“And she is going to need a new wardrobe. There is now a substantial cut in her skirt. I may have been a bit overenthusiastic with the rapier,” she added. “I shall have to contact Mademoiselle.”
My aunt’s seamstress? I emptied my glass.
It was now Linnie’s turn to roll her eyes. “When was this decided?” I asked when I had somewhat recovered.
“It was somewhere between William’s sword and the rapier you practiced with at about the same age,” our aunt replied. “And she was telling me the most exciting story about your escape from the fire at the brothel in Edinburgh.”
“Oh, good heavens!” Linnie exclaimed.
I don’t usually discuss aspects of the inquiry cases I undertake with Brodie. But there you are. That particular aspect of the case was out now.
Lily nodded excitedly. “And then we were taken and put in the cobbler’s shop at the Vaults.”
“Vaults?” Linnie’s color had faded several shades. “Whatever are the Vaults?”
“It’s an old underground part of Edinburgh,” our aunt who was quite well informed, chimed in. “There is an entire part of the city down there. There were clandestine activities, smuggling, prostitution. People actually lived there for quite some time. And apparently a cobbler’s shop? Most interesting. You must tell us all about it,” she added with a look over at me.
And pigs fly, I thought, according to the old Scottish saying. I did need to speak with Lily about keeping things to herself.
In that way that my aunt has of taking charge, it was all decided. Lily was to remain at Sussex Square for the time being. There she would receive tutoring, a new wardrobe, and an additional education in, as my sister put it afterward, our aunt’s most unusual adventures.
“You cannot possibly be considering this arrangement,” Linnie had commented in an aside afterward. “The poor girl…”
Thepoor girl, whom my sister knew little about save the story about the brothel and the Vaults, was quite capable of taking care of herself. It was one of those things that my dear sister was lacking in— a greater view of the world around her. Still, I had hope for her.
I have frequently stayed over at Sussex Square for one reason or another in the past. However, as it seemed that my room had been confiscated, I returned to the townhouse at Mayfair.
“Ye’re not peeved at me for wantin’ to stay?” Lily asked as she accompanied me to the entrance at Sussex Square where I waited for my aunt’s driver to bring round the brougham.
Peeved? How could I be when I had experienced the same sort ofbetweenyears as she was about to experience, and had somehow managed to emerge unscathed?
And there was another part of this— the excitement of our aunt’s planning for all of it. I had not seen her so enthusiastic in…
Well, not since she had planned to go to Africa on safari.
The truth was, she was getting on in years and if she wanted this in spite of my sister’s dire predictions, then I was in favor of the arrangement. After all, I had come out of such an unusual upbringing quite successfully. Aside from my sister’s opinion in the matter.
It didn’t mean that I wouldn’t be a presence in Lily’s new life. Quite the contrary, I still would, much like a surrogate mother orspinsteraunt.
There was that word again.
I had spoken only briefly with Brodie about my plans for Lily. Even though those had been somewhat diverted by my aunt, he would undoubtedly learn of it from Munro.
Mrs. Ryan had everything in order in the extra bedroom when I arrived at the townhouse.
“Where is the young miss?” she inquired.
“She has decided to remain at Sussex Square for the time being. My aunt is most excited about it.”
She made the sign of the cross for emphasis. “Saints preserve us.”
* * *
The next day…
From my visit the previous evening, I had the name of the photographer my aunt had commissioned to take photographs of her guests for the All Hallows party the coming evening— Paul Laughton.
My sister was familiar with his work that was frequently on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
