Chapter 11 #2
“But your relationship with Mr. Callister is unique, is it not? He told me he pays for these lodgings at Charlotte Street for you.”
This time the lady’s laughter didn’t stop at a single peal. She chuckled for a good while. “That is a very interesting characterization, but not true. I pay for these accommodations myself, and I own the house on Regent Square.”
Gideon did react to that declaration and immediately bent to his notes, flipping back a page or two. “You own a house on Regent Square? The location of the Rosebud Club?”
Miss Mahoney nodded.
“Did Mr. Callister buy it for you?”
“No.”
“Mr. Pennington?”
She let out a scoff at that. “No, definitely not. Gordon can be generous, but neither of them paid for that house.” She notched up her chin. “I invest my funds and manage them wisely. I own both properties outright.”
Gideon took in that information and didn’t push for more details about how she’d funded those purchases. “And who is D. D. that resides at the Regent Square address?”
The lady hesitated. A protective impulse, Electra sensed. Through her abilities, Electra perceived Miss Mahoney was throwing up a veritable wall.
“I’m not sure who you refer to, Inspector.”
“Dahlia? Does that name ring a bell?”
Miss Mahoney waved her hand. “All the ladies go by floral names. It’s a practice I employ to protect them until they wish to share more about themselves with a gentleman.”
“And who went by Dahlia?”
Miss Mahoney turned her gaze toward the unlit fireplace grate. But Electra noticed her eyes flick up once. To one of the framed photos on the mantel; Electra couldn’t tell which one.
Gideon noticed her attention stray too, and he stood, surprising both of them, to walk over and examine the photographs.
“Is she one of the ladies here?” he asked lightly. “I recognize you in this one with a darker-haired lady at your side.”
“Those are members of my family, Inspector. The D. D. you refer to is… Well, I believe you are talking about Mrs. Devlin.”
Gideon came back and sat again, scribbling down the name in his notes. “And her given name?”
“Demeter. She’s a widow who came to me about a year ago.”
“And she formed a liaison with Percival Pennington?”
“This is the area where we come to topics I must be circumspect about, Inspector. We are treading on matters that may force you, out of a sense of duty, to take actions that I could not bear.”
“My only desire to discover the truth of Mr. Pennington’s murder, Miss Mahoney. The rest does not concern me at this moment in time. I wish for you to be forthright.”
“I'll be as forthright as I can be, Inspector.”
“Percival Pennington. What can you tell me about him? Or about the Pennington brother. You knew them both and they frequented your club?”
“Percival more so than his brother, but yes, they both visited at various times.”
Electra noted that her answers were given in a slower, more controlled cadence now. Despite Gideon’s reassurance. She was protecting something or someone.
“What is your club? Can you describe it for me?”
Miss Mahoney lifted a red brow. “It is a meeting place. A salon of sorts, where gentlemen can meet ladies who are willing to be friendly and taken care of and form an attachment.”
“Do ladies reside at Regent Square?”
“Not usually, no. But on occasion, if a lady requires lodgings, I will allow it. And there are private rooms on the nights when gentlemen visit. Though I discourage that as well. It is meant as a salon for conversation and introductions. Ladies find someone who can offer them benefits, and the gentlemen receive benefits in return.”
“And how does that result in income for you?”
“I am compensated by both parties for providing the space to mingle and refreshments while they do so. And when an attachment is formed, that success is rewarded too.”
“So, both Pennington brothers paid you to meet a lady?”
“Percival paid. Lance did not. He came as a guest on two occasions. I hoped he might wish to become…a member, but it seemed he did not have the funds, and his brother’s generosity did not extend that far.”
Gideon made a few notes, and while his head was still bent, he asked, “Did Percival Pennington take up with the lady called Dahlia?”
“She was one of the ladies he met, but he spent time with others too.” She pursed her lips, as if in irritation. “Percival did not like my rules. I explained them a few times, but he was a…difficult man. He was quite muddled in his decision-making. Quite demanding and yet eager to find fault.”
“In what regard?”
“Well, he would not simply choose a lady and take the next step to care for her. He seemed to prefer sampling, rather than choosing.”
“But he did choose Mrs. Devlin, known as Dahlia?”
Miss Mahoney’s swiped a vivid red curl behind her ear. “Who told you that?”
“Is it inaccurate?”
“Yes. I believe that Demeter would have favored him if he had ever followed through with his seeming interest in her, but…” She swallowed thickly.
“But?” Gideon prompted.
“She and Mr. Lance Pennington formed an acquaintance, unfortunately.”
Gideon tipped his head as he regarded Miss Mahoney. “Unfortunate because Mr. Lance Pennington could not pay your fees?”
“Not only that, but he could not provide for Demeter.” It was the first time Eleanor Mahoney had become heated since they’d all sat down.
Gideon hesitated. Electra thought he looked as if he was searching for a way to word his next query.
“So did the brothers…share a mistress?”
Miss Mahoney’s mouth flickered into a half-smile. “Percival was not the sort to share. And, as I mentioned, he could not seem to settle upon any one lady. But Demeter made the dreadful mistake of caring for Mr. Lance Pennington.”
“Was Percival Pennington jealous?”
“Not at all. In fact, I’m not sure he knew the extent of their affection for each other.
He seemed rather distracted with his own entanglements.
A broken engagement. And another lady who would not return his affections.
” Miss Mahoney let out a long sigh. “Percival Pennington was a man of complaints.”
“What complaints did he lodge with you?”
Miss Mahoney reared back as if offended. “Not regarding my club, Inspector. Rather, the tribulations in his life. When he was in his cups, he liked to lament. About a Mr. Beecham who was making his life miserable. About his niece and her inappropriate beau. About his brother and his failures.”
“Did you ever see the brothers row?” Gideon asked.
“No, they were amiable enough when they came together on those two occasions.”
“When was that?”
“Months ago. Perhaps six months ago.”
Gideon's expression shifted at that. Something like surprise. “Did Mr. Percival Pennington visit the Rosebud Club recently?”
“Yes, he remained a consistent fixture at the club, despite not choosing a lady.”
“I have reason to believe he visited Mrs. Devlin there over the last few weeks.”
Miss Mahoney blinked. “Oh. Well, Demeter had been staying at Regent Square the last few weeks, but I have no knowledge of Percival visiting her. She was far too taken with his brother for that.”
“And were you ever one of the ladies Mr. Pennington sampled?”
Electra noted how Miss Mahoney flinched at the crass wording, though it was the same she had used.
Her muscles tensed and Electra did not need her gifts to know Gideon had struck a nerve.
Patiently, he waited, saying nothing more, even glancing at the art on the walls, as if he had all the time in the world to wait for her answer.
“For a time,” she finally said softly. “Yes, I was.”
“Recently?”
“On occasion.” She bit the words out. “As I said, Percival was changeable in his tastes.” She flicked a bit of lint on her blouse.
Electra had the sense she wished to do the same with the discussion of Mr. Pennington.
“And did Gordon Callister know?”
A flicker of fear sparked from Miss Mahoney, though she remained still and silent.
“He did and he was displeased. We discussed the matter and it was resolved,” she finally said, her voice clear and strong.
“Resolved in what manner?”
“Percival moved on.” She let out a shaky sigh. “Gentlemen are ridiculously territorial, even when they themselves shy away from committing themselves.” Miss Mahoney slashed a hand through the air. “They were rivals for my affection.”
Gideon’s jaw had tensed and he appeared to give her answer considerable thought. “Were you having a liaison with both men at the same time?”
Miss Mahoney smiled, but there was no kindness in it. “I choose who I give my attention to, Inspector. No one else.”
She leaned forward, reaching for a small crystal bell. “I believe I will ring for tea.”
Without waiting for Gideon’s reply, she rang the bell.
“Excuse me for a moment.” She stood and went out through the pocket doors.
Gideon immediately turned to Electra. “I promise I will give you a chance to ask about Mrs. Wilson.”
“I know you will.” Electra had been so occupied with watching Miss Mahoney react, attempting to read her emotions, that the question of the lady who’d come to visit her had fallen to the back of her thoughts.
Miss Mahoney was hiding something significant. Electra did not know why that certainty sat on her chest like a weight, but it did. Slipping her gloves off, she looked about for something she might touch and spotted a cut-crystal glass on the table next to Gideon.
He looked in the direction of her gaze. “What is it?” he asked.
Electra stood, approached him, and then bent down to pick up the glass. A thin line of amber liquid remained at the bottom. She sniffed and recognized it as whiskey. Though she never partook of liquor herself, her father had. Too much and to his detriment.
She closed her eyes, trying to not think about how quickly Miss Mahoney might return or that Gideon was watching her with his hawklike focus.