“At once!”
They stormed out of the room, chins high.
“That went well,” Ellen said. “Why was she actually here? That woman does nothing without motive and for effect. I can’t come up with a single reason she’d want to be part of The Iris Club, especially considering she showed her true self before leaving.”
“I don’t know. It’s exceedingly odd.”
“But you were amazing!” Ellen said, hugging Tilly. “That witch won’t like it, but I’m so proud of you for questioning her intent.”
She allowed Ellen to drag her to the group of women who had fallen silent as they listened to the conversation she’d just had with Lady Crisp. They all congratulated her on her handling of it.
Tilly drank the tea Violet handed her and hoped that was the last shock of the day, as she wasn’t sure she could cope with any more.
Lord Talbot had kissed her, and Tilly had wanted more. Pushing that thought aside, she focused on what was going on in those rooms they had inspected.
What if whoever was entering that horrid place below them through the door they’d locked was a danger to her members?
Then there was Ruby, and her sister, Fern, who had beenmissing for years. Was it possible her disappearance was in some way involved with what went on down there? That she was harmed—No, don’t go there yet, Tilly.
“Tilly, I’ve been talking to you for the last few minutes, and you didn’t hear a word.”
She looked at Violet, who had moved to take the seat beside her.
“Are you sure nothing is wrong?”
“Absolutely. I am just working through the things we need for the club. It’s quite the endeavor, Vi. Until we have been running awhile and have processes in place, there is much to think about.”
“And you’re worried about the repercussions of refusing Lady Crisp and her daughter membership, aren’t you?”
“We said from the start anyone could join, Violet, but I turned them away.”
“Which is your right because they are horrid women,” Violet said, “and we don’t want their type in here. You did the right thing, Tilly. What I don’t understand is why they want to join?”
“I must admit that confuses me too. It makes no sense.”
“Oh, well, you sent them away, so the matter is dealt with. Now drink your tea and have a scone. They are superb.”
It was another hour before people started leaving. All seemed happy with the club and what it offered them, and that made Tilly happy.
Tilly herself did not leave for another two hours. She sat in the office and wrote down everything that had happened today. Often, when her thoughts were muddled, it was the easiest way to clear them. Plus, she wanted to make sure she remembered everything she saw down in that horrid place below.
After she was done, she said goodbye to the staff and left to locate a hackney.
The wind was icy now, and the skies darker, even though it was only early afternoon. London weather at its finest, Tilly thought, winding the end of her scarf in another loop around her neck.
People were hurrying about the place, like her, not wanting to stay out in the beastly weather for any longer than necessary.
She’d just reached the gap between The Iris and the beginning of horrid Lord Talbot’s gentleman’s club when she noted the stairs. They were close to the building and would lead down below the road. Was this where the opening they’d found was located?
Looking first left and then right, she saw no one watching her. Taking the first step, she started to descend. Reaching the bottom, dull grey light from above filtered down to reveal a narrow alleyway.
Looking around her, Tilly saw several doors, but only one had a large pile of wooden crates and other debris stacked against it. However, it was the man bent low, inspecting said pile that caught her attention.
Tilly could leave, and he’d never know she was here. She should run, actually, back up the stairs, but then, she’d never been a coward, and now was not the time to start.
Her foot connected with a loose stone, and Lord Talbot’s head rose, and his eyes locked on hers. Even from several feet away, in bad light, she saw he was not pleased to see her. Well, that made two of them.
“Get back up those stairs at once and never return.” His voice was hard and cold.
