Chapter 7 #3
Tilda arched a brow at him. “Will you be allowed to write the truth?”
His eyes took on a defiant sheen. “That is all I will write. In this instance, my editor has not been ordered to produce—or suppress anything. Are you amenable?” he asked hopefully, a slight smile lifting his mouth.
“I suppose.” Tilda was still skeptical about what would actually be printed, but she was glad for the chance to tell the full story. She gestured Clement toward the settee and sat opposite him in a chair.
He removed a notebook from his pocket. “I hate to say this, but the more dramatic you can make the tale sound, particularly with regard to the return of Spring-heeled Jack, the more likely I’ll be able to publish everything as you say it.”
“I see,” Tilda murmured. “Before you begin taking notes, I hope you know me well enough to realize I would never willingly endanger anyone. I think Mr. Chadwick, in fact, endangered his daughter by not informing the Metropolitan Police as soon as he received the ransom note. I understand why he didn’t, that he was afraid, but he should have done so. ”
“That seems perfectly reasonable to me,” Clement said. “Mr. Chadwick did not seem to care much for reason when I spoke with him. He was, dare I say, consumed with bitterness and grief. He clearly stated that if not for your involving the police, his daughter would still be alive.”
Hearing that pained Tilda something fierce.
“He has a right to feel that way. However, there wasn’t any other way for us to ensure we captured the kidnapper at the ransom delivery location.
You must understand that delivering a ransom to Hampstead Heath after dark is a dangerous prospect.
Furthermore, the kidnapper hadn’t mentioned whether Miss Chadwick would be present.
In the interest of everyone’s safety, I thought it best to involve the police. ”
“I understand why you made the decision.” Clement smiled apologetically. “When did that happen? Chadwick indicated that he’d only hired you because you’d promised not to inform the Met.”
“I did promise him,” Tilda said carefully.
“That was before I knew all the details, however. The second ransom note was delivered to Mr. Chadwick whilst Ravenhurst and I were at his house. I realized we had a chance to rescue Miss Chadwick, but that we would require assistance. That’s when I involved Detective Inspector Teague. ”
“Ravenhurst was involved with this?”
“Of course. He’s my partner. I noticed he wasn’t mentioned in the article.” Tilda believed Chadwick truly was trying just to discredit Tilda.
“That’s because Chadwick didn’t mention him at all.” Clement regarded Tilda with faint surprise. “Ravenhurst is your partner? I’ve always seen him as more of an assistant.”
“That’s how things began, but I rely on him greatly during our investigations, and we approach them as a partnership.
However, I would appreciate you not mentioning him in the article you write after speaking with me.
There are many who would find his work with me to be beneath him.
” Tilda did not wish to tarnish his reputation amongst his peers.
“Perhaps you could just mention that I have an associate I work with.”
Nodding, Clement wrote in his notebook. “I’ll do that.”
“My associate and I came up with a plan to capture this man posing as Spring-heeled Jack. We weren’t going to bring the ransom, so there was no chance that the kidnapper would have been paid.
We had to involve the police so that we would have plenty of men on the ground to apprehend him.
” Tilda pursed her lips faintly. “However, Mr. Chadwick arrived in the middle of the scheme and bungled everything. Spring-heeled Jack attacked Mr. Chadwick and escaped with the ransom he’d brought, despite everyone instructing Mr. Chadwick not to bring it.
Unfortunately, Miss Chadwick was not there. ”
Clement had been writing notes and now looked up at her. “It seems Chadwick was duped by the kidnapper. No wonder he lied to me. I will do my utmost to make sure you’re absolved.”
They’d all been duped by the kidnapper. Tilda had arrogantly believed they could recover Miss Chadwick and keep from paying the ransom.
“What can you tell me about Spring-heeled Jack?” Clement asked.
“I didn’t see him,” Tilda replied. “But Ravenhurst’s coachman did, and the description in your article was rather exaggerated. I don’t recall anyone saying the kidnapper had ‘dagger-like’ claws.”
“I suspected his descriptions weren’t entirely accurate,” Clement noted wryly. “And he left out the part where he wasn’t supposed to be there. What do you suppose the connection is between this kidnapper and the Spring-heeled Jack of lore?”
“I’ve been trying to determine that,” Tilda replied with frustration.
“The kidnapper wore a costume much like what Spring-heeled Jack was purported to wear. He also had red eyes, breathed blue fire, and possessed sharp claws, which he used to scratch Mr. Chadwick just as Spring-heeled Jack did when he attacked a young woman named Miss Alsop in 1838. The kidnapper also leapt over a five-foot hedge as he fled. However, aside from the kidnapper’s appearance at Hampstead Heath and signing the notes to the Chadwicks as Spring-heeled Jack, the kidnapper doesn’t have much else in common with the Spring-heeled Jack who assaulted young women thirty years ago. ”
Clement leaned forward with interest. “In what ways?”
Tilda met his gaze. “Have you ever heard of Spring-heeled Jack kidnapping and killing anyone?”
“I have not,” Clement said. “But he may have had the intent to kidnap one or more of the young women he attacked in the past and was interrupted or prevented from doing so.”
“I suppose that’s possible, however he didn’t keep trying, did he? I think someone is merely borrowing Spring-heeled Jack’s identity in order to provoke terror.”
“Well, I’d say it’s working,” Clement said darkly. “Rather, it will, after people read the article published today.” He sent her an apologetic look.
“Which is a shame, because you’ve sensationalized the tragic death of a young woman, and that is the truly terrorizing part. It isn’t Spring-heeled Jack in his ridiculous costume and trickery; it’s the fact that he killed this young woman. And we can’t let him get away with it.”
“So, your investigation will continue?”
Tilda clasped her hands in her lap and straightened her spine with determination. “Yes.”
Clement eyed her dubiously. “Chadwick said you were no longer working for him. Are you working for the Met then?”
“No. I have a personal commitment to investigate the matter.”
“I understand,” Clement said softly, his gaze warming. “If I can be of any help, I hope you’ll just ask.”
“I’m not sure I dare, given the article you wrote,” Tilda said sardonically.
“Please don’t let that end our excellent relationship.” His tone was sincere, almost pleading.
“I won’t. However, next time, I would appreciate you giving me advance notice. It was fortunate I read the paper before my grandmother this morning and was able to keep it from her. I don’t need her worrying about my reputation.”
Clement grimaced again. “I am terribly sorry. Truly. But this new article will be a vindication. I promise.”
Tilda wasn’t sure she believed him, not when he had an editor to answer to, and the editor took direction from one of the proprietors who was apparently eager to listen to Chadwick.
The door opened without preamble. Tilda startled upon seeing Hadrian, and his face was a shade of red she’d never seen before. His gaze fell on Clement, and he strode to the settee where he reached for Clement’s lapel. Clement lurched backward, avoiding Hadrian’s grasp.
Tilda jumped up from the chair. “Hadrian, what are you doing?”
“I’d hoped to hunt this bastard down, and now I don’t have to.” His blue eyes looked as though they could spit fire like what Spring-heeled Jack breathed on his victims.
Clement also rose and moved around the settee to escape Hadrian’s reach. “I understand why you’re upset about the article I wrote, but I didn’t have any choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” Hadrian ground out.
Tilda had never seen or heard him so angry. There was something oddly attractive about it, likely because he was furious on her behalf. He’d swooped in like an avenging hero protecting his lady, and she was shocked to find that rather satisfying.
Perhaps she would keep that to herself. She was an independent woman and didn’t need saving. Even so, that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy this.
“Not for those of us who have to worry about things like earning money.” Clement’s tone carried a hint of derision as he regarded Hadrian warily.
The two men had gotten off to a rocky start when they’d met, for Clement was a dogged reporter and made it clear his readers expected the sort of details that bordered on gossip. He’d pursued an interview with Hadrian’s mother, and Hadrian had put a stop to it with irritation and firmness.
“Perhaps you should have thought of one’s livelihood when you sought to ruin Tilda’s reputation in such a public manner. Don’t you respect the fact that she needs to earn money too?”
Clement went white, and Tilda felt a surge of pride and happiness that Hadrian would fight for her right to earn money as a detective.
“I should have fought harder against my editor and the proprietor.” Clement sounded and looked completely defeated.
“I came here today to apologize to Miss Wren and to interview her so I can write a follow-up story with the truth of what happened.”
“Good. If it doesn’t, you’ll hear from me,” Hadrian warned. “As will your editor. In fact, I may even speak to the proprietors.”
“That’s what Chadwick did,” Tilda said, drawing Hadrian to look at her. “He went directly to one of them, who instructed Clement’s editor to have a reporter interview Chadwick and write his account.”
Hadrian frowned as he returned his focus to Clement. “Which proprietor?”
“Labouchere, but you didn’t hear that from me,” Clement replied crisply. “I should be on my way.”
Tilda moved to the door and opened it. “Thank you for coming.”
Clement tucked his notebook back into his coat. “Thank you for sharing the truth of what happened.” He glanced toward Hadrian but said nothing before ducking out of the parlor.
Tilda closed the door and faced Hadrian. “I’ve never seen you so angry.”
“No, and why shouldn’t I be?” His eyes were still ablaze, and his face was a darker complexion than normal.
“That article was nothing but lies and innuendo. How dare Chadwick denigrate you like that? I’m even more troubled that Clement would be a party to it.
I thought he was your associate, if not a friend. ”
“I know, and I was upset at first too,” Tilda said. “However, I understand why he had to do it. It’s his job.”
Hadrian put his fingers to his chest. “I should have been included in it. Did you tell Clement about my role?”
“I did, but I told him not to write about you, because I didn’t want it to reflect poorly on you, given your position.”
“It’s not fair that you should bear the brunt of Chadwick’s blame. You did not act alone.” Hadrian pressed his lips together and turned slightly away from her so she could only see his profile.
“Damn it,” he breathed, surprising her, for he didn’t typically curse and that was the second time he’d done so since arriving.
“I’m tired of hiding our work together. I love you, and I want to be with you.
And I want everyone to know.” He turned his head to look at her.
“If we can’t even be open to the world about the fact that we work together, how are we ever going to truly engage in a courtship? ”
“I don’t know,” she replied softly. “This is part of why I haven’t wanted to focus on…us. I’m asking you again to please be patient. I need to find this man who killed Miss Chadwick.”
“You want to continue with that?” Hadrian waved his hand as he turned his body toward her. “Of course you do. But you won’t be paid, and that’s always been a chief concern for you.”
“It is, but I’ll manage.” Tilda recognized the defensive note in her reply.
“This is a matter of my professional reputation—my integrity. Regardless of how I feel, this newspaper article has blackened my reputation and will almost certainly affect my ability to earn money. People won’t trust my skills.
I must prove myself. I won’t rest until I bring this villain to justice. ”
“I know. It’s who you are. Even if your reputation were not at stake, you would not give up on Miss Chadwick.” He exhaled, the fire in his gaze finally diminishing. “In fact, you must keep working on it, because there may have been another kidnapping.”
“What?” Tilda exploded as she strode toward him.
“The Duke of Alnwick’s daughter, Lady Priscilla, may be missing.
It’s gossip at this point, but we need to ascertain the truth.
” Hadrian explained how his mother had heard the information and what she knew.
“I’m sure you’ve already recalled that Lady Priscilla was on the list of Miss Chadwick’s close friends. ”
Indeed, Tilda had remembered that as he’d shared the details. “We don’t know if it was Spring-heeled Jack.”
“Agreed. Shall we call on the duke?” Hadrian asked. “I’ve no hesitation in doing so. I know him somewhat. We’ve worked together in the Lords.”
“Yes, let’s go at once.” Tilda’s brow furrowed. She could only pray that if another young woman had been kidnapped, it would not end in murder.