Page 23 of A Whisper at Midnight

The lines in Newbold’s face had deepened. He shook his head. “How terrible for her. Please convey my condolences. I have the tonic she prefers just over here.” He shuffled to a shelf and moved a stool so that he could stand on it and retrieve the bottle. It was one of many just like it. Looking at the quantity compared to other items, Tilda would say the tonic was a popular product.

Newbold returned to the counter and set the bottle down in front of Hadrian. “Will you be paying for that?”

“Mrs. Chambers said she has an account,” Hadrian said. “Can you add it to that?”

“Of course,” Newbold snapped, seeming aggrieved by the question.

“He asked because it is our understanding that Mrs. Chambers may have a debt with you,” Tilda said with a benign smile. “Perhaps you could tell us how much so that we may convey that to her.” Tilda wanted to know how much Beryl owed.

The druggist’s nostrils flared. “That is none of your concern. My clients rely on my discretion.”

“I am assisting Mrs. Chambers with her finances,” Hadrian put in. He spoke with authority, sounding very much like an earl. “I’m sure you understand what a tragedy this is and how deeply she is affected. We are merely trying to support her in every way we can.”

“I’ll send a bill to her, and then she can decide who to share it with,” Newbold said stubbornly.

Hadrian picked up the bottle of tonic. “That would be most helpful. Thank you, Mr. Newbold.”

“Thank you,” Tilda added before preceding Hadrian from the shop.

When they were both outside, and the door had swung closed, Tilda threw a glower toward the shop. “‘Thorny’ was an accurate description that Beryl provided.”

“Indeed it was. I’m sorry you weren’t able to learn anything.”

“Hopefully our visit to the milliner will be more helpful,” she said as they walked to the coach.

Hadrian directed Leach to the milliner on Regent Street, and they were shortly on their way once again. “I am anxious to look at Chambers’ finances,” he said. “Was he really struggling, or was he trying to control his wife’s spending?”

“Just to be controlling, you mean?” Tilda asked, thinking that aligned with the man she’d met briefly the day before.

“That or Berylisa spendthrift as the valet indicated.”

“It could be both,” Tilda noted. “I think the one thing we can say for certain is that their marriage was not a happy one. I witnessed that myself yesterday. He spoke harshly to Beryl, and she did the same to him, though less so. Then, as he left the room, he walked by Beryl and used his arm to bump into her. I don’t think he hurt her, but it was a physical message. Seeing that and the bruises on Beryl’s arms, I have no trouble believing he was violent toward her.

Hadrian’s features darkened. “I hate thinking that is how things ended up for her after choosing him over me.”

“And yet you’re relieved that she did so,” Tilda pointed out.

“Yes, and that makes me a little uncomfortable because she would have been better off with me.” Hadrian leaned back against the squab.

“What drew you to her in the first place?” Tilda had given in to her curiosity which had been piqued during their conversation on the way to Ravenhurst House, but she worried she was being intrusive. “You don’t have to answer that. I understand it may be unpleasant for you to discuss that time.”

“Not unpleasant, but perhaps a bit embarrassing, which is how I felt with Teague earlier. With you, however, I am not bothered at all.” His eyes met hers, and Tilda felt that surprising warmth again. When would it stop surprising her?

“I am not sure I could have offered to help someone who had treated me so poorly.” If Tilda’s fiancé had carried on with someone else, she would have been furious and doubted that emotion would lessen over time.

Hadrian shrugged. “I met Beryl at a ball. She was somewhat of a wallflower, and I made a point of dancing with one or two on such occasions. Honestly, they were usually far more interesting than the young women who were more popular. I liked Beryl because she seemed genuine. She found London Society intimidating but wanted to make her parents proud by securing a good marriage.”

“She’s also very pretty,” Tilda noted.

“Yes. I can admit that an attractive woman will usually draw my notice,” he said sardonically.

Tilda wondered if he saw her that way but quickly put the thought from her mind. Why would she want him to find her attractive? That would only complicate their association. Never mind that she found him arrestingly handsome.

Hadrian continued, “Beryl was young, and her family was pushing her to wed me, I think. She never proclaimed to love me, nor I her, so it wasn’t as if we were a romantic match. She did say she loved Chambers, however, so that is why I feel badly for her. She married for love and things turned out quite poorly.”

Further proof that marriage was a risk that often didn’t meet one’s expectations. Tilda was glad for Hadrian that he’d avoided it. She also admired his support of the woman who’d caused him considerable aggravation. “You are a very kind man.”

The coach came to a stop, and Tilda looked out the window to see they were in front of Flanders Millinery. They departed the coach and went into the shop, which was much larger than the druggist’s. It was also far tidier, and the front windows were filled with fashionable accessories on display.