Madame came to greet the carriage, but ushered me and Honor inside without a word. For once, her office door stood open. Several racks were missing, and those that remained held a smaller selection. Did she have to sell some of her goods to pay her newly increased fees? I should have written to tell her that the men who attacked her weren’t Spadros men, but impostors.
She led me to my private dressing room. She ignored Honor, then dropped the curtain to shut him out. Tenni curtsied when I entered. My new dress hung on a rack in the corner.
“I hope you’re well, Madame?”
Madame gestured for Tenni to help me out of my dress. “I’m well, thank you.” Madame’s manner was stiff, formal.
“Has anyone been back to hurt you?”
“No. They did not return.”
“I like your shop’s new appearance. More open.”
Madame gave a fake smile, not meeting my eye. “Thank you.”
Tenni helped me into my dress and the two of them began working on it in silence.
I wondered what happened, but I didn’t want to pry in case it was personal. “I forgot to ask the last time I was here: I’d like your recommendations on a new dressmaker.”
Madame nodded. “The list is on my desk.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
The two continued to work their way around my dress without a word. When the entire dress was marked and pinned as Madame wished, she gestured for Tenni to help me out of it.
Once I dressed, I said, “Madame, may we speak privately?”
“Certainly.” She gestured to Tenni, who left through the back curtain. “How may I help?”
“That was my question exactly,” I said. “Clearly something is amiss. If I may help in some way —”
“You’ve done enough,” Madame snapped.
I stared at her, shocked, hurt. “What happened?”
“It’s what has not happened which distresses me.”
“I don’t understand.”
She glanced away and spoke bitterly. “I’m a foolish, foolish woman. I have never before given my regard so poorly.”
I felt perplexed. “Have I offended you?”
Her head drooped, and she gave it a small shake. “I know you don’t share my feelings. But after all the years you have known me I thought you might have some instant of consideration for my injuries —” She shrugged. “— perhaps once write to inquire as to my health. Even if you saw me as a mere merchant ....”
It had completely slipped my mind. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “You’re not. It’s clear now. How could I have been so blind? You used me, my shop, my friendship, even my regard. And when I needed you — when your husband and his men stood threatening — your first impulse was to run away. Abandon us, who have given so much. Your loyalty is only to yourself.” Madame turned away, hand to her forehead. “I can’t stay here anymore. Once this is sold, I’m moving.”
This shocked me. “Moving? Where?”
“If you must know, I have bought a shop in Clubb quadrant. But I hope you will not visit.”
Madame wished never to see me again? How could this be? Then I remembered the eggshells in front of her shop the other day. “You no longer wish to be associated with me.”
“That’s not what this is about, and you know it.” She sighed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I must leave. Your men will pursue me, but they won’t attack once I’m in Clubb quadrant.”
“But they weren’t our men! They were impostors, dressed in our livery. Our men won’t hurt you. My husband’s given orders.”
She stared at me, mouth open. Then her expression hardened. “Even so. I will stay no longer.”
“What’ll happen to Tenni? Her little sisters?”
Madame shook her head. “I have secured a position for Tenni at a shop nearby. She’s of age now and may do as she likes.” She pointed at me. “But you must not embroil her in your schemes any longer. The girl has suffered enough.”
I pondered Madame’s words, and how much they echoed Vig’s, the night he helped me question Morton’s young “ace,” Clover. His misery as he said: You used me.
Who is your loyalty to, Mrs. Spadros?
Your loyalty is only to yourself.
My heart crumbled. I used to know who I was. I used to know what to do. Spadros Manor had changed me. Being around these quadrant-folk had changed me. If I didn’t get out of Bridges I feared it would destroy me. “You’re not the first to tell me such things.” Her eyes were as red as mine must have been. I did love you, if not as you wished. “I’ll trouble you no further.”
I retrieved the list and left, wondering not whether she would forgive me, but whether I was worth forgiving.
The Paper
When I returned to Spadros Manor, Doyle Pike sat on the parlor sofa. But Mr. Pike sat as if he owned the Manor and everything in it. His clothes were as costly, his hair as immaculate, as when I saw him at his law office in February. He didn’t rise when I entered.
I took a few steps forward. “May I help you?”
“Come in, sit down,” he said. “It’s time we had a chat.”
I sat in a chair across the coffee table from him. “Would you care for some tea?”
He surveyed me. “No, I don’t think so.” He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “I did work for you —”
I felt certain he hadn’t lifted a finger: surely his grandson Thrace did every bit of it.
“— and yet I’ve not been paid.”
I shrugged. “We had an agreement. It isn’t my fault you were unable to collect from them.”
At this, Mr. Pike began to laugh. It was more of a cackle than a laugh, being a man of advancing age, yet it was merry. “My dear, when a new man comes to apprentice, do you know the first thing I teach him?”
“I couldn’t possibly.”
He grinned his alligator grin. “That a thing not written is nothing at all.” His grin faded. “You see, we do not have an agreement. We never had an agreement. What we have is your word against mine.”
“You would fight Spadros Manor?”
“I’d wager your Mr. Spadros — pick either — knows nothing of our ‘agreement’. Am I right?”
Fear gnawed at me. What could I say?
“So I believe now we can come to an agreement.” He leaned forward. “This time, in writing.”
“What sort of an agreement?”
“Now I know how much these men owed Dame Louis, I know what my fee would have been had they paid their debts. I’d like to have that money, but now she’s dead, they have no incentive to pay.”
“I still don’t see how that’s any of my concern. You get them to pay, you can have it all.”
He frowned. “Because I sent them letters on behalf of Dame Anastasia Louis, the inquest has fixed its attention upon me. I testify tomorrow morning. Before your husband does, in fact. Who am I to say directed me to send these letters?”
I stared at him in horror.
His face became smugly amused. “You see, this matter is entirely your concern. If I say you directed me to send these letters, it would lend credence to the idea that Spadros Manor acted as Dame Anastasia’s enforcer. Imagine that — Spadros Manor coercing its own merchants to pay one of their friends when the merchants suspected fraud. That in itself might be enough to turn the quadrant against you. But then the question would arise: did the Spadros Family know the gems were false, and coerce their merchants to take them anyway?”
Oh, gods, I thought. What have I done?
“If the Spadros Family was to do that to another quadrant, your people would cheer. But to turn against its own people ... ?”
I felt trapped. “What is it you want?”
“I testify that Dame Anastasia hired me directly. I never mention your name. In return, you pay me 1% of what they owed her as we agreed.”
“How much did they owe?”
He handed over a paper, with a list, and a t
ally. The 1% was even calculated for me. It was ten times more than I’d handed over to Joe. “Where could I possibly get this kind of money?”
“That’s none of my concern.” He produced two papers for my signature. “Do we have a deal?”
The clock ticked. I heard a noise in the hall.
I had to keep Mr. Pike from speaking against me. So I signed them both. Mr. Pike slid one across the table, putting the other in his briefcase. I folded my copy, sliding it in my pocket.
The door opened; Tony walked in. He didn’t so much as glance at Doyle Pike. “Mrs. Spadros, may I speak with you?”
I rose, heart pounding. “Why, certainly. Please excuse me, Mr. Pike.” I followed Tony into the entryway.
Tony snapped, “Why is that man here?”
I could have told Tony about Dame Anastasia’s case and my predicament. Looking back, I probably should have. But the way he spoke angered me. “I did tell you I had a lawyer.”
Tony froze. “This is a mistake, Jacqui. Do not —” He bit his lower lip, then said, “You must not. I beg you, dismiss this man from your service at once.”
A terrible thought came to me: Did either of them know about Thrace Pike’s pamphlet? “Why?”
“The man is unprincipled. He’s dangerous. I — I can’t protect you from him, should it come to that.” He gasped, eyes widening in horror, and he gripped my hands. “Have you signed anything?”
Should I tell him? “No, but —”
“Sign nothing until our lawyers see it. Please. Promise me?”
Tony didn’t trust Doyle Pike. Would he agree to pay such a sum? Certainly not.
I smiled, relaxing. Joe and I would leave Bridges soon. No one would ever find us. If Tony didn’t know about the agreement, and never became involved, no one would have to pay a thing. “I promise. Be at peace; you have nothing to worry about.”
Tony let out a breath. “Thank the gods you see reason.” He pulled me close, kissed my forehead. “You gave me a fright.”
I hugged him, patted his arm. “All is well.”
We went back into the parlor. I said, “Mr. Pike, send me what you have at your convenience, and I’ll let you know what I decide.” My eyes flickered in Tony’s direction.
Mr. Pike stood, a small smile on his face. “A pleasure doing business with you, madam.”
We escorted him out. Tony still appeared uneasy. “What did he mean, business?”
I shrugged. “Isn’t that what all tradesmen say?”
“I suppose,” Tony said. He glanced around, he voice dropping to a whisper. “But show me whatever he sends you. I must learn how much he knows. If news about Gardena and Roland were to surface —” he shook his head, “I could be sent to the Prison.”
I gaped at him, imagining the horrors which must be in such a place, with Jack Diamond as its Keeper. “But why?”
Tony put his hand to his forehead. “Come with me.”
We went to the gardens, then past them out to the meadow. When Rocket saw us, he followed, tail wagging. When we stopped, he lay down at our feet.
This seemed a good place to speak privately, as there were no bushes to hide a listening ear. But we stood silent for a long time.
“Thank the gods certificates of birth aren’t public record,” Tony said. “Did you wonder why my son’s certificate was cut?”
“I did.”
Tony let out a breath. “I almost don’t know whether to be glad or afraid.”
“What is it?”
He put his hand to his forehead, staring at the ground. “In Bridges, a child’s certificate has three boxes in the corner. Before them is a question: how came this birth? Marriage, whoredom —” he paused, and his face was white, his jaw tight. “Or rape.”
I gasped. “Gardena called it rape?”
He turned away, dropping his hand to his side. “She says her father snatched the paper from her, marking it over her protests.” He ran his hands through his hair. “But I don’t know what other outcome I would want. I couldn’t marry her — I was betrothed to you, and my father would have it no other way.”
Why did Roy insist on our marriage? I never had found the answer to that. Did Tony even know?
“I couldn’t let Gardena and Roland be sent to the Pot. What kind of life would that be? What torments would they endure?” He shook his head. “I’d already seen what growing up there did to you.” He turned away. “I couldn’t go to my father. He’d have killed her, or taken my son as hostage, or perhaps both. Whatever he thought would hurt me most.” He paused for a long time, and when he spoke, he sounded desolate. “And I couldn’t let her be sent to another city. I’d never see her again.”
He still loves her, after everything that’s happened.
I kissed Tony’s hand. “You couldn’t bear to see it written.”
Tony shook his head, staring at the ground.
Moved at his suffering, I hugged him, eyes closed, trying not to weep. What would he do when I was gone?
The Promise
We walked for a while round the garden in silence, then Tony went inside. I sat on the veranda while a maid fetched my cigarettes. Once I had them, I went back to the garden to smoke.
Pip and his sisters ran across the meadow, Rocket bounding along behind them. As I lit my cigarette, Pip saw me, spoke with his sisters, then began to walk towards me. His older sister grabbed his arm, shouting, but they were too far away to make out what they said. His little sister stood still, face fearful.
Pip shook off his older sister’s arm, but didn’t come to me. So I went out to them. “Are you well?”
Both the girls had Amelia and Peter’s straight brown hair and brown eyes. The older one, a girl of twelve, glanced away, cheeks coloring. “Yes, mum.”
The little one was six. She didn’t appear afraid, only confused.
I squatted in front of her. “How about you?”
Pip said, “She told me something. I was about to tell you.”
“No!” The older one stomped her foot. “Mommy and Daddy said not to tell anyone! Especially not her!”
I looked up at the girl. “Especially not me? Perhaps I should go talk with them about this then.”
She stepped back, face pale. “Please don’t tell them.”
“I won’t, if you let your little sister tell me what she heard. This is my house. If you want to live here, I can’t have secrets.”
The girl bit her lip for a moment. “Okay.”
Her little sister gave her a smug smile. “I heard Mommy yell at Daddy because he told Mr. Roy of things in the house here.”
I was so surprised I could only stare for a moment. “He did?”
“She didn’t actually yell,” Pip said. “They whispered. But it was like yelling.” He turned to his little sister. “Right?”
She nodded. “She was angry. And he was angry too, ‘cause he said he was only trying to ‘tect her and —”
“Pro-tect her,” the older girl said.
Her little sister acted as if she hadn’t heard. “— but I don’t know what for.”
Pip and I exchanged a glance, and I found the older girl peering at me.
She knows something’s wrong.
How much had they told her? She would’ve been two when Pip was born — but if the servants had gossiped in front of her, she might already guess much. “Don’t worry about that. This is a matter for adults.” I smiled at them. “I’m glad you told me.”
Her older sister said, “You’re not angry?”
I considered this. “No, I should have expected it.” I rose. “But let’s not worry your Mommy and Daddy about it.”
The oldest girl said, “May we go play now?”
“Yes, but I’d like to speak with Pip for a moment.” I turned to him. “If you don’t mind.”
“No, mum,” Pip said, “I like talking with you.”
The girls ran off. Rocket followed them, tail wagging.
“Pip, I’m going to tell you something which nobody can kn
ow about, not even your sisters. Can you keep a secret?”
“Yes, mum.”
“I’m going to go away.”
Pip stopped, staring at me with his mouth open. “But why?”
I gazed at the sun, low and dim in the overcast sky. “Because I don’t want to live here anymore.” Should I ask? “If I find a place that’s safe for us, do you want me to send for you?”
Pip shook his head. “No, mum. I like it here now that I’m in the kitchens. I like Mistress Anne, and Monsieur, and the maids. I like learning how to cook.” He smiled. “I even like being with the men at night. They tuck me in and tell me stories.” He grabbed my hand. “I promise I’ll be good. I won’t ask any more questions about Mommy. Just — please don’t go away.”
I hugged him. “Oh, Pip. It’s not because of you.” How could I explain it? “What if they made you stay in the stables with your Daddy? How would you feel then?”
He considered this for a moment. “Bad. I’d — I’d want to run away.” His look of astonishment was so much like Roy’s the day I asked him to teach me to shoot a moving target that I almost laughed. “But you’re the lady. Why do they make you do things you don’t want to?”
I smiled to myself. “That’s an excellent question, my dear. You’re quite smart for being only ten. But I don’t know. And you mustn’t ask anyone else. Promise?”
Pip nodded gravely. “I promise. When will you go?”
I shrugged. “Soon, I hope. My friend is getting tickets.”
He smiled, placing my hand on his cheek. “I hope not soon. Will you tell me bye before you go?”
I squeezed his little hand. “I will.”
So Peter Dewey reported to Roy Spadros. No wonder Amelia was angry with him. What might Amelia have passed along to the man who tried to destroy her, without even knowing of it?
The Discovery
We left for Market Center directly after breakfast the next day, leaving instructions for Pearson to run the morning meeting. While Tony was speaking to the inquest, I waited in a small room, an armed maid standing by. They offered me tea, yet I mostly sat thinking. What could they possibly have to speak to Tony about?
The Ace of Clubs Page 19