Page 83 of A Whisper and a Curse

“You first,” he said with a faint smile.

They returned to Hadrian’s coach. After climbing inside, Tilda sat on the forward-facing seat and scooted over to make room for Hadrian. “Sit with me, please.”

Hadrian hesitated only slightly before settling next to her. She realized they’d sat together in the gig in Swindon, their bodies grazing one another. But having him beside her here where he’d kissed her not too terribly long ago sent a flash of awareness through her.

That was normal, she decided. They’d put the kiss behind them, but it was still in the recent past. Of course she would still think of it. In time, the memory would fade.

A small voice in the back of her mind said it would not.

She ignored that voice.

As the coach began moving, she turned her head toward him. “I don’t think you need to worry about Mallory exposing your secret. He doesn’t want anyone to know about him either.”

“I hate that he knows,” Hadrian said acidly. “It’s like an axe hanging over my neck that can drop at any time.”

“Will anyone believe him though?” Tilda was trying hard to be rational.

“I’d rather not find out.”

“Then we’ll make sure he knows that you’ve no intention of exposing him. Provided he makes the same promise.”

Hadrian folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not sure we can trust him. The man is likely a murderer.”

Likely, but not certainly. Whilst the motives Tilda had offered were reasonable, they needed more proof. “I am still bothered by the fact that he would kill the very mediums he trained in the society he worked so hard to build.”

Hadrian’s eyes lit, but not with the same fire he’d displayed earlier. “You saw how he reacted. I don’t think we can discount his volatility or that he may even possess a violent nature.” Hadrian uncrossed his arms and smoothed his hand over his cheek.

Tilda recalled what she’d seen in the ledger from Mallory’s office. “Did you notice the name Joslin in the diary when I showed it to you?”

“I did not.” Hadrian turned slightly toward her, his expression shifting to one of interest. “Wasn’t he someone who went to one of Mrs. Frost’s séances?”

“Yes. Mrs. Langdon mentioned him,” Tilda replied. “I think we should call on him tomorrow and try to determine why his name was listed in Mallory’s diary.”

“You are nothing if not thorough,” Hadrian remarked.

“Nothing is more important than the truth,” she said firmly. “Even if we don’t like it.”

CHAPTER 17

After a poor night of sleep that not even two snifters of brandy could ease, Hadrian was eager to see Tilda. TheDaily Newshad contained a rather sensational story by none other than Ezra Clement about the latest victim of the Levitation Killer.

Hadrian wondered how quickly Clement must have written the article, for it included Mallory’s arrest, which had occurred late in the day. It also held many other fascinating details that Hadrian was anxious to discuss with Tilda.

Tilda was ready to depart when he arrived. Garbed in her gray gown, she looked smart and beautiful. Hadrian kept himself from complimenting her.

When she settled on the forward-facing seat, Hadrian noted that she sat closer to the side of the coach as she had the day before. He took that as a silent invitation for him to sit beside her again. So he did.

She’d meant to calm him yesterday with her proximity, and he had no quarrel with that. On the contrary, he’d liked her concern very much. And shehadeased his agitation.

“How is your cheek today?” Tilda asked once they were on their way toward Montpelier Square to call on Douglas Joslin.

“It does not pain me,” Hadrian replied. “Mallory’s strike caused only fleeting irritation.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” She angled herself toward him on the seat. “Did you by chance read theDaily Newsthis morning?”

Hadrian faced her as well. “I was going to ask you the same. Clement’s article was most illuminating.”

Tilda pursed her lips. “As an investigator, I am disappointed to learn things from him, but I suppose I must not complain. It is good to have the information however possible. He’s interviewed several people connected to the society—or tried to anyway.”