Chapter 19 #2
“We don’t have to do that.” Hadrian smiled.
“I’m not enamored of balls or soirees or any of those Society occasions.
There are certain things I should attend from time to time, due to my position, but a quiet night at home with you would be far preferable to just about anything else.
” He held her gaze, and Tilda began to imagine such nights…
The coach stopped, jolting Tilda from her reverie. She smiled at him. “Time to go to work.”
They were soon seated in Detective Inspector Teague’s office.
“Is Wycombe joining us?” Tilda asked.
“No.” Teague had pulled his desk chair over to sit with them. The morning had been a bit chilly, and a fire burned behind the grate.
Tilda perched on the edge of her chair. “I’m most anxious to hear what you learned yesterday.”
Teague’s expression darkened. “First, I should tell you that Spring-heeled Jack was sighted again last night. This time in Covent Garden.”
“What trickery did he perform?” Tilda asked. “Did he leap even higher?”
“There was no leaping, at least not that I’ve heard,” Teague replied.
“He accosted a young woman and breathed blue flame in her face. She also reported that his eyes glowed red, but she fainted afterward, so her testimony on that fact may not be entirely reliable. Other people in the vicinity did not report the glowing eyes, but they saw the blue flame, including her brother, who’d been walking beside her. ”
Hadrian’s features dimmed with concern. “Did Jack grab her or hurt her in any way?”
Teague shook his head. “It was another performance, though I still don’t understand the purpose.”
Tilda couldn’t fathom it either. “And there aren’t any reports of a kidnapping?”
“Not that we’ve heard. We must hope that if it happens, it will be reported.” Teague’s eyes narrowed. “I have to think that since Jack’s been seen the last two nights, he doesn’t have anyone in captivity, but who can say?”
“I maintain this Spring-heeled Jack could be an impostor,” Tilda said.
“Agreed,” Teague said firmly. “Let me tell you about the evidence I collected yesterday about his performance near the Strand. Spring-heeled Jack jumped up to the first story of a three-story building with a projecting stone band above the frontage. I went up to the first-floor window, where the chandler’s owner lives.
Leaning out, I saw an abrasion on the stone where it appears Jack landed.
I also found several short fibers which I concluded to be hemp. ”
“He used a rope,” Tilda said.
Teague nodded. “It appears so. One of the other residents in the building said they heard something on the roof, so we investigated that as well. There was a footprint in the soot near a chimney, indicating someone had been up there quite recently. There were also marks on the parapet. I surmised a pulley block might have rested there, but I found no evidence of such a device. Whatever Jack used to hoist himself up and make it appear as though he were flying was immediately removed.”
Hadrian frowned. “How disappointing. But it sounds as though you collected enough evidence to prove Jack’s astonishing leap was no supernatural feat.”
“I believe so.” Teague cocked his head to the side. “The noise that was heard on the roof came before he made the jump. It seems he had help up there.”
Tilda’s nostrils flared as she leaned forward slightly. “He has an accomplice?”
“We must consider the possibility, at least when it comes to the performance he staged two nights ago. We’re still questioning people who live in the building and those around it.
I also found a bit of fine white powder residue on the cobblestones where witnesses reported seeing the bright flash.
” He clapped his palms against his thighs and regarded Tilda and Hadrian. “What did you learn at the theatres?”
“Not as much as we would have liked,” Tilda replied with disappointment. “There was nobody at the Albion when we arrived, so we continued to the Adelphi. We spoke with the property master there, but he was not as generous with information as Mr. Jesson.”
She and Hadrian together explained the man’s guardedness. Tilda concluded by saying they would be returning to the Albion when they finished their discussion.
“Will you report back after you’ve visited the Albion?” Teague asked.
Tilda rose, and everyone else stood with her. “We will.”
They were interrupted by the arrival of a constable and a woman dressed in the latest fashion, which Tilda was only aware of after coming to know Hadrian and seeing how his mother dressed.
The woman’s gown was made of rich, plum silk decorated with silver braid.
Her chestnut-brown hair was artfully styled, and a matching hat sat atop her curls whilst a veil of netted silver tulle angled over her forehead.
The constable introduced her as Mrs. Redmayne. “Detective Inspector Teague, she’s come to report her daughter has been kidnapped.”
Tilda’s heart began to pound as her body quickened with both fear and anticipation. She was horrified this had happened again but relished the chance to catch the culprit.
“Please sit down, Mrs. Redmayne.” Teague looked to the constable and asked him to find Sergeant Wycombe. “Tell him to join me here.”
Tilda and Hadrian moved from the seating area so that Mrs. Redmayne could take one of the chairs.
Teague sat back down to face her. “I’m very sorry to hear about your daughter, Mrs. Redmayne. When did you discover her missing?”
“Her maid found her bed empty this morning with this note.” She reached into her reticule and pulled out a piece of folded parchment which she handed to Teague, her hand shaking.
After scanning it quickly, Teague gave Tilda and Hadrian a subtle nod. Tilda knew that to mean the letter was the same as the others.
Teague eyed the woman with concern and gratitude. “Thank you for bringing this, Mrs. Redmayne. I will ensure your daughter returns home safely.”
“My husband didn’t want to notify you because he thinks Florence will be killed, like that poor Chadwick girl.
” Mrs. Redmayne sniffed and removed a handkerchief from her reticule which she used to dab at her nose.
“I told him Florence could just as easily be returned like Lady Priscilla was. I’m not convinced paying the ransom will help at all.
They did that for Miss Chadwick and look what happened.
I just want my daughter back, Detective Inspector. ”
The longing and worry in her voice tore at Tilda’s heart. “Was your daughter friends with Lady Priscilla and Miss Chadwick?”
Snapping her attention to Tilda, Mrs. Redmayne narrowed her eyes slightly. “Who are you?”
“I’m Ravenhurst,” Hadrian said calmly. “This is my associate, Miss Wren.”
Mrs. Redmayne sucked in her breath. “I remember your name from the newspaper. I don’t want you involved.” Her voice was frigid as she looked Tilda up and down, then turned herself back toward Teague in a thoroughly cutting dismissal.
Tilda felt as if her breath had been knocked from her.
“Miss Wren and Lord Ravenhurst were just leaving, Mrs. Redmayne.” Teague sent Tilda an apologetic glance.
Pivoting, Tilda turned and left the office, her legs wooden. She heard Hadrian follow. They said nothing until they reached the coach where Hadrian confirmed with Leach that they would go to the Albion Theatre next.
When they were settled inside, Hadrian turned his full attention on her. “I’m sorry, Tilda. Mrs. Redmayne is upset about the loss of her daughter. You shouldn’t take it badly.”
“She has every right to be upset. I don’t blame her for not wanting my help.
” She kept her eyes trained forward as they moved away from Scotland Yard.
“Honestly, there’s no reason for us to continue with this investigation.
We’re not working for anyone, and we haven’t been hired by the Met to assist Teague.
I should just go home and take another case that would actually earn money.
I’ve had several inquiries about finding lost and stolen items. Perhaps that would be for the best.” She straightened her back against the squab.
Hadrian took her hand, and with his other hand, tipped her face toward him. “That is not what’s best. I know you, and you can’t walk away from this. Whether you’re paid to investigate has nothing to do with it. Your sense of justice and discovering the truth will always win out.”
Emotion swirled in Tilda. This was the comfort she hadn’t realized she’d wanted. He understood her completely. “You know me too well. Aside from my tenacity, I owe it to Delia Chadwick to find her killer. I know you’ll tell me I wasn’t responsible, but I can’t help feeling I let her down.”
His gaze held hers. “You didn’t. We’ll find her killer together—and bring him to justice.”