Page 81 of A Whisper and a Curse
Teague fixed a frown on Mallory. “Mr. Mallory, it’s come to our attention that you sent a letter to Miss Wren threatening herto stop investigating or she would hang from a staircase. What have you to say about that?”
Mallory’s face flushed as he rose. “I did no such thing.”
“Don’t lie,” Hadrian barked. “We’ve matched your handwriting to the note Miss Wren received.”
Teague held up the book. “This diary was in your office. Miss Wren and Lord Ravenhurst recognize the handwriting within as matching that of the note Miss Wren received two days ago. I am confident that when I view it next to the letter I have at Scotland Yard, I will see that both were written by the same hand. Given the nature of your threat, it seems you are likely responsible for the deaths of the three mediums.”
“I am not!” Mallory shouted. Others in the room also called out. A few of them stood and gestured wildly as they spoke.
“Silence!” Teague glowered at everyone as they closed their mouths. Mallory looked as though he might continue, but Teague took a step toward him. “Do not, Mr. Mallory. Unless you are going to explain yourself.”
Mallory took a deep breath, but his face remained red, and his eyes were dark and almost feral. “I did write that note, but not for the reasons you think.”
The society members began talking again, defending Mallory, but also shooting him looks of concern. Miss Dryden and Mrs. Griswold moved to stand on either side of Mallory, but he did not seem to notice. His attention was fixed on Teague—and Tilda and Hadrian.
“Explain,” Teague said crisply.
“I didn’t want Miss Wren nosing about the society anymore,” Mallory said.
“Why not?” Teague demanded.
“We have … secrets that should not be disclosed.”
“Such as how you use tables with hollow pedestals?” Hadrian asked harshly. “Or tricks to pretend you are levitating? Or that your name is really Thaddeus Vale?”
Mallory’s gaze snapped to Hadrian, then narrowed almost malevolently. “Many of our members and the people we serve have secrets they don’t wish to have publicized, my lord. I should think you of all people would understand that.”
Tilda’s breath caught. That wasn’t exactly a threat, but it seemed clear to her that Mallory was communicating that he was aware of Hadrian’s deepest secret. He knew of Hadrian’s ability and could expose him. She looked at Hadrian and saw the tight set of his jaw, as well as the erratic pulse in his neck. Edging closer, she brushed her gloved hand against his.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Teague snapped.
“I believe he’s referring to the fact that Hadrian’s mother recently attended a séance for the purpose of speaking to her dead son,” Tilda replied quickly. She’d wanted to add that Mallory was also using the secrets he just mentioned to extort people, but she didn’t dare. She wasn’t sure if Mallory would actually expose Hadrian’s secret, but she wasn’t going to take the risk.
Hadrian and Mallory held each other’s gazes whilst Tilda held her breath. After a long moment, Mallory nodded.
“You mention secrets, Mr. Mallory,” Teague said. “Does that include the ones you used to blackmail people who attended your séances?”
This was met with more gasps from others in the library. Mallory’s color faded as his eyes darkened with worry.
“I’m arresting you for breaking the peace. And I may add extortion, as well as murder, to the charge since you certainly implied that you killed the mediums.”
“I wanted to frighten Miss Wren!” Mallory cried, his eyes becoming wild once more. “I wouldn’t kill my own mediums, myfriends. Why would I do that?”
Tilda decided it was time to wade into the fray to support Teague. “It’s possible you were jealous of your mediums and the attention they received, particularly from important people such as the Duchess of Chester. You were quick to align yourself with her after Cyril Ward’s death.”
“Of course I was. Her Grace is our largest benefactor.” Mallory shook his head, his lips pursing. “More importantly, she was devastated by Cyril’s death—as we all are. I sought to provide comfort.”
“Or you were swooping in to take advantage of her in a time of grief, and when Hawkins won her support, you killed him too,” Hadrian said.
A few of the members gasped.
Mrs. Griswold clasped Mallory’s hand. “He would never do that.”
“He didn’t kill Victor or Cyril.” Miss Dryden clutched Mallory’s arm. “Or Deborah.”
Tilda noted the two women’s staunch defense of Mallory and wondered if either of them was the woman Grenville had mentioned. Was Mallory involved with one of them? Or, looking at how they clung to him, perhaps both? “Mrs. Frost expressed a desire to leave the society.” Tilda met Mallory’s gaze. “She was also your former lover. Perhaps you grew angry with her or were concerned she would expose the secrets of your society. I don’t think it’s a stretch of the imagination to believe you would kill her.” She said the last in an effort to push Mallory so she could see his reaction. Was he still as volatile as he once was?
Mallory did not disappoint. He pulled away from the women flanking him and took a step toward Tilda. “Watch yourself, Miss Wren. You don’t know me or what I am capable of.”