Page 31 of A Whisper and a Curse

The light disappeared, and Hadrian looked to see that Tilda had risen. He heard her set the lantern on the table.

“I thought I lost a bracelet here the other night. Detective Inspector Teague said I could look for it.”

Hadrian smiled. Tilda was so good at providing fabrications without almost no thought.

“Time to go,” the man said. “We’re conducting a murder investigation.”

“Yes, we know,” she replied drily.

Hadrian didn’t want to cause trouble. And he had learned the name of the carpenter. He’d also seen that there wasn’t any obvious method of moving the tabletop. To be sure, he crawled around the pedestal before making his way out from under the table.

Tilda was waiting for him near the doorway where the constable, whose uniform was labeled with E Division, meaning he was one of Farrar’s men, stood with a perturbed expression. Hadrian brushed at his knees as he stood and made his way to Tilda’s side. He offered the constable a smile. “Thank you for your patience.”

They left the drawing room and went back to the staircase. Several constables were working to take Mrs. Frost down. Hadrian felt sorry for the poor woman.

When they reached the first floor, Tilda started toward the back of the house. Hadrian followed, and they quickly located the servants’ stairs. They found the kitchen empty but heard voices from a room next to it.

They moved to the adjoining room, which had a small table and four chairs. The constable sat in one, whilst the maid and her brother occupied the others. They all looked at the door as Tilda and Hadrian entered.

“I’m sorry to disturb,” Tilda said. “I wonder if we might speak with Ellen and Jacob about Mrs. Frost. We had an appointment with her today.”

“Mrs. Frost was looking forward to meeting with you, my lord,” Jacob said, his gaze fixing on Hadrian. “She was thrilled to have her ladyship, your mother, as a client.”

Hadrian inclined his head. “My mother will be sad to hear of her demise.”

Jacob grimaced as he nodded faintly.

Tilda gave the retainers a gentle smile. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about Mrs. Frost?”

The siblings exchanged looks, but it was Jacob who responded in the form of a nod.

“How long had you worked for Mrs. Frost?”

“Well, we don’t—” Ellen began.

“About six months,” Jacob said, interrupting his sister without so much as glancing in her direction.

“That is when Mrs. Frost moved into this house,” the constable supplied. “They explained that the property is owned by the London Spiritualism Society. Mrs. Frost lived and conducted séances here. She also hosted teas for ladies who are members of the society.”

Tilda inclined her head toward the constable. “Thank you.” She looked back to the siblings. “Ellen, you mentioned that you had the morning off today. Was that typical?”

Once again, the constable answered. “They are off every Wednesday morning, and they don’t reside here.”

“Where do you live?” Tilda asked the retainers. She did not sound as though she were bothered by the constable’s interruptions, but Hadrian found it annoying.

“I was just getting to that,” the constable said rather unnecessarily. He looked expectantly at Jacob and Ellen.

“We lodge elsewhere.” Jacob glanced toward his sister. “We prefer that.”

“What of the other members of the household?” Hadrian asked. He thought of the footmen who’d helped serve dinner the other night. And Ellen presumably had help preparing the meal.

“There aren’t any,” Jacob replied.

But Ellen had also answered. Her words came at the same time as Jacob’s but in a softer tone so that Hadrian didn’t catch them entirely.

Tilda turned her focus to Ellen. “What was that?”

“There are footmen and a maid who come to help with the séances.” Ellen slid a nervous look toward her brother.