by Beth Byers
Jack scowled at them. Vi ignored his expression. “Anna revealed that Helen attempted to take her own life.”
Jack started and Victor’s smile slipped away. Nothing about that was humorous.
“It seems that she pursued Mr. Danvers and thought they would be married. After he led her to the conclusion that they would marry, he was able to persuade her to physical relations and left her with a little burden. Only after did he throw Helen over for Isolde.”
Jack set down his teacup.
“Anna told me that her father took Helen to the seaside. It sounds like she’s prone towards fits of being blue and this pushed her past her capacity. Her father took her to Margate to recover. The address is in my book.”
“I’ll be needing that,” Jack stated. “We know, of course, that Mathers is Danvers’ partner. The level of Mathers’ illegal machinations are unclear. I suspect that Mathers knew exactly what was happening but kept everything he did monetarily hidden. He was very, very careful. One of the numbers boys over at the Yard said that he didn’t think Mathers would be ruined when Danvers’ scheme eventually fell apart. The fellow said he thought Danvers must have intended to take what he could and run just before it all fell apart. There was no sustaining this scheme.”
Violet passed around a tray of sandwiches while Jack continued. “Everyone we spoke with who invested both has no idea that their investment was a sham and that Mathers was anything other than a minion for Danvers.”
Violet sipped her tea and considered. She didn’t love that Mr. Mathers had assisted in stealing money for a sham investment scheme, but she was glad that the girls would survive.
“He seems to be a real pull-himself-up-by-his-bootstraps type,” Jack said. “Built a fortune out of nothing. He’s a widower, never remarried. Goes to church. The churchgoers like him. He volunteers. Gives money. Goes to all the school things for his daughters that he can. There is no indication he’s involved in criminal activity by any of the rest of his activities.”
Violet refilled the teacups for them. “Perhaps he feels guilty for his life.”
“Perhaps,” Victor said doubtfully. “Surely you’d just stop. If you’re smart enough to get involved in this stuff and to keep it from coming back at you, you’re smart enough to work a job that doesn’t include stealing.”
Jack nodded. Both he and Victor reached for more sandwiches while Violet debated the idea of Mathers.
Was it possible to be both a good community man and a thief? She didn’t see how. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and played with the ring on her finger while the two of men started debating cricket and stopped talking about the crime.
Violet avoided the scolding she knew Jack intended when Isolde woke and asked for her sister. Vi left with a wink towards Victor, who just might get that scolding instead.
By the time that Isolde had bathed, been put to bed with a sleeping pill, and talked to about Belgium until she succumbed to sleep, Jack had gone.
“Should we go out?” Victor asked.
Vi shook her head. “Is it too awful of me if I want to stay in and write?”
Victor laughed. “We got lazy and weak in Italy, darling. We’ll have to build up our capacity to those old days of late nights and drinks with the pals.”
They discussed the plot of their story, ate a bowl of warm soup, and agreed that they’d be scolded from one year to the next if they didn’t soon inquire after Father and Lady Eleanor. Violet thought the only reason the earl and his lady hadn’t descended on the errant children yet was because Gerald had most likely sent the appropriate messages—one that they hadn’t been wise enough to do themselves.
Chapter 15
In the morning, Victor and Violet ate together. Vi had stopped by Isolde’s room long enough to tell her to spend the day lazing in bed, looking at magazines, and that she was not to have any callers. It would have been the type of thing a controlling guardian said if Isolde didn’t know it was to keep Hugo Danvers away.
“The servants have also been informed that you are not at home to anyone except Gerald.”
“I haven’t stayed in bed and lolled about before. Not unless I was sick.”
“You are sick, dear,” Violet told her, “or at least that is what we’re telling your mother and Father.”
Violet turned to leave when Isolde asked, “Why don’t you call her mother?”
Vi thought about lying to her sister, but the time for softening truth for Isolde was past, and it was time for her to learn. “She never was. Not to Victor and I. Aunt Agatha demanded us and Lady Eleanor was happy to see us off and out of the way.”
“Oh,” Isolde said, suddenly seeing their lifetime anew.
Violet smiled gently. “I’ll check in when we get home.”
The drive out to Kennington house started the moment they’d finished breakfast and downed enough coffee to see them through the drive. They had Giles drive and chatted about Isolde and Jack on the way.
“Are you in love?” Victor asked as Violet mentioned the investigation and how clever Jack was at discovering the details of someone’s life.
Violet played with the ring on her finger and admitted, “I…might be on the journey, but I’m not there yet.”
“The journey?” Victor laughed. “You’re head over heels, little love. Jack might be worse. I think he swallowed his tongue yesterday to keep from letting you have it after your stunt with Anna. If it had been anyone else, they’d have gotten their ears boxed.”
Violet sniffed and played with her ring again. “Did you want to go to the club tonight?”
Victor agreed, and they both took a deep breath as Giles parked the car in front of Kennington House.
As they approached the house, Violet asked, “United?”
“Always.”
Morton opened the door and they asked for their father. The earl’s property was in the south of England, so they hadn’t left Kennington House yet to take the journey home. Their father did have a house in London, but Vi imagined that having your future son-in-law murdered just before the wedding made a little distance from town more desirable than access to his clubs and restaurants.
They were led into a parlor with furniture that may have been purchased new just after Waterloo. It felt old and rich but a little shabby. Violet picked up a small box and realized it was encrusted in real jewels and just sitting out in a nearly unused room. The Kenningtons were quite wealthy, Vi thought. Wealthy enough to not worry so much about their investment? No one wanted to be stolen from, but was it a crime so dastardly to drive someone who kept priceless boxes sitting out?
Father arrived almost immediately.
“Your mother has taken to her bed,” he said.
Violet prevented an expression from betraying her thoughts as she kissed his cheek. “Isolde isn’t feeling well either. She wanted us to bring her love. Father, Victor and I would like permission to take her on a trip as soon as the murderer is caught.”
He nodded his assent, and they all took a seat, staring at each other as he said, “Where will you go then?”
“Isolde has a desire to see Bruges,” Victor said. “Vi and I haven’t been there. You know Vi, she’s already got a book about it and histories of travels to that land as though it were Lilliput. Vi has Isolde making a list of things she wants to see and hikes she wants to take. Or whatever it is that people do there.”
Father grunted. “Thinking of leaving Eleanor here. She won’t get out of bed and to be honest, I prefer rather less time around this brother and cousin of hers. Maybe I’ll come with you. Haven’t been to Belgium since I went on my Grand Tour. M’Father sent me with a cousin of his. Might be good for us both to get away.”
“Father,” Violet said carefully, “it does seem that, perhaps, Isolde wasn’t aware of your concerns between herself and Danvers.”
Father looked startled. “I talked to her mother about it.”
Violet and Victor glanced at each other but said nothing.
Their father’s expression went from quizzical to understanding and a rare flash of anger passed over his face.
“Ah, well.” Father cleared his throat as he regained control. “Ring the bell, little one. Let’s have some tea.”
Earl grey, custard buttons, and a little almond gingerbread, which they mostly just nibbled at, later, and Father said, “Yes. Take her to Belgium or wherever else she wants to go. Does she know what she wants after this trip of yours?”
“I think it would be good for her to go to college. Perhaps spend a little time spreading her wings before another marriage could be considered,” Violet said idly, putting another slice of gingerbread on her father’s plate and refilling his tea.
He grunted. “I’ll have my man see about getting her into college.”
The awkward silence after that statement was filled with Violet discussing the weather and Victor the outcome of a recent horse race.
Finally, Violet decided to set aside the manners that had been ground into her and asked, “Father, if Danvers investment scheme is a sham, will Markus or Norman Kennington lose their shirts?”
Father started and the scolding look he gave her would have shriveled her if there hadn’t been a murder on the line.
“Father,” Victor said, “were you aware that Violet reasoned out who killed Aunt Agatha?”
Father harrumphed. “Course I did. Now you think it was one of the Kennington men that did in Danvers?”
Violet carefully licked her lips and admitted, “Papa, it seems certain that the investment scheme was just that. Those who put their money in won’t be getting it back.”
His brows rose at that. “Invested m’self. Heard from Markus that it was a sure thing. Must be what they’ve been having a fizz about.”
“Has there been a ruckus here?”
Father nodded. “Likely why Markus and Norman or their wives haven’t appeared. Those wives of theirs have been in bed nearly as much as Eleanor. Was thinking that they were making a big thing out of our scandal. Seems they have their own crosses to bear.” He hummed under his breath and said, “Think I’ll take your mother to Paris. Good time to be traveling for all of us. Can’t imagine you’d want these old ones about.”
“Father, the trip to America on those steam ships is said to be quite agreeable. Victor and I have heard it from a few friends. New York City has got much to offer, and I was just reading an article about Cuba. You might like that too.”
Father harrumphed again. “You getting involved in this case too?”
Violet and Victor glanced at each other.
“It is an interesting puzzle, isn’t it?” Victor mused. “Who realized their money was gone forever? Who felt it was worth killing over? Perhaps Danvers was the engineer of some other crime we know nothing of.”
Father took the last piece of gingerbread and ate half of it in one bite before speaking. “I can’t imagine it was Markus or Donald.”
“Because you’ve known them so long?”
Father shook his head. “They might have invested all of their ready money, but they have even more money wrapped up tight. Income from their estates. They, both of them, might have been hard hit. But enough to murder Danvers? Besides, Norman has a blood problem.”
“Problem?” Violet asked and smiled as her father smirked for a moment.
“Can’t abide to sight of it. Makes him quite sick. Seen him go down myself. Like a tree. One moment standing. Next flat out on the ground.”
Victor chuckled, but Violet couldn’t help but remember what she’d seen. The pool of blood. The flop of glued together hair. The lifeless hand. The…don’t think of it, she told herself, and somehow her thoughts conveyed the command in Jack’s voice.
“Changes the whole perspective, doesn’t it?” her father continued. “I heard from your mother that you’ve been seeing a Scotland Yard fellow. Was it one of the ones who came here?”
“Yes sir. I met Jack Wakefield at Aunt Agatha’s.” Vi’s heart was in her throat as she waited for Father’s opinion.
“James Wakefield is a friend of mine. Not like Markus, of course. Wakefield’s a good man. His son seems quite sharp.”
“He was in the military police,” Victor told Father. “He doesn’t have to work, of course, but the Yard calls Jack in here and there when there’s a case that seems appropriate to his skills.”
“Probably our types,” Father replied. His sniffed and said, “Rich, titled, gentry folks. You come with question and an Oxford education, connections to your family, memberships at the same club. Ain’t so easy to lean back on your laurels, then, is it?”
Violet was breathing a little easier as she realized her father didn’t object. She took in a bit of a shuddering breath and elbowed Victor when he smirked. Father caught the byplay and smiled at the two of them.
“You two always were the same. Troublesome from day one. Squalling for weeks and weeks. Once you could walk…madness. As soon as you could open doors, well, we lost more than one nanny, I’ll tell you. Your mother, Belinda, she used to laugh and laugh. Said you spoke on another level. Loved everything about that.”
Father looked sorrowful. “Neither one of you spoke for a few weeks after we lost her. You didn’t start talking until Agatha came. She scooped you up. Took you for a ride in her carriage. When you came back, you weren’t better. Not for a while yet. But you answered when you were asked if you wanted a biscuit. Never could thank her enough after that.”
Victor wrapped his arm around Violet, whose vision had gone blurry with the story of her mother.
“I wish I could have known her,” Vi admitted.
“You’re very like her,” Father said and then abruptly rose. “Think I’ll go tell my man to pack my things. Need to be careful, Vi, if you’re going to nose about in this business. Can’t imagine whoever the murderer is would take kindly to you sticking your oar in.”
Father left, and Victor and Violet waited. Should they further stick their oar in, as Father put it?
“We came all this way,” Victor said, knowing her thoughts, “so we might as well go ahead and talk to Markus. He must be around, mustn’t he?”
Violet wasn’t sure, but they rang the bell to have the tea things taken away and inquired after the homeowner. He was in his office, and they brazenly knocked on his door and entered before he could turn them away.
“Didn’t expect to see you two,” he said, carefully closing the file on his desk and gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. “What it’s all about?”
“Been discussing recent events.” Victor took a seat. “Were you aware Danvers tried to force his way into our finances? He attempted to tell our man of business that we had said to join in the scheme.”
Kennington’s brows rose and two small circles of red appeared on his cheeks, but he said nothing.
Violet smiled brightly and reminded herself that they all assumed she was an idiot, being both younger and female. “Mr. Fredericks, isn’t he just brilliant, Vic?”
Victor gave her a side-eyed mocking look, but agreed. “He is quite brilliant. Refused point-blank to invest without our expression permission. Then, he looked into matters as he might have if we’d asked him about it.”
“What does this have to do with me?”
“Well, you invested, didn’t you?” Victor said smoothly with an arched brow. “You invested, and you allowed Danvers to become engaged to your niece despite the clear imbalance of the situation. You and Lady Eleanor bought the whole charade.”
The two circles of red had slowly spread across Markus’ cheeks and his gaze narrowed threateningly on Victor.
“Then you attacked him with Gulliver outside of the house on the wedding day. Was that when you realized it was all a sham?”
“Are you the blighters who set the Yard on me?” Kennington demanded. “With these starts at hares? Faradiddles and nonsense!”
“It’s hardly starting at a hare to know that someone invested money in a fraudulent scheme and was seen assaul
ting the victim.” Victor’s voice was smooth and even but very imperious. It was clear who was the earl’s son and who was not.
Violet crossed her ankles and told herself to leave it to Victor. With Markus, she would get nowhere.
“Were you also aware of his lover? Did you know that he made her promises and left her with a growing bundle?”
The way fury rolled down Kennington’s neck, turning his ears to a brilliant red, told Violet that he was aware of Helen’s existence at the least. Violet hadn’t had feelings towards him one way or the other before this, but she would never respect him again.
“I knew that things had gone farther between the chit and Danvers than most knew. Farther than Mathers knew. Who do you really think had cause to kill him? Me? I’m not ruined. Or that girl’s father and long-time friend? Get out of here. Take your accusations with you and don’t come back until I have abject apologies from the both of you.”
Violet rose and pulled Victor up with her. Anything he said to them wouldn’t be reliable.
Just as Victor reached to open the door, Markus said, “Your father invested. Gulliver. Higgins. Not just me. Don't forget that son of his. Hugo hated his father as much as you two hate Eleanor.”
Violet turned at that. “I don’t hate Eleanor. Neither of us do.”
Markus’ scoff-filled laugh told her what he thought of the statement. She wouldn’t defend it to him. Not anymore than he’d defend himself to her. They were done here.
Chapter 16
“We came all this way,” Violet said. “You see if Norman is still here and if you cut yourself in his presence, see if he really faints. I’m going to face the dragon.”
Victor winced for Violet, who took a deep breath and then hurried up the stairs to her stepmother’s room. It was the same room she’d had before she’d married. The wall outside the door showed Eleanor as she had been then, with her blue eyes, golden hair and figure that hadn’t been marred by carrying two children. Her lips were pink, and she was smiling at something that only she could see.