But it wasn’t Kelly who strode in the room as though he belonged. It was none other than the deputy mayor himself.
“Mr Entrican,” I exclaimed in surprise. “How unexpected.”
“Unexpected, Miss Cassidy?” he queried, as he crossed the room, then reached down with his gloved hand and lifted mine to his lips for a kiss. “I have your permission to call, if I remember correctly.”
Oh, dear Lord. How could I forget?
“You are not too busy for a social visit?” he enquired pleasantly, looking around the room and spotting Wilhelmina.
“Of course not,” I rushed to offer. “Please,” I said, stretching out a hand to indicate Mina, “you remember my cousin, Miss Wilhelmina Cassidy?”
“Indeed I do,” Mr Entrican replied, crossing to Mina and offering her the same greeting. Neither Mina nor myself had gloves on, not expecting guests as we were. The movement was, therefore, as flamboyant as his cravat.
And as equally unwelcome.
“Would you care for some tea?” I asked, to draw his lingering attention away from Wilhelmina.
“That would be pleasant. May I?” he asked, indicating a seat to my side.
My eyes met Mina’s, an amused smile spread across her lips as I watched.
“Please do,” I replied to Entrican, taking the seat beside him as Mina suggested she’d arrange a tea tray on our behalf.
I almost called her back, but I was being childish. Just because my day held more important things in it than a social call, did not mean that Mr Entrican had taken time out of an equally pressing schedule to visit.
“You must be excited for this afternoon, sir,” I declared once we were alone.
“One becomes rather accustomed to these things, Miss Cassidy. They are no more an excitement than a trip to the opera.”
“Still,” I pressed. “The delay must have upset your campaign.”
“The delay was unavoidable,” he said curtly. “But I have never let such things get in my way.”
He turned more towards me, so his knee brushed the side of my leg.
“You’ll find, Miss Cassidy, that I am a very determined man. I set my sights on something, and I aim to achieve it. Whatever the cost.”
I found I rather did admire his fervour. This was a man who would go places, it seemed.
“And your goal is the mayoral office. The mayoral seat, in point of fact,” I supplied.
He smiled; it was charming. Mr Entrican was not an unattractive man, and dressed as he was, in the latest fashions with care to his necktie and grooming, I could picture him cutting a fine figure on the political scene in Wellington. Auckland was only the beginning for a man like Entrican, but I’d allow him to offer up that information.
He reached out and clasped my hand before I could move it, bringing it closer to his body with a sure grip.
“My goal this morning, Miss Cassidy, is to persuade you to have dinner with me.”
Dinner was the last thing I could think of right now. Too much hung over our heads to consider social activities. A killer was on the loose, and Entrican didn’t seem in the remotest phased by this knowledge. Carrying on as though life was normal. And perhaps, for a man like Entrican, it was quite normal to behave so.
“When did you arrive in New Zealand, sir?” I asked, purposely avoiding his last statement.
He smiled knowingly, seeing through my avoidance ruse with ease. But he was too gentlemanly to offer argument and instead sat back in his seat, hand still clasping mine most inappropriately, as he considered his answer.
“I have been here five years, Miss Cassidy.”
“A very impressive length of time to achieve such heights in local government,” I offered, as Wilhelmina returned with the tea tray and set it down before us. Her eyes lingered on where Mr Entrican held my hand, but she poured the tea without comment.
“I have never accepted anything less than excellence in my career,” he replied, accepting his tea cup and reluctantly releasing my hand at the same time.
I eagerly took the offered cup Mina gave me, using both hands to keep them out of temptation and reach.
“And what did you study, sir, if I may be so bold?” I enquired, enjoying the conversation more than I’d liked to admit.
“I read English at Oxford. At my father’s insistence,” he said. “But had no intention of pursuing a career in that field. I far prefer politics and the sciences.”
I perked up at that admission.
“Really?” I asked, excitement washing over me at the opportunity to discuss such topics. “And how does science aid in governing a city?”
“Not directly, I’ll admit,” he said amiably. “But the discipline found within an equation, or the complexity required to puzzle out an hypothesis surely does aid in the administration of a city. For how can we govern, if not with structure and detail? I will not have my council overlook the smallest thing, Miss Cassidy. I aim to be involved on all levels, fighting crime, aiding the poor, improving the infrastructure in our burgeoning metropolis. Auckland is growing, progress is unstoppable. Therefore it is up to those in a position of responsibility to guide those who require it.”
“The people of the city,” I offered.
“Auckland will lead this country, mark my words, Miss Cassidy. Not just those who reside within its limits, but those farther afield as well. Northland needs to be taken into hand. Such unruly lifestyles will only lead to chaos. I abhor chaos, Miss Cassidy. I am a scientist at heart.”
He seemed to think this would please me. He sat back on the settee with an air of accomplishment. His words meant to align us, no doubt, as though he believed I’d seek such dominion over so many people. I was not unaware of the unrest in Northland. Maybe more in tune with it than this man could ever know. But seeking to govern such a large and diverse area from one location, in some cases many hundreds of miles away, was impossible. Surely he could see this.
“Whangarei would appear the obvious choice for such endeavours, Mr Entrican,” I offered.
“Whangarei is not Auckland, Miss Cassidy. And lacks the dedication required to achieve such ordered goals.”
I wasn’t sure if it was his choice of words, in particular his choice of the word “dedication” which did it. But I suddenly wanted this man out of my house. I looked at him, truly looked at him. But all I saw was a determined politician with a penchant for extravagant fashion.
“Then I wish you all the success possible, Mr Entrican,” I said, placing my empty tea cup on the tray and rising.
It was rude perhaps, but he’d stayed long enough for a social call. He didn’t seem to mind the abrupt brush off, instead he placed his own cup down and stood, friendly smile on his face, practised bow delivered.
“I fear I have spoken too grandly of politics,” he admitted. “Perhaps next time we could discuss a scientific subject that would better please you.”
And now I felt ill mannered.
“I have enjoyed your visit immensely, Mr Entrican,” I offered in return. “It is not often that a gentleman considers such topics appropriate for a lady. A refreshing change, one I welcome most eagerly.”
“You need never fear for that, Miss Cassidy. I respect your opinion and would enjoy your counsel.”
He took my hand and laid a soft kiss above it, then stood and nodded his head.
I trailed behind him towards the door, while Wilhelmina took up her usual place, silent, beside the fire.
Entrican stopped at the doorway and turned back, spying Mina and then diverting his attention to me.
“Won’t you come to the speech this afternoon, Miss Cassidy?” he asked. “There will be an area set aside for my closest friends and I should be most delighted to count you among them.”
I hesitated. This was not the superintendent’s or the inspector’s plan. I suddenly realised how disastrous Entrican’s visit had been.
“I…” I managed.
“Perhaps if you would be more comfortable bringing Miss Cassidy,�
� he suggested, offering a smile towards my cousin. “Then you will not feel so abandoned while I deliver my speech.”
Oh, but this was awkward. To decline and then appear later would raise questions. And the last thing we needed was the mayoral office interrupting our sting.
“Thank you,” I said, offering a small curtsy. “We’d be most pleased.”
“Brilliant,” he announced. And I was sure he meant it. Which only made me feel more wretched for the man.
I did not fancy him. I enjoyed his conversation, certainly, but it was not mere conversation he was seeking.
For now, though, I had no other choice. I’d deal with his intentions after we’d caught the killer.
I stood still in the centre of the parlour as Mina and I waited for the front door to click closed behind him. Even when we heard Mrs Hardwick’s farewell to the deputy mayor we remained silent. My mind whirring. Mina’s no doubt in a little shock.
I’d never shown interest in anyone. Other than Andrew Kelly.
“Well,” I said, turning to face my cousin and be done with this farce.
Only to have the door to the drawing room spring open again and a familiar deep, smooth and angry voice announce, “What the devil were you thinking accepting his invitation, Miss Cassidy? Now you’ve bloody well gone and done it!”
Twenty-Seven
But Where Would The Fun Be In That?
Inspector Kelly
It was all I could do not to step out from my hiding place and throttle the peacock that had just behaved so familiarly with Anna.
And Anna! What the hell was she playing at, entertaining an upstart fop like him?
I waited for the housekeeper to close the door behind the deputy mayor before I stepped out from Anna’s surgery and nodded my head in thanks. She lowered her face to the floor, frown lines marring her already creased façade, and scurried away to the kitchen. No doubt in fear of what her mistress would say.
I didn’t waste any time, but crossed the hallway and threw open the door to the parlour, anger and frustration making the movement more harsh than intended.
Wilhelmina jumped, but Anna swung around to look at me with surprised, and then quickly following, incredulous eyes.
“What the devil were you thinking accepting his invitation, Miss Cassidy?” I almost bellowed. “Now you’ve bloody well gone and done it!”
“It was unavoidable, sir,” she replied, more formally than she had for quite some time.
“Unavoidable? Why was he even here?” I demanded.
“He appears to have taken a fancy to me,” she admitted, a wash of delicate pink rising up her cheeks, making her appear, to my eyes, so very beautiful right then.
I scowled and tapped my cane on the floor, moving farther into the room, despite the lack of invitation.
“This is not how we intended today to go,” I pointed out, somewhat peevishly to my ears.
“I am aware of that, but once cornered had no other option but to politely accept the invitation. Else appearing at the speech afterwards would have raised alarm bells.”
“And why should we be concerned if they do?” I snapped. “He is of little consequence to the investigation.”
Anna opened her mouth, and then closed it. Tilting her head to the side, she repeated the action; a delightful fish out of water. But I knew Anna. She’d had a thought. And if there was one thing to be said about Anna Cassidy, her thoughts were, more oft than not, important.
“What is it?” I asked, more levelly, taking a step closer, but not too close. The sound of my cane on the hardwood floor reminding me to keep my distance.
It seemed I needed that reminder more and more of late.
“Why do you think Mr Entrican wears such exuberant cravats?” she suddenly asked, out of absolutely nowhere.
“Because he’s a fop and a nitwit,” I suggested gruffly. Wilhelmina stifled a giggle, but Anna only offered an arched brow.
“The killer was harmed by his first victim,” Anna said carefully.
“Margaret,” Wilhelmina offered in interruption.
Anna nodded her head, but didn’t say Margaret Thorley’s name, just continued with, “He will be scratched and will be particular about hiding the condemning mark from public view. It is not beyond speculation that the killer could have been scratched on the neck or throat.”
“A valid point,” I conceded. “But not nearly enough to convict.”
Anna nodded in agreement and then took a seat on one of the two settees in the room. Wilhelmina moved to a chair by the fire, still part of the conversation, but removed from it, as though she needed that buffer of space to remain. I understood her reticence; Anna protected her cousin where necessary, but you’d have to be blind not to see Wilhelmina Cassidy’s fragility. She was nothing like my fearless Anna.
“May I?” I asked, once both ladies were seated, indicating the settee opposite Anna with my cane.
“Please,” Anna replied, and then picked up a small cake from the tea tray before her and started to nibble on it, deep in thought.
“Accusing the deputy mayor of murder is a rather bold statement,” I pointed out.
“Hmm,” Anna managed around a mouthful of crumpet and whipped cream.
The smile was difficult to suppress, but I achieved it. I had the feeling that Anna hadn’t eaten a morsel of food today, and if she was now, I was reluctant to call her on it.
“He is in a position of power,” I added. “Has friends in very high places. His connections would make an accusation such as this difficult to maintain. We need more than the suspicion of a scratch underneath preposterous neckties.”
Anna swallowed her mouthful and washed it down with what looked like cold tea. She grimaced slightly, dusting her hands on a napkin, then lifted dove grey eyes to me.
I could get lost in Anna Cassidy’s eyes, so I was the one to look away.
“He was at the first and second crime scenes,” she said, making my eyes return to her face. “The original mayoral speech and the dockyard.”
“There’s no way to know if he was present at the third,” I added, sitting up straighter in my seat. “But Albert Park is not far from the council chambers.”
“Indeed,” Anna supplied. “He also visited the building that housed the dark den, not long before we found Mary Bennett.”
“I did not view him closely at the time,” I admitted. “Was he under the influence of opium?” If anyone could tell from a look alone, it would be Anna.
For more reasons than the mere fact that she had trained as a doctor.
“I’d say not,” she reluctantly advised. “But that is not to say he hasn’t partaken.”
“Agreed, but the person who placed Mary Bennett in that tight alleyway was both reckless and endowed with great strength.”
“That’s exactly what Anna said,” Wilhelmina offered from her quiet corner. I’d almost forgotten the chit was there.
Anna smiled and reached for another crumpet, her hand hovering over it for a second and then withdrawing empty. Pink washed her cheeks again. She looked drawn, thinner than I had realised. Only yesterday I’d searched her features to see if she was holding up. Something had happened since then, to make her appear drained. Stressed.
I silently cursed the planned sting and her part in it. Anna often gave the impression of such strength under fire, but she was only human. A woman at that. A miraculous woman, but a woman all the same. It was at times like this that I wished she’d excelled at embroidery or painting, not forensic medicine and post-mortems.
I leaned forward and picked up one of the cakes, taking a bite before I thought better of it. “I hope you don’t mind,” I said after chewing. “I haven't had a chance to eat this morning.”
“I’ll have Hardwick bring us some hot tea and sandwiches,” Wilhelmina offered, standing from her corner and retrieving the used tray, then scurrying out of the room.
I was surprised she’d lasted that long in my presence, truth be told. She was rather l
ike a frightened mouse. But a clever one. She’d left the plate of cakes behind, and I watched on quietly as Anna reached forward and divested the platter of another.
We ate in silence for a while and then Anna said, “He has an interest in science.”
“Entrican,” I said, becoming instantly alert. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. He told me he read English at Oxford, but his heart lay with politics and science.”
“That is curious,” I conceded. “Present, for a fact, at two of the murders. Witnessed exiting an opium den. Scientific knowledge that could include anatomy. And has more than a passing interest in you.”
“Yes,” she said simply, finishing the cake and settling back on her settee.
“It still may mean nothing,” I pointed out.
“But it’s more than we’ve presently got.”
I nodded, then crossed my legs, my eyes on her face, and said, “And how do you feel about your wooer being a suspect to murder?”
“He is not my wooer.”
“He is attending you in your home, has openly stated his intentions, and invited you to one of the most important events of his political career to date.”
“He said the speeches were nothing extraordinary,” she argued. “Something to be expected but not excited by.”
“Trust me, Miss Cassidy,” I said. “The speeches are vital to his success in this campaign. He wants you there to show you off.”
“You’re wrong, Inspector.”
“I’m right. And you know why I’m right?” I asked, leaning forward in my seat and piercing her with my gaze.
“Why?” she asked uncertainly.
“Because it’s what I would do, if I were in his position. I would woo you, claim you, make you mine, and then show the world what I had achieved.”
She looked startled.
Or excited, it was difficult to tell. Her lips were moist from where she’d licked them, parted as though she had only just sucked in a lungful of air. And that soft pink was rushing up her cheeks again, down her chest, slipping beneath the bodice of her gown. My eyes trailed after it, my hands fisted about my cane.
Fearless (Scarlet Suffragette, Book 1): A Victorian Historical Romantic Suspense Series Page 23