“She’s been like me own family, with you and Mr. Brodie. Ye know I wouldna let anythin’ happen to her.”
“I know,” I admitted. “It is the reason I asking you to remain here, and let Munro and me do what we must to clear Mr. Brodie.”
She was thoughtful for several moments. I expected an argument. I would certainly have made one.
“Aye,” she finally replied. “I’ll stay here...but I expect to be included in yer next inquiry case.”
A demand. It seems that I was surrounded by them. First from Sir Avery, which I would undoubtedly regret although the idea was intriguing, and now a slip of a girl who was far too intelligent and quite crafty.
“You are not to let her know about our arrangement,” I insisted.
She agreed. “It will be our secret. Do ye think I need to carry a weapon while yer gone?”
Mrs. Ryan saw that we had plenty of hot coffee and scones as I met with Munro in his office to go over our plans once more.
By the time we left Sussex Square for the Clarendon Club at Regents Park, Lucy would have already gone to the newspaper archive to try to find any additional information about the murder of Stephen Matthews ten years earlier, and Alex was to contact Sir Laughton, my aunt’s attorney, in the matter of having Brodie released.
I requested Mr. Hastings’ services once more. It would go a long way to keeping my aunt at Sussex Square. Of course, there was no accounting for the possibility that she might take it upon herself to take the motor carriage into the city.
I thought of giving Lily the St. Christopher’s medallion Brodie had given me, yet hated to part with it. And there was the possibility that it would take far more than St. Christopher to protect anyone my aunt encountered if she took it upon herself to visit Scotland Yard.
I had spoken with her regarding the fact that Alex would be working with Sir Laughton in the legal aspect of the situation. She had replied, slightly distracted as if her thoughts were elsewhere.
“He is the best man for the job...I do think it may be time to take the motor carriage out for a drive.”
“Remember our bargain,” I reminded Lily as Munro and I departed.
“I want to see Brodie,” I told Munro as our coach pulled away from Sussex Square.
“It might be best to wait until Mr. Sinclair has spoken with yer aunt’s attorney,” he finally replied.
“Sir Avery arranged for me to see him before.”
“It’s not a matter of permission from Sir Avery,” Munro replied.
“Then, what is it…?” But I knew. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see him...he didn’t want to seeme. That was obvious, and it cut like a knife.
“Ye need to understand,” Munro tried to explain. “With the charges that Abberline intends to file against him and the injuries…”
Excuses. And while I did appreciate Munro’s effort to ease the pain of the truth of it, it didn’t change the fact that Brodie didn’t want to see me.
I had asked him to trust me, and then had deliberately gone against his wishes.
Damned bloody stubborn Scot! As if I would simply ignore everything and leave him to take his chances with Abberline!
That was what I wanted to say but didn’t as we approached closer to Regent’s Park and the Clarendon Club.
“Since you have had business with the club in the past, you should speak with Mr. Ramsey to see if Mr. Iverson is about,” I replied.
We were shown into the main entrance of the club when we arrived. Isaac Ramsey was a portly man with a sharp eye.
“Mr. Munro, to what do I owe the pleasure of your calling on me, with your last visit to deliver our order of Old Lodge whiskyso recent? Has her ladyship increased the price of her whisky? If not, then I would prefer to put in an order before that happens.”
As discussed, Munro introduced me and then explained we were there to ask a few questions in a matter of the incident some time ago and the murder of Stephen Matthews at the club.
“Mr. Iverson, you say. Yes, he’s here today,” Mr. Ramsey replied. “We’re preparing for a birthday celebration for one of the members. A terrible tragedy about young Matthews. Unfortunate, even ten years ago.”
Munro emphasized the importance that we speak with Mr. Iverson.
