I blinked, immediately recalling Mr. Dorian’s suggestion from yesterday. “What on earth made you think of that?” I braced myself for the answer—though, of course, there was no way he could have seen Mr. Dorian.
“My cousins were talking about it. They go all the time. Franny says there is a skeleton of an entirewhale.”
“Ah,” I said with relief. “Well, I’m afraid we can’t go today since I have to visit Aunt Delia. But perhaps tomorrow?”
Tommy pouted a little, but then gave a nod. “All right. May we go to the park instead?”
“Yes. For a bit. But I must have my breakfast first, darling.”
Tommy granted this request and loped off somewhere. Hopefully, he wasn’t planning to accost Mrs. Ford with more descriptions of insects. As I waited for my food, I turned my gaze to the picture window that overlooked the back garden. Another grey London sky today. And likely a chill to match. A little sigh escaped me, as I thought longingly of our terrace on Corfu, where we ate many of our meals. I had grown quite spoiled with the weather in Greece. But now I resolved to appreciate the abundant sunshine and warm dry air with wild abandon when we returned, whenever that would be. This elicited yet another sigh. When I first left, I had imagined returning before the worst of winter came to England, but the likelihood of that grew dimmer by the day. Now, with this murder business, we might well and truly be stuck here for some time. And if that was the case, there were things I needed to attend to, including buying Tommy and myself some more warm clothing.
Mrs. Ford returned with my breakfast a short while later. “Here you are, Mrs. Harper.”
“Thank you. This looks lovely.”
I hadn’t realized just how ravenous I was until she placed the tray before me, and I wasted no time tucking in. I had eaten several bites of egg and toast before I noticed she was still standing by the door, waiting. I tilted my head in inquiry.
“I was just wanting to make sure you are all right, Mrs. Harper.”
After I put Tommy to bed last night, I had told her a little about the murder, and she was, of course, horrified.
“Yes, thank you for asking,” I replied. “I’m well, all things considered.”
She watched me for another moment and seemed satisfied by whatever she saw. “Your aunt did say you were made of sterner stuff than most ladies.”
A surprised laugh escaped me. “Did she?”
Mrs. Ford nodded. “Oh yes. And she is an excellent judge of character.”
I responded to this with a smile. I loved Aunt Agatha dearly and appreciated everything she had done for me over the years, but she was often overbearing and quick to judge. Frankly, I was lucky she had taken such a liking to me when I was a child. For she had never warmed to Delia in the same manner, and there had been a stark difference in the way we were treated, though I wasn’t sure my sister was old enough at the time to notice.
“And should you need any more help with Tommy,” the housekeeper continued, “I am happy to oblige. Just as long as he doesn’t mention those foul bugs again,” she added warily.
“Thank you. That is very generous,” I said. “I do need to visit my sister this afternoon, if you don’t mind. And I willabsolutely make sure Tommy does not discuss that with you anymore.”
“Yes, that is no trouble at all,” Mrs. Ford said before turning apprehensive. “Those ear … things he mentioned. Are those real?”
“Earwigs, and yes. I’m afraid so.”
“Good heavens,” she muttered under her breath. “I don’t know how you could ever live in such a place.”
“Well, it helps that they aren’t found inside. Usually,” I amended, but that was little comfort to the housekeeper. She left the room with a stricken look on her face, and I ate the rest of my breakfast alone.
Afterwards, I accompanied Tommy to the park, where we explored for nearly two hours until I had to practically force him back to the flat for luncheon. I was chilled to the bone, and our noses and cheeks were as red as apples, but Tommy only seemed exhilarated by the bracing fresh air. We enjoyed sandwiches and steaming bowls of soup before it was time for me to leave. Tommy seemed unconcerned, and when I left, he was tucked up on the sofa in the parlor with an old world atlas that must have belonged to my late uncle and thus was likely very out of date.
On the way to Portman Square, I stopped in a nearby flower shop and bought a small bouquet of hothouse flowers for Delia, then took a hansom cab the rest of the way. By the time I arrived, the bouquet had wilted a little from the cold, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was an omen for what was to come.
So now, in addition to delusional, you’ve become superstitious as well?
I silenced the snide little voice in my head as I paid the driver and ascended the stairs to my parents’ home. I had grown so accustomed to entering the house over the last few days that I no longer felt that awkward hesitation. Cartwright, the same footman who usually manned the door when Morris was busy elsewhere, ushered me inside.
“Are my parents in?” I asked as he took my coat.
“Mrs. Everly is out at the moment, ma’am.”
“And my father?” I prompted after a moment.
“He is …” Cartwright hesitated, as if searching for the right word. “Indisposed.”
