Chapter 8 #2
“But whenever you go to your club, you must take Verity, Tilly. I insist on this,” her mother said. “Just in case you meet any trouble.”
“Verity does not approve of The Iris, Mother.”
“Then take someone else. We have plenty of staff.”
“Very well.”
Her maid disapproved of The Iris because she wanted to see Tilly wed and settled with children. Verity believed a woman could not be happy alone.
“And are you bound for The Iris today?” her father asked.
“I am to meet with the others who discovered the Pavlov fortune first, as we have things to discuss. Then I shall go to the Club.”
“If ever you need us in any capacity, you only need to ask,” her father said. “We are here to support you, Tilly.”
The words made tears burn behind her eyes, but she kept them at bay. “Thank you. That is very kind.”
They finished their breakfast, chatting as they always did about a range of different things.
Her mother usually discussed what she was reading, or a discovery some scientist somewhere had made, and her father shared what happened at chess club yesterday.
Then they would go about their day separately.
Leaving the breakfast parlor, she went to her room. Their house was an eclectic mix of dark colors with splashes of light. The walls were deep blue on which, every few feet, a range of things, from pictures to words framed that either a scientist or chess master had said, were hung.
Cabinets were full to bursting with ornaments and odd pieces that were the bane of the existence of whomever was dusting. It was a house full of clutter even as the household staff did their best to shuffle things around in case someone were to call.
“I have called for the carriage, Miss Tilly,” her family’s butler said. Croft held a pile of newspapers in his arms, which he’d no doubt retrieved from her father’s sitting room.
“Excellent. Thank you, Croft.”
Many of their staff had come and gone, but not him. Croft had been with her family for as long as she had. Tilly had always seen him as a large calming presence in their chaotic household.
When she was little, he used to find her outside in the gardens with a book, and he would sit and read to her. He was excellent with voices.
“Mrs. Broom has made a fresh batch of almond biscuits, Miss Tilly.”
“Ooh, thank you. I shall visit the kitchens before I leave the house.” She’d known this man most of her life and knew when he wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure he should, so she added, “Is something bothering you, Croft?”
His face was always calm, but there were telltale signs of agitation if you knew where to look. Like the small twitch on the right side of his mouth.
“I saw my brother yesterday, Miss Tilly.”
“Did you? Well, that’s nice. How are he and Mrs. Croft?”
“Very well, thank you. It’s very kind of you to ask. They are in London for a brief visit before returning to Winchester.”
She waited, knowing something else was coming.
“My sister-in-law’s brother worked in the position of butler for the gentleman’s lodging house that was located where The Iris Club is now, Miss Tilly. I explained to her and my brother that you had started The Iris Club, you see.”
Unlike some of the other staff, Croft thought the club an excellent idea.
“Did he really?” She watched him closely now. After that conversation with Ruby, and what she and Lord Talbot had found, any information she could gain would help form a better picture of what went on in that room beneath. “What did he say about the place?”
The corner of his mouth twitched again.
“Speak freely, Croft. We do not have secrets, you and I.”
This man had carried her about the place when she’d been ill, and right alongside her parents, poured tonics down her throat, and mopped her brow. They did not stand on ceremony.
“He did not hold the position for long because of the sinister deeds he felt took place there, Miss Tilly.”
“Sinister deeds?” The hair on the back of Tilly’s neck rose.
“He did not see the things happening outright, you understand, but he mentioned two instances where men had to receive medical care for damage to their bodies.”
“What kind of damage, Croft?”
“Burns and knife wounds,” he replied, then added, “There was an odd scent, plus loud moans which he also likened to chants.”
“How odd.” Tilly’s heart was thudding harder now.
“Then there were the women,” Croft said, his mouth turning down at the corners now.
“What women?”
“His employer said they’d left for other positions, but my sister-in-law’s brother wasn’t so sure that was the case.
In fact, he thought they’d simply disappeared.
He was worried enough to speak with someone at Scotland Yard on the matter, but he was not interviewed again and was unsure any further action was taken. ”
“How many women?” Tilly asked.
“Three, he believed.”
Three women. Tilly thought it likely Fern was one of those three, which brought Ruby to mind. She’d not seen her again since that day.
“When I told him you had taken over the lease on the property, he wanted me to tell you what he’d observed while there. You see, he believed there were hidden rooms somewhere, as men came and went, but not through the front door, and he could never find the secret door,” Croft explained.
“I’m grateful to him for telling you, Croft, and please thank him for me. I would also be grateful if he would see his way to informing you of anything else he remembers.”
“Of course, Miss Tilly.” He bowed and returned to his dusting, and she headed for her room.
There was no doubt that something sinister had gone on beneath her club.
But now, with Croft’s information, she knew that more women than just Fern had possibly gone missing.
She would need to pass his information onto Lord Talbot, and as she was seeing him shortly, she would have the chance to do so.
Would they tell the others today what they found? It made her nervous, but Lord Talbot was right—they were intelligent people, plus clairvoyants, and they may be able to help them unravel what had taken place in that room.
Tilly’s bedchamber was on the second floor and spacious. It had a sitting area and then her bedroom. Decorated in light colors, and unlike the rest of the house, there wasn’t any clutter. Tilly liked order.
She quickly collected her outer clothing and headed back down the stairs to find Verity waiting for her with a small package in her hands. Her maid approved of the Nightingale family, and Tilly’s association with them. She also liked Bud, the family’s housekeeper.
“Croft said you’d like some almond biscuits.” Her maid handed them to her.
“Excellent. Let us be off, then, as we have no wish to be late for the meeting.”
Though she had much to share with him, Tilly was nervous about seeing Ambrose again after what they had shared. Yes, they’d seen each other from a distance, but had not conversed. Today would be different.
She rallied by herself. “You cower to no man.” Stepping outside, Tilly inhaled deeply. “Especially not an arrogant, pompous one.”