I had thought of that as well.
Everyone had secrets. Things that might be dangerous if the truth was known. We had encountered that in past inquiry cases.
In speaking with her, I now knew somewhat more about the men who had once been known as the Four Horsemen. While I didn’t know a great deal about their sons, that original note now seemed quite threatening—Sins of the Fathers will be visited upon their sons…
A threat? But from whom? Someone who merely sought attention or perhaps blackmail, as was frequently the case when it involved someone of position.
Yet, as far as we knew, there had been no demand for payment. Then, what could be the motive?
Perhaps Brodie would learn something from among the staff at Marlborough House. Something that someone saw that might be helpful.
And then there would be the need to speak with the young man’s father. Not a pleasant prospect, yet necessary if anything was known by the family before that attack.
I kissed her on the cheek, then stood.
“You’re leaving so soon?” Aunt Antonia remarked.
“I might be able to learn something from the archive at the dailies that could be useful.”
I had used the newspaper archives for past inquiries. If the scandal sheets from 1861 had carried write-ups about the deeds of the four young men, there might be something useful there.
“I’ll go with ye,” Lily commented. “Two pairs of eyes will make it easier.”
It did seem as if we had acquired a new partner for our inquiries…
BRODIE
His Highness’s personal secretary, Sir Knollys, had provided a room adjacent to the library at Marlborough House for the purpose of his meeting with those who had been present the night of the murder.
“Will this suit your needs, Mr. Brodie?” he had asked with a hint of what might have been disapproval that Brodie had experienced in the past in other places. That spoke of the differences in their social classes. It was something else that was not there when Mikaela was present.
“Quite well, Sir Knollys,” he assured him as he waited for the next person to arrive from a list that Mikaela had provided of those most likely to have been present the night of the murder.
It was possible that one of them might have seen something or had an exchange with the murderer, who appeared to have moved easily among the guests.
That was over two hours ago he noted by the pocket watch he now carried, a birthday gift from Mikaela, although he didn’t know precisely when his birthday was.
His only memory of it was a small celebration with a piece of sponge cake with jam that his mother had given him along with an unexpected gift when he was young. She had taken the money used for coal in the flat where they lived to purchase a pair of pants and boots for him.
They were not new, of course, purchased from the second’s shop near where they lived. But they were new to him, and there had been sponge cake.
It was slightly stale, purchased from the bake shop at the end of day. He’d paid no mind to the staleness of it with the sweetness of the jam.
Now, he enjoyed fresh sponge cake baked by Mikaela’s housekeeper Mrs. Ryan. With any left after saved for the hound. It was that sort of contrast that caught him unawares at times—how far he’d come. Yet, there were still moments when what and who he’d been were there.
It clawed its way back to the surface, reminding him that he was no better than any other man on the street, with his own secrets, pain from the past, and a darkness inside.
Then, Mikaela was there, filling up the empty places inside him, soothing the darkness with her intelligence, stubbornness and sass, and other things that came with just a look.
It was a reminder that, as much as they came from different places and different circumstances, she understood the dark places that were there inside him in a way no one else could.
He looked up from the table that had been provided and the notepad he always carried.
Aye, sass, he thought with a smile as he waited for the Lord Steward of Marlborough House, a man by the name of Burgess, who had been with the household of the Prince of Wales for several years.
He had been in charge of staff and servants the night of the birthday celebration and had been present throughout the day and evening should a member of the royal family have a need.
It was possible that he might have seen the man whose likeness Lady Lenore had sketched from Lily’s description.
