“The chief inspector…” the young man reminded us both.
“Yes, of course. We wouldn’t want to keep him waiting,” I replied.
I stood and took Brodie’s arm for support after my supposedfaintness.
My good friend, Templeton would have been quite proud.
“If ye’er certain that ye’ve recovered…” Brodie most definitely struggled to keep a straight face.
Mr. Abberline was standing before the window of his office that faced out onto Whitehall Place, his hands clasped behind him. The constable announced our arrival and the chief inspector turned, most agitated it seemed by the expression on his face.
Ah, yes, I thought. Exactly as I remembered him from that first case regarding my sister’s disappearance— thin wispy hair over a glistening head that he sought to disguise by combing what little hair he had over to the side.
He had a sharp beady gaze, mutton-chop whiskers in the current fashion with an attempt at a mustache that matched the thin hair combed over on his head. He was quite short but drew himself up as he turned as if that might increase his height. Or to emphasize his position of authority considering his past with Brodie?
“Yes, yes, of course, Whitherspoon,” he snapped at the young constable. “You may leave.”
It was disappointing, to say the least, that the man had not changed since that first encounter. He was still full of himself, pompous to the point of arrogance. My opinion had not changed as well.
“Brodie and… Lady Forsythe,” Abberline barely acknowledged him in a supercilious tone. However I was more than aware of his acknowledgement of my title.
However, there were times when it gave me a certain advantage. This seemed to be one of them as he looked at me.
“Please be seated, Lady Forsythe.”
However… it did seem more of a command than invitation. I chose to remain standing with the hope that the meeting would be brief. Brodie remained standing as well.
“Ye sent for us,” Brodie reminded him, which caused Abberline to frown.
“If you please,” he insisted in a tone that sounded more like an order than a request. Brodie nodded. I then took the chair across from the desk as he also took a seat.
“You are making inquiries in the matter of a certain young woman’s death for Sir John Mainwaring,” Abberline began.
Brodie and I exchanged a look. We had only begun to make our inquiries and Sir John had insisted on discretion. Most interesting.
Brodie neither confirmed nor denied the comment.
“Yer call seemed most urgent,” he reminded Abberline. “How can I help ye?”
I had to smother back a smile as he most efficiently took the moment away from Abberline. The chief inspector was aware of it as well as he went quite white around the mouth— a favorite saying of my aunt.
“You are aware of Sir John’s position.”
Brodie merely nodded.
“This is a matter that should have been brought to me.” Abberline’s voice rose in agitation.
“Sir John insisted that the matter be kept in strictest confidence,” Brodie replied.
“The death of his daughter under mysterious circumstances is a police matter!” Abberline fairly shouted.
“In consideration of his position,” Brodie emphasized.
A position that outranked Abberline, given Sir John’s title, and his very close relationship with certain members of the royal family, I thought.
“We were asked to maintain privacy in the matter for the time being,” Brodie clarified.
“Nevertheless, I should have been informed!” Abberline had begun to pace the office on the other side of his desk.
