“Ye met with the mother of the young man killed in that riding accident?” he commented as he filled his cup as well.
I nodded and told him about our conversation, and then about the faint marks on the silk shirt her son had worn that day, among things that Lady Walsingham had kept.
Brodie nodded. “Ye believe the marks were made by the same person.”
“And perhaps an accident that was no accident at all,” I added.
I then told him of our meeting with Sir Lowery, most particularly about that incident that apparently involved all four of the young men involved in betting, members of that notorious club, and apparently with the group forbidden to continue upon threat of dismissal. And shortly thereafter, the Prince of Wales left Trinity.
“The young woman was the daughter of the local cleric at the church in the village. Sir Lowery was not informed of the girl’s name, a decision made by the church bishop at the time. However, it might not be difficult to learn the vicar’s name,” I added.
“Aye,” Brodie said with a frown. “It would seem there is a great deal His Highness failed to mention.”
Brodie picked up the scarf from Marlborough House and handed it to me.
“I called on Mr. MacInnis at his shop on Bond Street. The cloth was not of a quality he recognized, but most definitely not the sort a gentleman might wear. He suggested that I call on the merchant who supplies wool and other materials to him and other shops, a man by the name of Jesperson.
“He has wool brought from Scotland, the outer islands, and some other finer pieces for special orders. He recognized the material in the scarf. It’s not wool, but a specially woven silk.”
“Specially woven? For whom?”
“For churches and clerics as part of their vestments,” Brodie replied. “Most often with a symbol of the church sewn into it. Yet, there’s none on this piece.”
Was it possible that the man with the limp Lily had seen escaping from Marlborough House, might be the girl's father?
I thought of that first note found on the body of Lord Salisbery’s son—not robbery as it was first thought, but murder!
“The sins of the fathers will be visited upon the sons.”
Eighteen
Lily stayedover at the flat next to the office again since the weather had set in as Mr. Cavendish predicted, turning to snow as the temperature dropped through the evening.
He had brought us supper from the Public House, then returned for the night. The hound was presently snoring in front of the coal stove.
Brodie and I continued to discuss what we had learned from my visit with Althea Walsingham and the information Sir Lowery had provided, along with what Brodie had learned from the wool merchant about the scarf. After supper, I made notes in my notebook.
“What is to be done now?” Lily asked.
She had listened to our conversation, curious and thoughtful.
Brodie stood at the window beside his desk, a frown on his face as he stared out at the snow that came down steadily, occasionally taking a draw from the pipe in his hand.
We had been asked to make inquiries on behalf of the Prince of Wales after notes were found at the site of two murders, the second one at Marlborough House the night of the birthday celebration.
However, with what we had now learned, it did seem that His Highness had not been entirely forthcoming in the matter.
But for what purpose? To prevent old secrets being brought to the fore and a possible scandal?
It was one thing to take on an inquiry when provided with everything a prospective client knew or thought they knew. I had experienced that myself in that very first case when my sister disappeared and my great aunt had referred me to a particular private inquiry agent.
It was quite another when information that could be critical to the case had been deliberately withheld, which could be dangerous for all involved. Let alone prevent us from solving the case.
“It does appear that His Highness has chosen to leave out certain information,” Brodie said, a fragrant ring of smoke encircling his head as I added notes to my notebook.
“I will contact Sir Knollys in the morning and insist that we meet again.”
It was possible that His Highness would be more forthcoming with other information in a conversation with another man. That notion of protecting a woman against possibly shocking and scandalous details.
