Daniel’s favourite was her jam roly-poly, while the twins loved Cook’s lemon meringue pie. She thought of dear, sweet Amos and his fondness for her bread-and-butter pudding. As for Mr Hayward, he loved a good sponge cake – a man most easy to please. Matilda never had a sweet tooth, even as a child – most unusual in a young lady.
‘Ma’am?’ Cook asked, waiting for the verdict.
‘It’s perfect,’ Aunt Audrey said with a sigh. ‘I wish you would consider my offer to join my household. If you were worried for Mr Hayward, I assure you I could recommend an accomplished cook to meet the family’s needs,’ Audrey said, full of her own self-importance. ‘I do have to entertain the mayor, the minister and several town committee members regularly.’
The cook put the roast back into the cooking stove and straightened up. ‘I’m flattered, Mrs Bloomfield, but I’ve become attached to the family and the household, and it’s my home.’
Audrey sighed. ‘I understand.’ She frowned at the sound of rowdiness coming down the Hayward family hallway and followed the noise, leaving the cook in peace.
Audrey entered the drawing-room.
‘Aunt Audrey, you’re here,’ her favourite Hayward, Amos, said, breaking away from his brothers who were raiding their father’s bar.
‘I am, dear boy.’ She accepted a kiss from him on the cheek. ‘How are you, Minnie?’
‘Very well, thank you, Aunt,’ Minnie said, giving a brief nod and a demure smile.
‘A charming shade of blue.’ Audrey commended Minnie’s gown.
Mr Hayward entered the drawing-room with Daniel, who appeared slightly out of breath as he rushed to make the required time.
‘Hello Audrey.’ Mr Hayward addressed his sister. ‘Ah, we are almost all here.’ He glanced around and did a quick head count. All boys, no girl. ‘And here are the birthday boys,’ he said, accepting a brandy from Elijah, the elder twin by twelve minutes.
‘Goodness, three-and-twenty today,’ Matilda said as she entered the room and was greeted by her rowdy family.
‘Yes, your days of sowing your wild oats are over, surely,’ Audrey said with a glance to Gideon. Elijah was eminently more sensible.
Gideon sighed and looked at his twin. ‘I guess, brother, we should soon take ourselves off the market and make two lovely ladies very lucky.’
Elijah chuckled. ‘I’ll begin the process immediately. I’m sure Matilda, Minnie and Aunt Audrey would welcome some more ladies around the table.’
�
�Did someone say table?’ Harriet asked, entering the room. ‘Dinner is ready, sir,’ she said to Mr Hayward.
‘Thank you, Harriet. Shall we move into the dining room?’ Mr Hayward suggested and offered Audrey his arm.
Daniel did the same for Matilda.
‘That’s the birthday boy’s honour.’ Gideon sidestepped Daniel and offered his arm to his little sister.
Daniel stepped back and offered his crooked arm to Elijah, as Matilda laughed at their antics and happily accepted.
Audrey glanced back at the pair. ‘So, Matilda—’
‘Still not married, Aunt Audrey,’ Matilda cut her off, and Audrey had the good grace to smile.
‘Then I shall challenge your brothers to get motivated and bring home a range of suitable suitors for you.’
‘Quite so,’ Mr Hayward agreed and turned to give Matilda a wink.
‘More importantly,’ Gideon cut in, waiting until the ladies were seated at the dining table and then taking his seat, ‘Matilda should bring home suitable acquaintances for her brothers to meet.’
‘Well,’ Audrey pondered Gideon’s suggestion, ‘that is actually a good idea.’
Gideon beamed and kicked Matilda under the table.
‘Yes, perhaps you are right. The sooner you move out the better,’ she teased him.
Mr Hayward sided with his sister. ‘Audrey has a point; you don’t want to miss out on all the best catches. Look at your brother – Amos has led the way with a fortunate marriage to a beautiful young lady.’
Minnie beamed and smiled at Amos, who returned the favour; Gideon rolled his eyes and his father continued, ‘as Daniel is dragging the chain, then Elijah, Gideon, I believe you should both step up to bring this family some marital joy.’
Matilda smiled. For once she was happy to have the marital spotlight off herself. That changed quickly.
‘I don’t see why Daniel gets off so lightly, Gideon complained. ‘He’s three years older and next to go. Surely there’s someone desperate enough to marry him.’
‘Because it is your birthday and the focus is off me for tonight,’ Daniel reminded him. ‘If I’m lucky, I may marry before my next birthday, so we won’t need to revisit this discussion.’
‘Really? Do you have a young lady in mind, Daniel?’ Aunt Audrey asked with renewed interest in the conversation.
‘I am sorry to say, Aunt, that I have not met the future Mrs Daniel Hayward yet.’
Aunt Audrey sighed. She wasn’t one for frivolous conversations, she wanted action and an outcome.
‘So, sister, do you have any respectable friends that you can introduce to your twin brothers?’ Gideon asked.
Matilda smiled. ‘It depends. The last time you deigned to take one of my friends out for tea, you behaved most despicably, Gideon,’ she teased him. ‘She never heard from you again.’
‘I’m sure that was Elijah,’ Gideon said, ‘we’re hard to tell apart.’
Elijah grimaced, no stranger to his twin’s antics. Minnie laughed; she had a soft spot for Gideon, being so silly to Amos’s sensible nature.
‘Actually,’ Matilda continued, ‘I have a new writing partner and we’re doing some profile pieces together – her name is Miss Alice Doran, and she is quite lovely. But Daniel will meet her first.’
‘Excellent news,’ Daniel said. ‘Since I’m dragging the chain and all. Regardless, she’s bound to go for me as most handsome of all the brothers.’
‘Speaking of handsome and eligible suitors, where is Thomas tonight?’ Aunt Audrey asked abruptly. ‘I can’t remember a family event he hasn’t been at for a long time.’
‘Working.’ Daniel spoke for his friend. ‘There’s been a spate of murders and assaults and he’s behind his case closure rate.’
‘I heard that there had been an increase in assaults against women,’ Elijah added.
Mr Hayward nodded. ‘Amos and I have heard as much in our legal circles.’
‘Dreadful and hardly dinner conversation.’ Aunt Audrey shook her head. ‘This push for the vote would not be helping.’
‘It’s inevitable,’ Amos said. ‘South Australian women can now vote and stand for parliament.’
‘I don’t understand why you would want to,’ Minnie said, believing her beauty and accomplishments far superior to engaging in politics and having to make decisions not related to house and home. She continued, ‘It’s so boring and I don’t want to have to learn about the parties so I can cast a vote. I’ll just vote the same as you, Amos,’ she said, looking to her husband.
Daniel jumped in, seeing Matilda about to speak. ‘Well, the good thing is, Minnie, you can do that if you want to, or you can vote if you have your own preference. Let’s say the birthday boys decided to run for office, well you could vote for them.’
Gideon laughed, but Elijah seemed to consider the idea eminently sensible. Matilda turned to her aunt.
‘Do you support it, Aunt Audrey, the vote I mean?’ She never really knew which way her aunt might sway – she was an astute and clever woman but also traditional in many ways.
‘Indeed I do, Matilda. If a woman can run a household, I suspect she can run the country or at least should have a say in it,’ she said most firmly.
Matilda’s eyes widened with surprise.
‘You need not look so surprised, Matilda. You know I am involved in many areas of the community and the right people in office can make all the difference. However,’ she raised her eyebrows at her niece, ‘as a poet said, “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world,” so you my girl will have more power with motherhood.’
Matilda’s face fell and her brothers around her smiled.
‘To motherhood then, eventually for Matilda and Minnie if they so choose,’ Gideon said, holding up his glass for a toast.
‘You are just lucky it is your birthday,’ Matilda said, joining in the toast, ‘but tomorrow it isn’t!’
Chapter 15
It was after nine that evening when Thomas walked up the front path. He never thought he’d admit it, but returning to a home with someone inside, the lamps lit, and the smell of cooking wafting out, made for a welcome change – even if it was his nephew. Edward had arrived several days ago but up until now; Thomas had barely been home to set eyes upon him. He sighed, remembering the last time he had a day off and enjoyed some company that wasn’t work-related or a drink at the club with his colleagues. It was last Sunday’s lunch at the Haywards’. Which got him thinking… that doctor friend of Elijah’s better not have bloody well gone to the twins’ birthday dinner. He imagined some toffee-nosed snob charming Matilda. His partner, Harry, was right. She was beautiful, she was of marriageable age, and she wouldn’t go unnoticed by the men of the town. For once he was pleased that she was headstrong and not seeking a husband. However, should she fall in love…
He closed the front door behind him, hung his hat over the hook near the front door, and proceeded down the hallway, treading a well-worn path to the living areas. He heard the noise before he saw his nephew.
‘Teddy?’
‘In here, Uncle, I’m glad you’re in. I’ve cooked us up some dinner and kept your serve warm,’ he said, looking pleased with himself. ‘Have you eaten?’
‘No, I’m starving, thanks.’ Thomas smiled at his tall, rough, red-haired nephew, who looked too large for the kitchen; he would be more at home in the lumberyard. Teddy rose from the table where he had been working his way through the daily Brisbane Courier.
‘Smells fantastic, where did you learn to cook?’ Thomas looked in at the large pot of stew and inhaled the aroma from its steam.
‘I was an apprentice cook for a while, but that fell through. Sit down then and I’ll serve you up a bowl.’
Thomas grinned; his wild nephew was known to speak before he thought, and he didn’t have to ask what became of that job.
‘I’m thinking of trying for it again though, I enjoy cooking.’
‘How far did you get along?’ Thomas asked.
‘My apprenticeship is half done; the references won’t be great though.’ He shrugged.
‘Well, if you partner with another hothead, he’ll understand. I’ll ask around,’ Thomas said, throwing his coat over a nearby chair. ‘Someone must owe me a favour.’
Teddy chuckled. He placed the bowl of stew in front of his uncle.
‘This is excellent,’ Thomas said and picking up his fork, he dug in, giving an appreciative groan.
‘I’m making a cup of tea; will you have one?’
‘Yes, please. You know you don’t have to cook just because you’re staying here. You can focus on finding some work.’
‘I did that today too.’ He gave a nod to the newspaper on the table near his uncle. ‘Speaking of staying here, I saw some tools out the back. I was thinking your place could do with a bit of work and a lick of paint would not go astray. I like to keep busy.’
Thomas looked around. ‘It could do with a lot of things. I confess I haven’t touched it since Dad left; he’d be disappointed if he visited. I welcome all improvements.’
‘The curtains should go immediately,’ Teddy said. ‘I never saw you as a pink-chequered type of bloke.’
‘I picked those myself,’ Thomas joked as Teddy sat down with two cups of tea and joined his uncle.
‘Have you been working on that freak show murder today? I heard about it… everyone around town was talking about it.’
‘What are they saying?’ Thomas stopped eating long enough to have a mouthful of tea.
‘That the inmates got fed up and murdered the master of ceremonies, the owner,’ Teddy said.
Thomas made a humph sound. ‘Any reason they got fed up? The deceased had previously boasted about them all being one big happy family.’
Teddy shrugged. ‘The guy in the butcher shop when I went in to talk about a job and get a cut for tonight’s dinner said that the owner and manager were making big profits and the freaks were getting paid next to nothing. He said that one cook at the freak show came in to get some meat and got quality cuts for the management and cheap offcuts for the rest. He said that the meals for the freaks were full of bread to make them go further.’