Page 77 of A Whisper and a Curse

“Do you need transport to the station?” Captain Vale offered.

“We have a gig waiting outside, such as it is,” Hadrian replied. “But thank you for your kindness and your hospitality. This is not what I expected.”

“It has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lord. I do hope you’ll consult me if you have further questions. Or if you’d just like to talk about our … uniqueness.” The man smiled warmly, and Hadrian fleetingly wished he’d had a father like Captain Vale.

Tilda rose, and Hadrian joined her. The captain followed suit, then escorted them from the library.

“Did I help you at all?” Captain Vale asked as they made their way through the blade-adorned entrance hall.

“More than we ever expected,” Tilda replied with a smile. “Thank you again.”

They took their leave and rode in silence to the train station. The train wasn’t due for a little while yet, so they went to the refreshment hall to wait.

Hadrian guided Tilda to a table in the corner, out of earshot from anyone who may want to eavesdrop. Not that they would, but he didn’t want anyone to overhear their discussion. His pulse was still thrumming from what they’d seen in the captain’s library—proof that Lysander Mallory, or Thaddeus Vale, had threatened Tilda.Andthat the threat more than implied he was the Levitation Killer.

“Have we found the killer?” he asked after they sat down.

“It seems we may have,” Tilda replied, her expression tight with excitement. “The note I received was definitely Mallory’s handwriting. We must go straight to Scotland Yard.”

“Agreed.” Hadrian couldn’t wait to see Mallory in irons.

“Are we calling him Mallory or Vale?” Tilda sked.

“I’d say Mallory since that is how we met him. Vale is now the captain in my mind.”

“You liked him,” Tilda said with a gentle smile. “He was very helpful to you. I’m glad we didn’t tell him about the note his son sent me.”

“He will find out soon enough,” Hadrian said darkly. “I’m sorry for that, for I did like him. That is why I didn’t mention the blackmail either.”

Tilda’s brow creased with compassion as she regarded him. “How do you feel after everything he told you?”

“I am still trying to understand it all. Ask me again tomorrow.” Indeed, Hadrian’s thoughts were spinning with what he’d learned regarding his bizarre ability and about unmasking the Levitation Killer.

Tilda nodded. “I can understand that.” She paused before saying, “I am trying to determine why Mallory would kill two of the most prominent mediums in his society—an organization he worked hard to build.”

“Worked hard deceiving people, including his own father.” Hadrian sneered. “But I understand what you are saying. It certainly doesn’t make sense, especially with Ward, who’d garnered the support of a wealthy duchess.”

“Exactly. I am struggling to come up with a motive for him to kill Ward. With Mrs. Frost, perhaps he was upset that she was thinking of leaving. Now that we know they were once romantically involved, we must consider their relationship was complicated.”

“Is that what romance does?” Hadrian asked. “It complicates things?”

“It certainly complicated your life after Louis Chambers was killed,” Tilda said. “If not for your past romantic attachment to his wife, you would not have been involved.”

Hadrian couldn’t argue with her logic. He also began to see her perspective on romantic relationships. If she saw them as difficult, why would she want to pursue one?

“Perhaps it was difficult for them to be romantically involved and work together once the society was founded,” Tilda suggested. She did not look at him as she said this, and Hadrian was curious about her thoughts on the matter since they worked together. Was it possible she didn’t think they could pursue a romance and investigate together?

“I suppose that’s possible,” Hadrian said slowly. “Grenville remarked that Mallory did not maintain romantic relationships for a long period of time, so perhaps it was simply that. I think it’s possible people can work together and be romantically connected without complication.”

Now Tilda met his gaze. “And what evidence do you have of that?”

“None whatsoever. I don’t know any men and women who work together—except us.” He paused, noting her nostrils flaring the barest amount. Hadrian’s pulse ticked a bit faster. “I suppose I am aware of husbands and wives who own a business together—Mr. and Mrs. Pollard from our last case come to mind.”

Tilda arched a brow. “I would say their business relationship was a failure, given that Mrs. Pollard was a murderer and Mr. Pollard had no idea.”

“I suppose that is true, but I think they worked together just fine. Except for the murdering and hiding that,” he added drily.

“I am still not convinced, but we digress. The issue is whether Mallory could have killed his former lover.”