“You get back up those stairs at once and never return.” Tilly would not back down. She dug her toes into her boots to stop herself from doing just that as he rose and advanced on her.
His size compared to hers was really unfair, giving him an instant advantage.
“This is not a game, Tilly?—”
“No, really, you surprise me, because I saw the same things you did down there, and none of it was a laughing matter. Plus, I had a woman enter The Iris Club this morning, trying to find her sister who went missing years ago. She disappeared one day after leaving for work in the gentleman’s lodging house, which is what The Iris Club used to be!”
Clearly, she was not as calm as she’d thought she was, as her voice had risen to a shriek. But then she’d had her first kiss with this man today, and that was enough to unsettle anyone. Well, maybe not Tabitha Varney. She doubted anything would scare that woman, and most especially not a man.
He frowned. “You didn’t mention that before. What else did she say?”
Ambrose did not seem unsettled like she was by that kiss, which told her two possible things. One, he was used to kissing women, and two, he had a better poker face than she did.
“Tilly!” He snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Focus.”
“I have told your sister I loathe it when she does that, so please refrain from doing so again,” Tilly said.
His teeth snapped together, but he remained silent.
“Ruby, who was the woman I spoke to, said her sister, Fern, used to work in the lodging house as a maid. She would hear unusual noises, and sometimes Fern would find bloodied bandages waiting to be washed. There was always an odd scent inside too. Which, now I come to think about it, could be from those incense candles we smelled earlier.”
His eyes were locked on her face now. “This woman, where is she now?” he demanded
“Missing.”
“Not that woman. The sister you met today.”
“Her name is Ruby. She is at her lodgings, which are located at Flower and Dean Street in the East End.”
“Good Lord, really? That is not a safe place to live,” he said.
“I am aware, my lord. But unlike us, she has no other option, which is also the case for so many.”
He raised a hand before she could continue. “I know the plight of those many, Tilly, and do what I can for them. Plus, we have the Pavlov fortune and are now helping people in need.”
“Yes, of course. Forgive me. I was not judging you.”
“Yes, you were.” His mouth twitched at the corners. “As you constantly do.”
Do I?“Well, you judge me constantly too,” she replied.
Perhaps they would simply ignore that kiss. Neither of them need mention it again, and they could continue on as they were. Not friends, or enemies exactly, but somewhere in between.
“What did you find there?” She pointed to the door behind the crates.
“I think that is the entrance, but as we have now locked it from the inside, they will be unable to use it, which presents another problem,” he said.
“They will have to find another way to get inside,” she said.
“Exactly. If they are members of my club, they will try through the bookshelf in that small parlor, and I cannot watch it constantly. Plus, it has a key, so if they lock it as I did, I will not know.”
“Steal the key, then, but I assure you I shall be relocking it from my side again.”
“That is only a temporary solution. They will find a way to gain entrance if they wish to.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Tilly asked.
“We will give it some thought,” he said slowly.
