Chapter 35 #2
We were silent for a while. Val rose and went to the sideboard, pouring us each a glass of port. Usually, I did not drink it as it was a gentleman’s drink, but this was a vintage Aquinas had selected, rich and dark, and it suited my mood to be a little rebellious.
“So that is my truth,” he said finally. “What is yours?”
I told him. This time, unlike my narrative to Portia, I neglected nothing. I even told him the truth about Brisbane’s indisposition and his Gypsy blood, warning him strictly against sharing either snippet of information with anyone.
When I had finished, he poured us each a second glass of port.
“We must have been utter dolts not to have seen it before,” he commented. “And even when I saw him speaking Romany I never made the connection. It was all so fast, and then he started to chase you over the Heath, and then—”
He broke off and I let my eyes slide away. Val and I had shared many confidences this evening, but there were some things I was still unwilling to discuss. I cast around for a new subject.
“Val, did you ever see Edward at Pandora’s Box?”
He hesitated, then nodded. “I did. In fact, he was the one who brought me to the place. Miss Simms, the proprietress, had complained to him about the difficulty of finding a physician who was willing to treat prostitutes and would be discreet about the business. He thought of me and asked me to accompany him to meet Miss Simms. I thought he was a benefactor,” he explained quickly.
“I did not realize he was a patron. I suppose I must have known, but I did not want to think about him betraying you. So, I convinced myself he was simply there to see to their well-being. As I was.”
“Perhaps he was, at first,” I said with a shrug. “It seems a pointless sort of thing to gnaw one’s heart out over now.” It sounded convincing at least, to my ears, anyway.
“I think you are quite correct,” he went on. “The verses about whoring probably refer to his visits to the Box. But if Brisbane got nothing from Miss Simms, I will not either, I can promise you that. She is hard as nails and twice as sharp. But there might be others…”
He trailed off and I put my hand on his. “Try, Val. Please.”
He nodded. “I have a case there, a girl with a broken arm I set just yesterday. She’s started a fever and I wanted to look in on her.
I suppose I could ask a few questions—but I must be discreet, so discreet that I may not even be able to discover what you wish to know.
I cannot jeopardize the trust I have gained, you understand? ”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.”
He rose and so did I. For the first time since we were children, he enfolded me into an embrace. And since this time he was not attempting to toss spiders down my dress, I rather enjoyed it.
I went to Simon’s room after Val left, thinking to read to him for a little while. But he was sleeping quietly, with Desmond sitting nearby. I smiled at the boy.
“How has he been this evening?”
He rose noiselessly. “The doctor was here earlier, my lady. He said that Sir Simon had rallied a little. His temperature is down and his pulse a bit stronger.”
“Really? Well, so long as he is comfortable, that is the important thing,” I said, watching as Simon moved a little in his sleep. “Is he warm enough?”
“Oh, yes, my lady. Doctor Griggs gave very specific instructions as to his care.”
His face was troubled and I hastened to soothe him. “I am certain you are doing an excellent job, Desmond. I know it is not the most rewarding of tasks, but it is an important one, and you have the family’s thanks.”
For a moment he blushed deeply, his eyes downcast. His shyness was almost palpable. Before I could speak again to reassure him, he gathered hold of himself, dipping his head in a bob of respect. “Thank you, my lady. I have done my best.”
I smiled again and slipped out, thankful that there was at least one situation I had left in capable hands. I was not so certain about Val.
I need not have worried on that score. Val did not return to Grey House until very late, but I had left the light in my room burning, a signal to him that I had not yet retired. He scratched at the door and I called to him softly to enter.
He gave me a tired little grin. “Success.”
I patted the edge of my bed and he sat next to me so that we could talk without disturbing anyone. The last thing I wanted was Morag bustling in, asking pointed questions.
“You cannot imagine how simple it was,” he said, marveling.
“I was about to knock at Miss Simms’ office, as I do every time, to let her know that I have arrived.
Just as I raised my hand to knock, I heard her speaking sharply to one of the girls, warning her that a man had been about the place asking questions about Sir Edward Grey and that she was to tell nothing of what she knew. ”
“Brisbane,” I said excitedly.
Val nodded. “Simms threatened her with a beating if she talked. The girl swore that she would never reveal anything, then Miss Simms dismissed her.”
“But if she promised—” Val’s smile cut me off.
“A promise to Miss Simms is a promise to the devil. All I had to do was offer the girl, Cass is her name, some coin. Although she hates Miss Simms enough that I think she might well have told me everything simply for spite.”
“What did you discover?”
“Not everything. She confirmed that she often saw Sir Edward and spoke to him. And when I explained to her that his widow had questions, she asked to speak with you directly.”
I stared at him. “Surely you told her no.”
“I did not,” he stated roundly. “You want answers and Cass is willing to give them to you.”
“Val, I appreciate this Cassandra’s—”
“Cassiopeia,” he put in.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Cassiopeia. All the girls are given a nom de guerre, for lack of a better phrase, from Greek mythology. To carry out the Pandora theme.”
“Yes, well, that is commendably thorough. All the same, I do not think it at all suitable that I should meet this person.”
But even as I said the words, I regretted them.
Val risked his good name and his personal safety to give these squashed blossoms medical treatment.
Aunt Hermia provided a refuge for those willing to give up the game and live a more conventional life.
And Morag herself, well, it was best not to dwell on Morag.
But I could not be happy instructing Val to do that which I could not.
I had been attempting to prove myself a worthy partner in this investigation from the very beginning. It was time to show my mettle.
“I am sorry. Of course I shall meet with her. Have you made the arrangements?”
Val did not disappoint me. Knowing the impossibility of meeting either at my home or her place of business, Val had arranged a rendezvous in the Park for the next morning.
He had provided Cass with enough money to procure herself a bit of incognita, and he had told her I would be thickly veiled and wearing black.
He promised to escort me himself, in spite of Cass’ warning that she would speak only to me.
“You have done rather well for your first foray into investigation,” I told him.
He smiled wearily. “Is it? You have forgotten the Heath.”
I felt myself flush, remembering the way that adventure had concluded. “You had best go to bed now,” I said in my best bossy-elder-sister voice. “We must be out early to catch our little bird in the Park.”
He left me and I retired, but sleep came slowly.
Val’s reminder of the adventure on the Heath had caused me to think of Brisbane.
I wondered what he was about in Paris. I remembered his cool detachment, his thinly veiled anger the last time we met.
I thought of Fleur, and her elegant, dazzling charms, how he confided in her so willingly and turned to her in times of trouble.
And by the time I finally dropped off to sleep, I was fairly certain that he thought of me not at all.