by Abigail Agar
But his face gave no sign of any emotion.
“In other words, you lied to them about your intentions for the sake of coming here and questioning me when my time would be better put to use in continuing my efforts to locate your Miss Smithfield?” he asked.
It was embarrassing to confess her lie. She could see that Inspector Brock considered her a child. It bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
“I do wish you would not question my intentions in such a way, Inspector Brock. I am making every effort to find a missing woman because I appear to be the only one who even noticed that she was missing,” she said.
“Because she did not help you prepare for a ball,” he said. “Tell me, would you have otherwise noticed? Would you have been aware that she was gone had it not been an inconvenience to you?”
“How dare you?” Georgiana asked, standing up in a rapid, angry motion. “Rachel is my friend. I care for her. She is a good woman and she deserved to be searched for. She deserves the efforts of your men, your precinct. She should not be lost to the villains and the wolves of London, Inspector Brock. I am ashamed that you would be so callous.”
She could hardly stand it. It had been three days now since she had seen Rachel. Still, no one seemed to care.
Her mother and father had done nothing. They had said nothing. They behaved as though the whole matter was simply an inconvenience.
Miss Dalton and Mrs. Buckley both appeared concerned. But, were it not for Georgiana, neither of them would have acted.
She couldn’t help but wonder if anyone would have minded if she, too, had disappeared. Was it simply because of Miss Smithfield’s station? Or was she just surrounded by selfish people who cared nothing for the well-being of another?
Inspector Brock regarded her before he spoke again, in that same, unnerving way that he was so prone to doing. It felt as though he could read her every thought with that glance.
“Miss Reid, I do mean it when I tell you that we are putting our efforts into this. You may be glad to know that I have contacted the other precincts and have consulted regarding any deceased females who had not yet been identified,” he said.
Georgiana swallowed the panic rising up.
“There have been none found which match your friend’s age and physical characteristics,” he said, causing her heart to calm once more.
“Really? So she is not dead then?” she asked, hopeful that Rachel might be all right after all.
“I can make no promises to that, only to say that we have not identified anyone which might confirm if she has,” he said, crushing that hope all over again.
“Inspector, if I may be so bold,” Georgiana began.
“I have come to expect nothing less than boldness from you, Miss Reid,” he replied, although it did not sound like a compliment from his lips.
“Thank you, Inspector Brock. I wish to tell you that you ought to take some time and…oh, I do not even know. Perhaps spend some time in a nunnery?” she suggested.
“Ha! A nunnery? Why is it that you believe a man like me would belong in such a place?” he asked.
“Because I can think of nowhere better that shows feeling and compassion in such stark contrast to your own demeanour,” Georgiana said, brazenly.
Inspector Brock was still for a moment, as if he had been perfectly stunned by her words.
“And I can think of nowhere that shows respect in such contrast, Miss Reid. Now, let us get back to the matter at hand,” he said, his tone so even and unemotional that she began to wonder if he had done it with great intention.
“What is it that you have?” she asked, choosing to move on and hear him out.
“I have very little. Having spoken with Sergeant Miller, we have agreed that our best option is to try and find Miss Smithfield’s family. We have had no luck thus far, but you may be able to help us in that,” he said.
“Oh?” she asked.
“Her name, Rachel Smithfield. It is common enough that there are three young women of the name in London and the surrounding countryside. We wish to find your Miss Smithfield’s family. Do you know where it is that they live? Has she ever mentioned which streets she lived near?” he asked.
Georgiana frowned.
“I fear that I do not know, Inspector Brock. We never did discuss the home she had before coming to us. Family, yes. I know that her mother yet lives, alone with a younger sister,” she said.
“But you know not where?” he asked.
Georgiana shook her head.
“Begging your pardon, but…I may be of assistance in the matter,” Miss Dalton said, speaking up and taking the attention of them both.
“Yes, Miss Dalton? Your help would be most welcome at this juncture,” Inspector Brock said.
“Well, I know that she grew up near the wharf. Did your searching come up with any Rachel Smithfield’s near the wharf?” Miss Dalton asked.
He smiled from that lovely corner of his mouth and Georgiana blinked her eyes away from his face and to the far corner of the office so that she was not distracted by his appearance.
“Yes! There is, Miss Dalton. Thank you. This could truly be what we needed in order to navigate our next steps. I believe we have hope yet,” he said.
Georgiana hoped that the Inspector would find answers for her. But she found herself hoping also that he would see her in a positive light, that he would have respect for her.
It bothered her, the fact that she wanted his attention. She wished that she could be stronger, but she would not be the sort of woman to care about this man’s opinion.
He was not one of her suitors. He was simply trying to solve the case that she had brought him.
“So, what now? Now that you are able to find her family, what must we do?” Georgiana asked the Inspector.
He looked at her with confusion.
“You go to your home,” he said.
She squinted her eyes at him in a glare.
“And you? What do you intend to do next?” she asked.
“I intend to wrangle my sergeant and make our way to the wharf,” he said.
It was not much, but it was something. Georgiana was happy to grasp at anything that she could. If this was a possible solution, it was one that she would accept.
But she would not accept that he might go without her.
“Perfect. I shall accompany you,” Georgiana said.
Inspector Brock scoffed.
“You? Accompany us? I fear it does not work that way, Miss Reid. We are not in the habit of allowing civilians to accompany us. Please, tell me, what is it that makes you believe you may join my Sergeant and myself in this investigation?” he asked.
“Because I am the one who insisted upon the investigation. If something has happened to Rachel, do you think she will be comfortable with the constable showing up at her family’s home? No, Inspector,” she said.
“No?” he asked.
“You need me there to calm them, to reassure her family—and possibly Rachel herself—that this is entirely the result of my own hopes that she is all right. If you go without me, with us, you may not get the information you seek because they may be so frightened of your presence,” she reasoned.
“Regardless, it is out of the question that you would come with me in this instance,” he replied.
There was nothing at all that was going to stop her. She was going to go with him. No matter how impudent she was, she was willing to be brash.
She saw the look in his eyes, as if he was deeply annoyed by her. It bothered Georgiana that he looked at her that way. it bothered her more than she had expected.
She worked hard to brush it away. Determined that she would not be distracted or falter based on this man’s observations of her, she set herself back to work.
“You have assured me of many things, Inspector Brock, but now it is my turn to reassure you of something,” Georgiana said.
He looked at her with a cynical eye and waited.
“I assure you tha
t no matter what you intend, you shall not reach her family’s home without me in tow,” Georgiana said.
“Somehow I am not surprised,” he said.
With that, they began to make their way from the station. She hoped that it was going to be a turning point.
She hoped that’s his was what she had been waiting for, they would finally find Rachel.
Chapter 8
The tenements tended to be a place in which crime festered.
Hamish had never been one to pretend that things were better than they were. He knew that, in these parts, life was difficult, life was rough.
Still, he was not always prepared when he was led in this direction. Oftentimes, when he had to make his way to a tenement building, he was already prepared for the worst of news.
Hamish had grown up in a similar area to this. Although he had brought himself out and into an excellent career, his life had not started in such a glamorous fashion. His mother and father had been one of the few blended couples in the area, his mother being Scottish, and his father losing work as a result.
They had given him a good life up until their deaths. They had loved him, had looked after him, had made sure that he had everything he could possibly want or need.
But they had been far from wealthy, far from having all of the fanciful items that he often saw other children enjoying. He did not have the sweet treats, the wooden toys, or attend the children’s theatre.
Life as a dweller in the tenements prevented nearly anyone from experiencing those things, from enjoying that life. He had been lucky as a child to not always understand what it was that separated him from the others.
He had been luck to not have to understand the judgment of beautiful women like Miss Reid.
But now that he had made a name for himself in his work, Hamish had put his tenement days behind him. The salary he had which barely afforded him anything better, was enough to convince himself that things had improved.
Once they reached the building where Miss Smithfield’s family was meant to be living, all of the memories came rushing back at him.
He took a deep breath and glanced over at Miss Reid, hoping that she had not noticed. She was, mercifully, oblivious to his pain. Chatting along with Miss Dalton, he may as well not have been noticed at all.
Hamish had sent John on another trail, after all. As it happened, Miss Smithfield also had a cousin on the other end of the city and Hamish had asked John to go and speak with him. No, however, it was simply Hamish, Miss Reid, and Miss Dalton in search.
“Thank you, Inspector Brock, for coming here. I do believe with great certainty that we are going to find Rachel soon. I trust that all will be well,” Miss Reid said.
“Hmm,” Hamish grunted, saying nothing more in reply.
It was evident to him that Miss Reid did not appreciate the rebuff.
“I mean it. I know that I can be forceful at times, but you have been so kind in looking into all of this,” she said.
“I am only doing what I must for my job. Please stop acting as though it matters to you in the least,” Hamish said, harsher than he meant the words to come out.
He did not mean to be so cold toward Miss Reid. In truth, she was a very nice young woman. Brash, but nice. Kind, even.
Certainly, she was intriguing. And beautiful.
There it was. The list of reasons for him to look up on her differently. He had been avoiding each of those reasons this far, but it seemed as though his resolve was weakening.
Hamish was determined. He would not allow himself to be swept up by a fanciful young girl. He was better than that. He had always been better than that.
They reached the correct door and Hamish knocked.
“Who’s there?” asked a landlady, sticking her head out the window.
“Inspector Brock, Miss. I am here to speak with the Smithfield family,” he said.
“Right, I’ll see to it,” she said, rushing to the door and letting them inside. “Just up the stairs and to your right.”
Hamish thanked her and they went up the stairs before taking a right and knocking on another door.
They entered the home and Hamish could already see that Mrs. Smithfield was anxious. From her shifting glances, he believed that she would like to be rid of them as quickly as she could.
“S-so, you are the Inspector? I cannot imagine what it is you need form us,” she said with a nervous laugh.
“I mean you no harm, Mrs. Smithfield. We are calling after your daughter, Rachel,” he said.
“My Rachel? What of her?” she asked.
Hamish hesitated and turned to Miss Reid, allowing her to speak up without interference.
“She has vanished, Mrs. Smithfield. Rachel is my maid, yes, but it is far more important to me that she is my dear friend. I worry for her. She has not been at home for three days,” Miss Reid said.
“Oh? Well, that is not like her, but I am sure she has a very good reason,” she said.
“You are? What sort of reason might that be?” Hamish asked, trying to trap her.
"I cannot pretend to know," she said.
“You cannot pretend to know about your own daughter? It is very simple, really. Have you seen her in these past three days?” he asked.
“My daughter works for her family. They are the ones you need to be questioning. If they have not seen her, she must have run off due to something they did,” Mrs. Smithfield said, shooing away her two youngest children. They could not have been older than six and eight.
“Yes, Mrs. Smithfield, your daughter does work for the Reid family. But if she left them, I can only assume that she would come back to you. I can only assume that you, her mother, would be her refuge,” Hamish said.
“And you are making a whole lot of assumptions,” she said, the older children nodding behind her in agreement.
“But do you know where she could be now? Where might she have gone after leaving the residence of her employer?” Hamish asked.
“I with I could tell you, but I cannot,” she said.
“You cannot or you will not?” he asked.
“Inspector, there is no information that I have. Nothing I could give you. You must realise that I have no way of helping you. I am just a simple woman who is raising her children. I haven’t got any fancy hiding places for my daughter and, as you can see, she isn’t here,” Mrs. Smithfield said.
They did have to accept that. Rachel Smithfield was not at the home at present. It bothered him because he had been hoping she would be there and it would all be resolved at once, but it was not to be.
She was still nowhere to be found and it left him wondering if something suspicious had taken place after all. Maybe, just maybe, there was foul work at play.
But Hamish was not totally convinced of that. After all, if there was reason to worry about foul play, her family would not remain this calm. Even now, Miss Reid was the most impassioned about Miss Smithfield’s rescue. Even now, she was the one who appeared desperate. It was only a family who knew where she was who would not be equally desperate.