Chapter 4
“Did you sleep?” Hadrian asked as he and Tilda traveled to Hampstead Heath the following morning at dawn.
Tilda grimaced faintly as she folded her gloved hands in her lap. “Very little.”
“I’m not sure I slept at all.” Hadrian leaned his head back against the squab and fought against exhaustion. “Do you think it’s possible Miss Chadwick was returned to her parents sometime overnight?”
“Teague said he would place constables in Belgrave Square to watch the house. If Miss Chadwick had been returned, we would know.” She sounded nervous.
“It’s hard not to worry.” He put his hand over hers.
“Impossible.” She clasped his hand and held it on her lap.
“I copied the lists we received from the Chadwicks and will give the originals to Teague. Miss Chadwick has several close friends. It will take us a few days to speak with all of them, as well as the watercolor and pianoforte tutors. Her riding lessons are with their head groom. We still need to interview the household staff since we didn’t yesterday. ”
“The arrival of that second ransom note about the delivery interrupted our typical investigation practice of making inquiries,” Hadrian said.
“Perhaps we should conduct the interviews with the Chadwick household today since it’s Sunday.
Then tomorrow we can work through the list of Miss Chadwick’s tutors and friends. ”
Tilda smiled at him. “An excellent plan.” She leaned her head back against the squab, and he sensed her fatigue.
Hadrian closed his eyes as he settled into the comfort of her touch. They spent the rest of the journey in silence. He presumed her mind was occupied with thoughts of Spring-heeled Jack and Miss Chadwick. Or perhaps she was battling unconsciousness as he was.
When the coach finally stopped, Hadrian jolted fully alert. Tilda released his hand and straightened in the seat. As Leach opened the door, gray early-morning light spilled into the coach.
Hadrian climbed down then helped Tilda to the Spaniards Road. Two coaches and several horses marked the area where they’d been last night. The oak was to the right side, but focus was on the left where Spring-heeled Jack had disappeared after jumping the hedge.
Detective Inspector Teague stood near that spot with Sergeant Wycombe. Tilda and Hadrian moved to join them.
“Morning,” Teague said.
“Any word from Belgrave Square?” Tilda asked.
Teague shook his head. “If Miss Chadwick turns up, someone will ride out to tell us.”
“What do you think the odds are of that happening?” Tilda asked, her expression somewhat bleak.
“I don’t want to say there’s no hope.” Teague exhaled then frowned slightly. “However, in my experience, the longer she’s gone, the less likely she’ll return.” He glanced at Wycombe, who nodded grimly.
Hadrian looked over at the wooded area beyond the hedge where several men combed the landscape. “Have you found anything yet?”
“Nothing definitive,” Teague replied.
Tilda moved closer to the five-foot-tall hedge. “This is where Spring-Heeled Jack jumped over. I thought we’d be able to tell exactly where, based on the foliage appearing disrupted, but it looks as though he cleared the hedge entirely.”
“That’s our conclusion.” Teague jerked his head toward the hedge. “We found the indentation of his boots in the dirt on the other side. He has large feet, indicating Jack is taller than the average man, but not unnaturally so.”
“Given how easily he cleared the hedge, I think it’s safe to say he has long legs,” Hadrian noted.
“Let me determine how easy it is.” He crossed to the other side of the road where he sprinted to the hedge.
Hadrian wasn’t able to leap over it, but he placed his hand on the top and swung his legs over.
“I don’t think that’s how Spring-heeled Jack managed it,” Tilda said with a faint smile.
Hadrian peered at her over the top of the hedge. “Neither do I.”
“How do you suppose he did it?” Wycombe asked. “He’s supposed to have the ability to leap. Do you think that’s how he got into the Chadwicks’ house?”
“I’ve no idea how accomplished the feat,” Tilda said.
“However, Miss Chadwick’s window is much higher than five feet from the ground.
The exterior of the house bears closer investigation.
Ravenhurst and I plan to return to Belgrave Square this afternoon to interview the Chadwicks’ retainers, and we can do so. ”
Teague hesitated the barest moment. “Sergeant Wycombe and I discussed doing the same. I think it’s best if the Met conducts these inquiries. Perhaps you could focus on Miss Chadwick’s friends? Though, I’d still like the lists you mentioned.”
“Certainly.” Tilda removed the original lists from her reticule and handed the folded pieces of parchment to Teague.
“We will also speak with Miss Chadwick’s two tutors.
I’ve been thinking we need to learn more about the history of Spring-heeled Jack.
Perhaps that will help lead us to the kidnapper. ”
“We seem to be thinking the same things.” Teague’s words and accompanying smile gave Tilda a boost of confidence.
“Yesterday, after you came to tell me about Miss Chadwick’s kidnapping, I asked a clerk to find out what he could regarding Spring-heeled Jack from thirty years ago.
He left a note for me, which I read this morning on the way here.
He learned the names of the inspectors who investigated the attacks in 1838 but has not yet obtained the report books from the appropriate divisions.
He’ll do that tomorrow since today is Sunday. ”
Enthusiasm swept through Tilda, making her feel more like herself. “That’s excellent, thank you.”
Teague shook his head. “I should have recalled that James Lea investigated one of the attacks—he was rather famous for arresting the Red Barn Killer. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. However, the man who investigated the other attack—on Miss Lucy Scales—Joseph Hopkins, is still alive and lives in Stepney.”
“Detective Inspector,” one of the men called from the wooded area. “I found evidence of a horse.”
Teague and Wycombe strode to an opening in the hedge. Hadrian and Tilda followed after them.
Three constables stood near a tree. One gestured to the trunk. “A horse was tied here.” He held out his hand to reveal several fibers. “These strands of rope were on the ground here, and there are hoof marks.”
“I found a pile of manure just over there.” Another constable pointed farther from the road.
Teague surveyed the rope pieces. “Excellent work. Now we know Jack came and departed on horseback. Not much, but it’s better than nothing.”
“I’m surprised to learn Spring-heeled Jack rides a horse,” Tilda said sardonically. “I thought he leapt from place to place.”
Everyone laughed, and even Tilda cracked a faint smile. Hadrian was glad to see it.
“Let’s keep looking,” Teague said. “I can’t imagine Jack rode through these trees for too long before moving back to the path or even to the road. Let’s try to follow the horse’s trail.”
Rather than split up, they all worked together to trace the hoofprints. Sure enough, the trail led back to a path and eventually to the road.
“Looks as though he was headed toward London,” Hadrian said.
Teague nodded as he put his hands on his hips. “Agreed.” He looked to the constables. “Trace your way back, lads, and see if you find any other clues,” Teague said.
The constables moved to follow Teague’s instructions.
Hadrian looked around at Tilda, Teague, and Wycombe. “What does the fact that the kidnapper rides a horse tell us?”
Tilda eyed him with pride, and Hadrian’s chest swelled.
“An excellent observation and question,” she said.
“It could indicate he’s of a certain economic class, whether he owns the horse or paid to use it.
Or he could have stolen it. The fact that he rode also points to a skill that not everyone possesses.
I don’t ride,” she added with a faint shrug.
“These are good things to keep in mind.” Turning to Wycombe, Teague instructed him to go to Belgrave Square to interview the staff and investigate the exterior of the Chadwicks’ house, with particular attention to Miss Chadwick’s window. “I’ll join you there as soon as I can.”
Wycombe nodded and started back up the road toward the vehicles and horses.
Teague then shifted his attention to Tilda as he took his hands from his hips and relaxed them at his sides. “Pardon me for saying so, but you seem exhausted. Why don’t you go home? I’ll let you know if we find anything.”
Hadrian expected Tilda to argue, but she did not. “Thank you. Please send word if you find anything at all, and especially if Miss Chadwick returns.”
“I will,” Teague said firmly.
Hadrian inclined his head at the detective inspector, then escorted Tilda up the road toward the coach where Leach awaited them. “I’m a bit disappointed we aren’t calling on the Chadwicks. If I could find a way to touch Chadwick, I might be able to see Spring-heeled Jack’s memory.”
“Because he touched Chadwick last night when he scratched him.” Tilda’s brow creased.
“You might see Chadwick’s memory of being attacked, which would also be helpful.
But how would you ever find a reason to touch him?
I don’t think he’d shake your hand at this juncture,” she added with an arched brow.
“Probably not,” Hadrian said on a sigh.
“We don’t even know if Jack actually scratched him,” Tilda noted. “Those were awfully deep wounds for someone’s fingernails, and the kidnapper does not have claws.”
“True. He may have used a tool or device of some kind, which would mean he didn’t actually come into contact with Chadwick’s flesh. That would have prevented me from experiencing the kidnapper’s memory.”
They reached the coach, and Leach held the door whilst Hadrian helped Tilda inside. Hadrian directed Leach back to Marylebone.