Page 78 of A Whisper and a Curse

He went back to the purpose of this conversation. “I find it hard to comprehend, unless she’d done something that upset him, and he reacted in a passionate manner.”

“Such as betray him?” Tilda asked, flicking him a glance. “That was the motive for you potentially killing Chambers. Your fiancée betrayed you with him.”

Hadrian grimaced. “I do not need to be reminded, thank you. Of the betrayal or that I was a suspect in his murder.”

“My apologies,” Tilda murmured. “You are completely entitled to be upset about both of those things.”

Hadrian knew she wholly supported him and was grateful for the relationship they had. “Setting aside the romance between them, it’s possible Mallory was upset about Mrs. Frost leaving for non-romantic reasons. Perhaps he was concerned she would reveal society secrets.”

Tilda’s brow creased. “Then why not pay for her to go away in silence as he did with Grenville last year?” She fell silent a moment before adding, “I suppose it’s possible his emotions controlled his actions. His father indicated he could be volatile.”

Hadrian’s blood chilled. He’d been so worried he was going mad when he started seeing and feeling things. Tilda had assured him time and time again that he was not. Now she was suggesting the opposite about Mallory. Whilst Hadrian didn’t care for the man, he did not want to think that someone like him suffered from anything akin to madness. That would mean that Hadrian was perhaps vulnerable too.

“I still can’t countenance him as the Levitation Killer,” Hadrian said. “It seems antithetic for him to endanger the very society he founded. Murdering its prominent mediums would turn people away from it.”

Tilda looked at him slyly. “Or perhaps draw attention to it. The Levitation Killer is the talk of London. They’re even aware of the murders here in Swindon.”

“You are again suggesting that Mallory is perhaps mentally unstable.” Hadrian took a breath to slow his racing pulse. “He’d have to be in order to commit such heinous acts.”

“I’m only thinking through ideas,” Tilda said, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil he was suffering. “We ought to consider that Mallory might be … less than reasonable.”

“Struggling to deal with this bloody curse does not make him mad,” Hadrian snapped.

Tilda’s eyes rounded briefly, and Hadrian realized he’d spoken sharply.

“My apologies,” he said gruffly. He was not himself after all he’d learned today. Worse, he wasn’t quite sure when he would be. Perhaps the man he thought he was had disappeared in January, when he’d been stabbed and had hit his head on the pavement. This new Hadrian wasn’t comfortable.

“Don’t apologize.” Tilda touched his arm. “I must apologize. You are not like Mallory, apart from the similar gift you each have. I should have realized how deeply our interview with Captain Vale affected you—as it should have. But we can talk about that another time, as you said.”

Hadrian exhaled after holding his breath whilst she spoke. He was very glad for Tilda’s presence. She calmed him, and she understood him. He worked to focus on their investigation and all they’d learned today. “Our trip to Swindon has given us much to consider.”

Tilda’s brows rose as she nodded. “Quite. We know much more about Mallory, including that he is really Thaddeus Vale, that he has the power to experience others’ memories, which he uses to blackmail others in order to enrich himself and the society.”

“And, most important of all, that he is likely a murderer and threatened you.”

“Teague will be shocked when we tell him that.” Tilda frowned. “Though we can’t tell him about Mallory’s power. I suppose we could. We wouldn’t have to reveal that you possess it too.” She was watching him carefully.

Hadrian shook his head. “He wouldn’t believe us, and anyway, there’s no way to prove it under the law.”

“That is true,” she said on a sigh. “We will still call on him to disclose the rest. I’m glad he gave us his home address.”

“Whilst I hate to disturb him, it must be done.”

“Oh, he will want to be disturbed.” Tilda’s eyes simmered with purpose. “All of London will be relieved when he arrests the Levitation Killer.”

CHAPTER 16

Leach was waiting for them at the train station when they arrived in London and quickly conveyed them to Teague’s house. However, Teague was not at home. Mrs. Teague told them he’d been called to Scotland Yard, but she did not know why.

When they arrived at Scotland Yard, the reason became immediately clear: another medium—Victor Hawkins—had been killed.

Consequently, Teague was actually not at Scotland Yard. He was, as a constable explained to them, “At the scene of the latest death by levitation.” The description made Tilda frown.

Now, she and Hadrian were on their way to Ward’s house, where Hawkins had just taken up residence the day before.

As the coach moved toward Willow Street, Tilda’s mind churned and her belly tossed. She was upset to learn that Hawkins had been murdered.

“The society is running low on mediums,” Hadrian said quietly, his focus on the window as they neared Willow Street. “I am sorry we didn’t learn that Mallory was the author of that letter to you sooner.”