Never mind that winter approached when weather prevented riding about the countryside. That did raise the question of who was instructing whom? And in what?
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Lady Forsythe?” Burke replied now as he returned to his desk and sat down after our greetings.
“And what is this I hear about your recent marriage?”
I decided to simply ignore him on that last one. I had learned in the past that the less said the better when it came to Theodolphus Burke. Yet, I was not beyond dangling a bit of information to gain more information that he might have.
“I read your article regarding the murder of that young woman, Charlotte Mallory,” I began. “It is getting so that it is not safe for a woman to be about London at any time of the day. It reminds one of those dreadful Whitechapel murders that have never been solved.”
That sharp gaze narrowed.
“Yes, most dreadful. But what is your interest, Lady Forsythe?”
“Mr. Brodie and I have been asked to make inquiries in the matter.” I replied. There was no reason to keep secret something that he would learn for himself from his own sources on the street.
“Hmmm. And you wish to know what I know, on behalf of your client.”
“It does seem as though we might be able to assist one another,” I replied.
“You have information?”
I heard the doubt in his voice.
“It might be beneficial to both of us, and you would, of course, be able to write the article once the murderer is caught.”
“What sort of information?”
“It would require your sharing information you might have as well,” I reminded him. With no guarantee of course that he would. Except for a bit of bribery.
“And it would be a shame for one of the other dailies to post their article first.”
“Are you suggesting a partnership, Lady Forsythe?”
Not bloody likely, I thought. Yet, something that would entice him to share and I would do the same.
“Not precisely,” I replied. “But perhaps something to help each of us. I want to find answers for our client, and you want information for your articles for the Times. We might both benefit,” I pointed out.
At the same time, I was hoping that printing the information that Brodie and I had been able to learn might entice someone to come forward with something they saw or heard.
“What is it that you believe you have discovered, Lady Forsythe?” The derision in his voice was obvious.
“A question first. Have you been able to learn anything from the man and woman who found the body?”
He shook his head. “They have refused to speak with me. Some sort of bad experience with someone from the newspapers in the past.”
Considering what was usually printed, often for purposes of sensationalism with a bare smidgen of fact and subsequent sales, I wasn’t surprised. However, that might provide Brodie and I with an opportunity.
“What about anyone else who was on the street at the time?” I then asked.
“That is two questions, Lady Forsythe.”
That smile, much like the Cheshire Cat. He was enjoying this part in this exchange.
“But I suppose there is no harm in sharing,” he continued. “There was a man going about lighting the street lamps who might have seen something. I haven’t been able to locate him as yet.”
While many street lights were now electrified along the major thoroughfares in London, gas street lamps were still found in other parts of the city. Was it possible the man might have seen something?
“I have been forthcoming with information,” Burke pointed out. “Now it is your turn, Lady Forsythe.”
