Mr Grove paused before he spoke again. ‘He has told us all that he is going to. Once he was guaranteed his life he admitted to the killing of George Farrow. As you guessed, he lured him into the coach house on the pretext of a private conference, strangled him with a rope and then pretended that Farrow had hanged himself out of remorse. He did, however, continue to insist that Farrow confessed to the murder of Miss Hicks, since that provided him with a convenient excuse for his anger. We are sure that her killer was actually Toop, but I doubt that we can prove it. He also admitted that Farrow supplied him with information about government projects, which he gleaned from his father’s papers. As we surmised, Toop initially earned Farrow’s gratitude by dealing with a blackmailer after he was sent down from university, and then effectively became one himself. He would not admit to being a traitor, of course, but then we could never have arranged clemency for that.’
‘So he would not name his masters?’
‘No, and he never will. He was found hanged in his cell yesterday morning.’
‘What – suicide?’
‘It was hard to tell. Either his associates silenced him before he could betray them, or he realised that hanging would be a more merciful death than they would grant him if he did.’
‘His poor father,’ said Frances. ‘I can hardly imagine what he must be suffering.’
‘He will never know the full story. That is all we can do to soften his grief.’ Grove rose to his feet and offered Frances his arm. ‘Shall we walk?’
She rested her hand on his arm and they strolled in the direction of the Italian water gardens.
‘I have been empowered to make you a formal proposition.’
‘Oh?’
‘Until now, your work as a government agent has been little more than the transmission of messages, and being watchful. You have carried out these tasks admirably well, and made an extremely favourable impression. This last mission, however, showed that you are capable of very much more. I myself have been certain of it for some time.’
‘When you say, “much more” …?’
‘There are missions which would be far more demanding of your energy, courage and resolve than the ones you have been given before. You would be expected to travel, take risks, and think quickly and decisively.’
This was both flattering and disconcerting at the same time. ‘And you think I am equal to this?’
‘You will be,’ he assured her. ‘There are new skills you will need to acquire, but I can teach you those, and I know you will be a fast learner. You are precisely the kind of individual we have always looked for; intelligent and brave, a free woman of good report. You are already highly competent with medicines, can ride a bicycle, speak in sign language and have no fear of guns, so that is a good start. There will be some dangers, but you wouldn’t be on your own; in fact, I have requested that we should work together. I did have one idea – when the Filleter appears again he will be a broken man in need of support. He could have a sister, the Needlewoman. Of course, you would have to cover yourself in mud for the disguise.’
‘Really?’ said Frances, wondering what that would be like. ‘Well – I suppose —’
‘No, I’m sorry, that last part was my little joke,’ he said quickly.
‘Oh, that was very wicked of you,’ she exclaimed. ‘I was about to agree.’
They both laughed. ‘But the rest I meant in all seriousness. Do you need time to consider it?’
Frances needed almost no time at all. A door was opening before her, and behind it was another world, one that only a few years ago she would never have dreamed existed. What lay in her future she could not know, but she wanted to find out. ‘I would not like to abandon the detective agency, but I suppose that would serve as a means of concealing my other work.’
He smiled with relief. ‘It would. So you agree? Please say you do.’
‘I do,’ she said.
‘I am delighted to hear it.’
They reached the Italian gardens and watched the fountains throwing bright sprays of water into the air like showers of diamonds. For a long time nothing was said, and then, impulsively, Grove took her hand. ‘Shall I tell you a secret? This is not about the service, it is about me.’
‘Please do.’
‘I have admired you from the very first day we met. I appreciate that since I was then masquerading as the Filleter, I would have made an extremely poor impression. In fact, it was obvious that you found me repellent, as all right-thinking persons ought to have done. But I could not forget you. I could not stop myself thinking about you. And then came the day when you and Miss Smith arrested me because you thought that I was the Face-slasher and had murdered your friend. You pointed a gun at me, and there were tears of anger running down your face. I could see that you had never held a gun before, but it made no difference to my danger. You were unfaltering; determined; magnificent. I had no doubt that if I made the smallest error of judgement you would shoot me dead on the spot. But I also knew that if you allowed me to live, that I wanted us to have a future together; that you were the woman with whom I wished to spend the rest of my life.’
Frances hardly knew what to say. She knew that he was ruthless, but ruthless in doing the right thing. She knew that he was dangerous, but only to those with good reason to fear the law.
He seemed abashed by her hesitation. ‘Perhaps it is too soon to expect an answer, but may I live in hope?’
She smiled. ‘Yes, you may.’
No more words were needed. He slipped his arm about her waist and it was as if it had always been meant to be there, and then he kissed her. It was the first time Frances Doughty had ever been kissed, and she knew it would not be the last.
END
AUTHOR’S NOTES
I am greatly indebted to the online library of the Veteran Cycle Club (www.v-cc.org.uk), whose wealth of material has been both illuminating and invaluable. Any factual errors in this book are solely those of the author.
The dandy-horse, also known as the hobby-horse, invented by Karl Drais in 1817, was the first two-wheeled vehicle. It had no pedals and was powered by the rider’s walking action.
The velocipede or boneshaker, first produced in the 1860s, had two wheels of similar size and was driven by pedals directly attached to the front wheel. The development of lighter frames and tensioned wire spokes enabled a substantial increase in the size of the front wheel and the evolution of the high-wheeler.
The vehicle we now call the ‘pennyfarthing’ was in its heyday (c.1875 to 1885) known simply as a ‘bicycle’. Following the introduction of the safety bicycle in 1885, the high-wheeler was often referred to as the ‘ordinary’. The safety bicycle, with wheels of approximately equal size and a pedal-driven chain drive, revolutionised the cycling experience and opened up the activity for women. The emergence of cycling outfits for women meant that, unencumbered by long skirts, they were able to ride the high-wheeler. The ‘pennyfarthing’ faded from popularity but retains its status as an iconic invention and symbol of Victorian adventurousness. It lives on in races and polo matches that can still be enjoyed today.
The machines displayed in the parade at the race meeting described in chapter nineteen all existed in 1882. For more information please visit the following websites: www.unicycle.uk.com
www.pennyfarthingclub.com
The pneumatic tyre was invented by Robert William Thomson, who patented it in 1847, but it was never manufactured. It was developed and first produced by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888. Prior to that, attempts had been made to use the pneumatic principle to make more comfortable saddles. Bicycles were first used by the military in the 1890s.
Under the Stage Carriage Act of 1832, ‘furious driving’ became an offence punishable by a fine of £5, and applied to carriage drivers or horsemen riding in such as way as to endanger any passenger or person. In 1879 it was held that bicycles could be considered carriages in law, and cyclists were regularly fined for furious driving. (Reported in the Times,
page 6, 26 March 1879) The law against furious driving remains in force today.
The Wheel World of August 1882 reported that the inventor Thomas Alva Edison was about to revolutionise bicycling after experimenting with electricity and a 60-inch wheel bicycle, the power source to be stored in the backbone, providing both driving power and light, and was about to patent the invention.
The Volunteer Service Review of 15 September 1882 reported the approval of the War Office for the formation of a Volunteer Bicycle Corps.
The Battle of Maiwand in the Anglo-Afghan War took place on 17 July 1880.
Although Frances wasn’t able to visit the exhibition of ladies’ hygienic wearing apparel, a report of the event can be found in the Times of 22 March 1882 on page 10. Amelia Bloomer did not invent the garment that bears her name – loose ankle-length trousers topped by a skirt – but she was a strong advocate of less restrictive clothing for women. Bloomers were briefly adopted in the 1850s but wearers were ridiculed, and the fashion was overtaken by the crinoline.
Police Sergeant Thomas Hambling and surgeon George Barraclough, both aged 40, are listed in the 1881 census for Acton.
The Bayswater and Oakwood Bicycle Clubs mentioned are fictional, but are typical of the many clubs in existence in the 1880s. The Mill Hill, West Kensington and Chiswick clubs did exist and I have described their uniforms as mentioned in the Cyclist and Wheel World Annual of 1882.
East Acton and the other locations mentioned are real; however, Springfield Lodge and Goldsmiths Cricket Ground are fictional. Acton Cricket Club was founded in 1908, renting land from the Goldsmith’s Company. The Acton Brass Ensemble is not intended to represent the Acton Town Band of 1882.
The Italian water gardens with its marble basins and fountains is often said to have been a gift from the Prince Consort to Queen Victoria. It was constructed in the 1860s from an idea he proposed not long before his death.
The construction of Wormwood Scrubs Prison commenced in 1874 and continued, carried out by its prisoners, until its completion in 1891.
Cedric’s friends, Miles and Fletcher, are probably not the same Miles and Fletcher who were living at 1 Tite Street in the 1881 census, where Oscar Wilde was boarding.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LINDA STRATMANN is a freelance writer, and Vice Chair of the prestigious CWA. She has a degree in psychology and a life-long interest in true crime. She is the author of numerous fiction and non-fiction titles including seven Frances Doughty Mysteries and three Mina Scarletti Mysteries. She lives in Walthamstow, London.
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR
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Greater London Murders: 33 True Stories of Revenge, Jealousy, Greed & Lust
Kent Murders
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More Essex Murders
Notorious Blasted Rascal: Colonel Charteris and the Servant Girl’s Revenge
Fraudsters and Charlatans: A Peek at Some of History’s Greatest Rogues
Whiteley’s Folly: The Life and Death of a Salesman
The Marquess of Queensberry: Wilde’s Nemesis
The Secret Poisoner: A Century of Murder
IN THE FRANCES DOUGHTY MYSTERY SERIES
The Poisonous Seed: A Frances Doughty Mystery
The Daughters of Gentlemen: A Frances Doughty Mystery
A Case of Doubtful Death: A Frances Doughty Mystery
An Appetite for Murder: A Frances Doughty Mystery
The Children of Silence: A Frances Doughty Mystery
Death in Bayswater: A Frances Doughty Mystery
A True and Faithful Brother: A Frances Doughty Mystery
IN THE MINA SCARLETTI MYSTERY SERIES
Mr Scarletti’s Ghost: A Mina Scarletti Mystery
The Royal Ghost: A Mina Scarletti Mystery
An Unquiet Ghost: A Mina Scarletti Mystery
PRAISE FOR THE FRANCES DOUGHTY MYSTERY SERIES
‘If Jane Austen had lived a few decades longer, and spent her twilight years writing detective stories, they might have read something like this one.’
Sharon Bolton, bestselling author of the Lacey Flint series
‘I feel that I am walking down the street in Frances’ company and seeing the people and houses around me with clarity.’
Jennifer S. Palmer, Mystery Women
‘Every novelist needs her USP: Stratmann’s is her intimate knowledge of both pharmacy and true-life Victorian crime.’
Shots Magazine
‘The atmosphere and picture of Victorian London is vivid and beautifully portrayed.’
www.crimesquad.com
‘Vivid details and convincing period dialogue bring to life Victorian England during the early days of the women’s suffrage movement, which increasingly appeals to Frances even as she strives for acceptance from the male-dominated society of the time. Historical mystery fans will be hooked.’
Publishers Weekly
‘[Frances’] adventures as a detective, and the slowly unravelling evidence of multiple crimes in a murky Victorian setting, make for a gripping read.’
Historical Novel Review
‘The historical background is impeccable.’
Mystery People
Murder at the Bayswater Bicycle Club Page 31