Chapter 14 #2
Withdrawing a sheet of vellum from his drawer, he flipped open the lid to his inkwell and dipped the quill inside.
It was time to make a list of possible suspects to begin investigating.
Anyone that had come into contact with Aislynn that, while not a credible threat, were still worth checking into.
He’d found that sometimes the most unlikely villains were the ones responsible.
The first name he wrote was the most obvious choice, the one he would most like to see judged for his crimes.
They were lengthy, but the aristocrat was adept at covering most of his tracks.
Earl of Parkson
Next was the earl’s second, the man who shared in his licentious activities.
Lord Wrexville
He hesitated before writing the next few names, but again, he told himself that every possibility should be searched. They were all individuals that he knew, two of which he actually knew well and respected.
Viscount Alton
James Reynolds
Mary Spade
The Wolf
He scribbled the managers of the Theatre Royal as well as the Royalty Theatre and every actor and actress that he could recall.
He inspected the list and then forced himself to write one more name.
Cordell Steele
He knew that he wasn’t responsible for anyone’s death, but he also couldn’t discount himself because of his personal history and the one time he could not accurately remember his actions.
When he was finished, he waited for the alcohol to take effect and make him tired. However, when there was an urgent knock at his door, he realized it was going to be a long night, so it was a good thing he wasn’t yet exhausted.
A Runner was standing on his front step.
There had been another murder.
* * *
Aislynn wasn’t sure if Cordell would actually allow her to stay at Spade’s.
She expected him to walk into the parlor and cart her out of the brothel slung over his shoulder, but when Mary had appeared alone, she wasn’t certain whether to be relieved or disappointed.
Granted, she had not wanted to yield her display of rebellion, but neither had she wanted to give in too easily to Cordell’s arrogant, chivalrous demands.
Feeling an air of victory should have made her sleep soundly but she tossed and turned, unable to keep from replaying the memory of his fiery kisses and his gentle touch from running through her mind.
Every time she closed her eyes, she could see the indecision warring on his face that finally won out by his desperate need for her.
It was certainly humbling and now that she had time to think clearly about everything that he’d sacrificed of himself to be with her, she wanted to reach out to him.
It was too late for that, of course, since she’d made the decision to send him away but there was still time to right her wrongs.
Determined to see him the next morning, Aislynn was finally able to drift off into a fitful sleep.
It wasn’t until she woke up the next morning that she received another great shock.
As she sat down in Mary’s personal parlor and prepared her tea while a tray set to the side, anxiously awaiting her, the owner of the brothel announced in a matter-of-fact tone, “There was another murder last evening.”
Aislynn’s cup was halfway to her lips when she abruptly stopped and set it back down on her saucer with a slight rattle, her heart immediately starting to pound. “Pardon?”
“I did not think ye would want me to evade the subject when ye are bound to hear the truth.” Mary folded the paper she’d been reading and set it to the side. With her good arm, she propped her elbow on the back of the settee and rested her head in her palm. “Or was my judgment misrepresented?”
“No. You were right to tell me.” Aislynn took a deep breath and tried not to allow her stays to suffocate her.
She had discovered her valise had been delivered sometime during the night and sat at the end of her rented bedchamber.
She wanted to believe that Cordell himself had delivered it in person but she knew that was asking too much.
When she opened it to take out a clean gown to wear, tears instantly welled in her eyes when she saw a fresh white shift lying delicately on top of everything else.
She didn’t recognize it as anything she owned because it was entirely too fine, proof that Cordell had bought it for her to replace the one he’d torn asunder.
She wondered if he would be able to do the same for her heart if he managed to rip it in half as well.
“If ye hope to see Cordell today, I fear ye will not have much luck,” Mary said, as if reading her thoughts. “He sent word early this morning that he had been out all night with the Runners trying to find the culprit.”
Aislynn swallowed hard over the lump in her throat. Fear of a different sort shot through her, because what if she never got the chance to apologize to Cordell for the way they’d parted? “I am not surprised. He is intent on finding the killer.”
“Yes, he is, but it is not for the reasons that ye might be thinking.” Mary lifted a slight brow and straightened her pose.
“It is clear to anyone who can see properly that he is besotted with ye. I might even go so far as to suggest that he is in love with ye, but I’ll let him be the one to confirm that. ”
Aislynn’s breath caught. “Cordell and I have not known each other long enough to form that sort of meaningful connection.”
“Ye can say that after last night?” The lady shook her head.
“I have known Steele for a long time and never have I known him to consider breaking that ridiculous vow of celibacy. If that doesn’t count for something with ye, then I am starting to wonder if ye are as intelligent as I thought ye were.
” Getting to her feet, Mary waved a hand at the tray.
“Ye should eat to keep your strength up. All of yer admirers will not want to see ye fainting on the stage for tonight’s performance. ”
Aislynn leaned forward and put her head in her hands.
She did not want to think about Cordell sharing her feelings.
That was dangerous in the extreme, especially when she had her own goals to achieve in life.
She might care a great deal for Cordell, and certainly didn’t want to see him injured, but she could not risk her future dreams on something that might not even last. It was good that they were currently apart because perhaps the distance might give her some clarification, to bring her emotions back to reality, instead of living in some sort of fantasy world where she could live happily ever after with her handsome prince.
She had witnessed the downfall of too many princesses to suggest the same might not happen to her.
She shared a mutual attraction with Cordell, but it did not go any deeper than that.
Mary might think she understood Cordell because of one night of weakness, but that did not mean he was prepared to get down on one knee and ask her to be his for the rest of their days.
However, Aislynn was cynical enough to know that would never happen.
Cordell had made it perfectly clear that he would never marry and knowingly father children.
He might have faltered on one vow, but it would take a miracle for him to give in to anything further.
Carnal pleasures were something completely different than sharing a life with someone when there were ghosts haunting them at every corner.
Those demons were not so easily dismissed.
* * *
It had been a long night and an even longer morning, but Cordell was somehow energized.
He had discovered a strength of will within himself like he’d never known before.
Perhaps it was the passion he’d shared with Aislynn, or the thrill of the chase that continued to keep him alert.
Perhaps it was a combination of the two.
Whatever the reason, he left the pub with Reynolds at his side and a shared comradery between them that had been lacking until that moment.
It was strange that for as long as they had known each other they had merely tolerated each other’s presence, but one night working tirelessly side by side for a common goal, in this instance, had somehow earned a mutual respect.
“I do not feel as if we are any closer to solving this blasted case,” Reynolds grumbled. “How is it that the murder happened so close and no one seems to know anything about it?”
The look of weariness Cordell saw around the older man’s eyes was somehow more pronounced and he realized that he had been clinging to a weak solution when he’d written his name on the list of suspects.
He was convinced more than ever of his innocence.
Some things just couldn’t lack a certain genuine quality.
“Timing is everything,” Cordell murmured. “The man we are after does not conform to hours when there is a lot of traffic in the area. He wants to be able to take his time and coerce his victims before he takes their life.”
Reynolds narrowed his eyes. “What makes you come to that conclusion?”
Cordell looked at him steadily. “Do you not recall the many patients I have observed over the years at Bedlam? I have been able to associate certain characteristics with this man.”
“Then how about you tell us where he is so we can end this madness.”
His mouth kicked up at the corner. “If only I could. Trust me when I say this is a real concern that overwhelms me.”
“You are speaking of Miss Sims.”
It wasn’t a question, but more a statement of fact.
Cordell could lie but he decided to offer that much truth.
He had never been one to air either his grievances or his victories but he found he was not averse to speaking on this subject.
In truth, he could use some advice. “I am. I have grown rather fond of her.”
His companion snorted. “You and nearly everyone else in London.” He looked off into the distance as if something had gained his particular attention but Cordell could tell he was merely in deep thought.
“Perhaps that is what we have been missing.” He shifted his focus to Cordell.
“Miss Sims is a rising name on the stage whereas the women who are being slaughtered have no chance of gaining the same sort of popularity.”
Cordell’s eyes widened slightly. “You do not believe that someone is trying to sabotage Miss Sims but to ensure her successes?”
“I do.”
It was the first time Cordell had thought of the killer’s motives in that light. He had been focused on the attack at her flat that he hadn’t stopped to consider that was all part of the act. But why go to such lengths to scare her if the intention was to assist her to the top?
The matter would certainly require additional thought. It shed an entirely new light on the reasons the murderer had to protect Miss Sims, if that was what he was doing.
“I need to speak with Miss Sims and discover if there might be anyone in her past that could fit such a description, someone who could have a misplaced loyalty, who would believe harming others would benefit her career.”
“I will alert you if there are any further developments.” Reynolds tipped his hat and strode off the opposite side of the street.
Cordell was slower to depart, his thoughts swirling with a new list of infinite possibilities. He decided that the person responsible might now be someone much closer to Aislynn than he’d originally imagined. It could be that the killer was obsessed with Aislynn for other reasons entirely.
He told himself to slow his steps as he hailed down a hackney to take him to Spade’s.
He wasn’t even sure if Aislynn would agree to see him but hopefully, she would not let their current turmoil stand in the way of an important investigation.
He wasn’t sure what sort of opposition he might face when he arrived, but that was the argument he was going to present to her.
After being let inside, Cordell made his way to Mary’s private parlor but he stopped short when he saw Aislynn standing outside the door and appearing to be waiting for him.
He slowed his stride, wondering if she was going to rail at him in the midst of the foyer but he was pleasantly surprised when she kept her voice level.
“I was informed there was another murder last evening. I would like to know what happened.”
He wasn’t sure if he was relieved that she was dispelling any sort of intimacy between them but he realized it was best to focus on neutral territory. “It was at the Covent Garden Theatre. A woman by the name of Miss Charlotte Wilkes. Were you familiar with her?”
She closed her eyes briefly, as if saying a small prayer for the woman’s demise. “I was not.”
“I spoke with Reynolds last night and explained how you had discovered a personal letter in Miss Flynn’s dressing room. He was eager to know if you might uncover something similar for Miss Wilkes.”
“I can certainly try.”
A moment of uncomfortable silence interceded but since Cordell didn’t want to set her at any further unease around him, he inclined his head. “I shall await you outside in the carriage.”
Forcing himself not to look at her again, he turned on his heel.