Chapter 17
Just as they finished the tea and food Margaret had prepared, the others arrived. Alex and Charles, with Mungo and Bram. Yet more men in a women’s only club. Tilly hoped the other members stayed away until they were gone.
The story was once again recounted by Leo, and more questions asked while Tilly grappled with everything that was happening around her.
“There was no name attached to the complaint made against The Iris Club, Tilly,” Gray said when Leo had finished.
“I went to the Metropolitan Board of Works before coming here and asked to speak to Inspector Hartley. I was told he had not worked there for two years. I then asked for his address, but they could not provide it.”
“Someone really wants this club closed down,” Violet said. “But who?”
“And are they related to what is going on in that room below?” Ambrose added.
“On that note, please lead the way, Tilly,” Gray said. “I think it is time to see this room.”
She led them down to the room next to the kitchen.
Tiredness settled over her like a heavy blanket as Tilly reached the bookshelf.
She did not want to experience a day like this ever again.
Knowing Ambrose had been injured because of her actions was something that would haunt her for many long years.
She was impulsive, but if things went wrong, it was usually only she affected. Today it was him.
“Tilly, are you all right?”
“Of course, Lord Talbot,” she said, reaching for the books.
“And we’re back to Lord Talbot,” he muttered, moving to help her.
“Please, I have this. You should not exert yourself further today and exacerbate your injuries.”
“I'm well, and the suffering was not all from today, as I believe I have already told you.”
With everything that had happened today, she’d forgotten about him being attacked last night.
“You must tell the others that too, as Leo did not.”
“What else has happened?” Mungo demanded. The large Scotsman then nudged Ambrose aside and began removing the books, passing them to Bram, who lowered them carefully to the floor.
“Can we say, here today, that anything that happens to anyone that is in this room, or I am close with, I am immediately told?” Gray ordered before anyone else could speak.
“That’s his I-deserve-more-respect voice,” Alex said.
“I was attacked last night after the musicale. I came to see if anyone had tried to enter through the door from the street, and someone was here. He ran at me, we tangled, and then he fled,” Ambrose said.
Mungo pinched the bridge of his nose. “How many entrances are there to whatever is below us?”
“Three,” Tilly said.
“And do you believe you were attacked by someone who in all likelihood is involved?” Gray said.
“What other reason could there be for someone lurking outside that door?” Leo said.
Tilly had come to that conclusion also.
“My daughter is far better behaved than you lot,” Gray gritted out.
“Oh, now, we know that’s not true,” Ellen drawled.
“Open the door, Tilly,” Ambrose said.
She released the little lever, and the bookcase slid open. Then she did the same for the panel beyond.
“That's ingenious,” Ellen said. But her voice was already quieter than usual, and Tilly noticed her touch the doorframe briefly, then withdraw her fingers as though she’d pressed them against something hot.
“Lead on, Tilly,” Bram said.
Ambrose stepped in front of her and held out his hand for the lamp. She didn't argue, just handed it to him.
The stairs took them down into cooler still air, and she couldn’t stop the shiver, knowing what lay ahead of them.
Tilly had felt it before, when she and Ambrose had first come this way, but then she’d had the nerves of confined dark spaces to contend with as well.
Now she was surrounded by people and would remain unharmed, so what she felt was due to what had happened in this place.
She turned as someone moaned. Ellen, she realized, seeing her wide-eyed gaze. Gray had moved to her side and held her hand.
Leo and Alex were close to her now too.
“Those are the stairs up to the gentlemen's club,” Tilly said when they reached them.
No one responded. Alex was looking at the drawings on the wall, and his usual calm expression had gone. He reached out and traced one symbol without touching it, his hand hovering above the stone, and then let it drop to his side once more.
They passed the cloaks, and Tilly watched Ellen’s step falter as she brushed her fingers along them.
“Ellen,” Gray said quietly.
“I'm all right.” But she did not touch the cloaks again.
Alex did. He pressed his palm flat against the nearest one and closed his eyes, and the color left his face so quickly that Bram stepped toward him.
“Alex—”
“There is a man coming through, someone I believe who wore this but has now passed. I feel his sadness, not for what he’s done, but what he can no longer do, I believe,” Alex said, his voice stripped of its usual warmth. “He was not a good person.” He removed his hand and said nothing more.
Mungo eased Tilly behind him as they reached the room, and she was grateful for his care.
The smell reached her first, just as it had when she’d come down here before.
There was the cold of the stone, and the old, musty scent of rooms that got no light or air. Overlaying those smells was a taint of what could only be blood.
“My God,” Alex whispered.
He was white-faced now, his jaw set. Beside him, Ellen had gone still. Tilly thought she looked to be bracing herself for what was to come and felt her nerves rise.
“If this is too much,” Bram said, his voice low, “the three of you leave.”
“No,” Leo, Alex, and Ellen said at the same time.
“Whatever evil happened here must be exposed,” Leo said. His voice was steady, but he was pale. “We must bring those responsible to justice.” He and his siblings moved to the shelf to examine the contents together.
“I believe there has been much death and pain down here,” Alex said.
“Shut them out, nephew,” Bram said, looking worried.
He loved his nephews and nieces very much. Tilly had seen evidence of this over and over again.
She rubbed her arms, watching them.
Violet slipped an arm around her waist in comfort. “Are you all right?”
“I am. I just keep thinking of who suffered here, Vi.”
“Our club is cleansing whatever horrid things happened in this place, Tilly. Never forget that what you’ve done is good. Good washes away evil.”
She hoped that was right.
“This symbol,” Alex said, his voice sounding stronger now, more like himself.
He held up the book from the shelf and pointed to its cover.
“The Societas Rosicruciana. A Christian Hermetic order. Members had to be Master Masons already. Ostensibly it was about scholarly pursuit. Kabbalah, Hebrew mysticism, Alchemy, Hermetic philosophy. The writings were attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.”
“Wasn't he a legendary Hellenistic figure,” Tilly said, “combining the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek god Hermes?”
“He was, and I'm impressed you know that.”
“Because I'm a woman?”
“Because no one else in here has the faintest idea what we're talking about,” Alex said with a ghost of his usual smile.
It didn't quite reach his eyes. “Societas Rosicruciana was for learned gentlemen pursuing ancient wisdom. But there were rumors of what lay behind that facade.” He looked around the room slowly.
“Standing here, I find the rumors easier to believe.”
“What rumors?” Violet demanded.
“Blood oaths. Rituals that most sane people would run screaming from.” His gaze settled on Tilly.
“Ambrose said you brought a woman here to your club today after you and he ventured into the East End and that her sister went missing while working in this building when it was still a gentlemen's club?”
“Yes.” Tilly braced herself for what came next.
“The young woman I have coming through is agitated.” He tilted his head slightly in the way Tilly had come to recognize meant he was listening to something none of them could hear. “I see a leaf. Some kind of—”
“Fern,” Tilly said softly. “Could it be a fern? That was her name.”
The word sat in the cold air between them.
“Yes,” Alex said. “A fern would fit.” His smile was gentle. “She is a quiet sort.”
“Ruby is quiet also,” Tilly said. “Perhaps we should speak with her, as she may be able to tell us more.” She paused. “Although if she believes her sister is still alive, it will not be easy to tell her otherwise.”
“No,” Alex agreed. “It will not, but I think it is necessary.”
“This is blood,” Mungo said from beside the altar.
“Lots of blood,” Bram added, looking over his shoulder.
“Something is very wrong with this place,” Ellen said. “Pain, rage, and fear fill this room. But there is also hunger and greed.”
“I think these are the names of those who belong to whatever hell club this is,” Alex said, now reading the book.
“Yes, we thought that was a possibility too,” Ambrose said, joining him.
“Hierophant, Magnus, Adeptus, Philosophus, and Zelator,” Alex said.
“I know someone who may be able to understand more about this than we can,” Tilly said suddenly, remembering a bookshop she frequented. “I had planned to go there tomorrow. I shall do so and see what the proprietor can tell me.”
“It could be dangerous for you to take it,” Ambrose said. “If whoever was watching me the other night manages to get in here and finds it gone, he may go looking and start with you.”
“I will have a care, and I fail to see why he would link me to the missing book. It is only you who has shown your hand to whoever attacked you.” Tilly felt her argument was rational.
“I will take it to this person,” Ambrose said holding out his hand.
“I know them well. Therefore, I will take it. I have been frequenting their bookshop for many years.”
Tilly could feel the eyes of everyone on them, watching the argument between herself and Ambrose play out.
“Give it to me,” Ambrose commanded, holding out his hand.
“No.” Tilly then opened her jacket and stuffed the book inside before refastening it.