Page 62 of A Whisper at Midnight
“I regret I cannot come along.” She frowned with disappointment.
Hadrian was sorry too. “Perhaps you could dress as a man.”
Tilda smirked. “I don’t think I’d make a passable gentleman.”
“I disagree. You’ve demonstrated your ability to affect a Cockney accent with ease and blend in at a tavern in the east end as well as in a horrible rookery. Why not a gentleman from Mayfair? If you wore a hat and did not remove it, you could fool people.”
“I think it would be more complicated than that,” Tilda said with a chuckle. “Too bad we can’t consult with Mrs. Longbotham at the Cock and Hen. Perhaps she could help disguise me.”
Hadrian thought that was a brilliant idea. “Why not? Let’s go there now.”
“Dressing as a man may not be Mrs. Longbotham’s forte,” she said wryly. “I suppose we could try. I would very much like to accompany you to Arthur’s. My only hesitation is what would happen if I was discovered. I would hate to cause trouble for you or your friend, whose membership could be at stake.”
“If we keep to the shadows and corners, I daresay the ploy could succeed. Do we have the courage?”
“Or foolhardiness?” she asked with a laugh.
“Perhaps a little of both.” Hadrian smiled with a lift of his shoulder.
“You don’t need to accompany me to the Cock and Hen,” Tilda said. “I can take a hack and then you can pick me up later to go to the club, assuming your friend agrees to take us.”
“Thank you for reminding me that I must dash off a note to him. I can have Leach deliver it whilst we are at the Cock and Hen.” He watched faint lines form between her brows. “I would feel better if you allowed me to join you.” He didn’t like thinking of her in a brothel by herself, even if they had already made the acquaintance of multiple people in residence.
She gave him a patient smile. “I am an investigator and able to manage such things. I believe you even complimented my ability to blend in with others. Furthermore, I’ve been taking care of myself for years. Long before I met you.”
Yes, she was a capable, independent woman. He admired that very much about her, even if a part of him wanted her to need him. Perhaps just a little.
“All right,” he said in defeat. “You don’t need me. May I come anyway?”
Tilda laughed. “I suppose you may.”
“Excellent.” Hadrian smiled in relief. “Now, excuse me a moment whilst I quickly draft a note to Sir Godfrey to ask if we may accompany him to the club. I’ll have Leach deliver it whilstwe are at the Cock and Hen.” He went to a small writing desk in the corner and quickly scratched out a note.
“Ready?” he asked.
Tilda nodded, and they left the drawing room. “I do apologize for intruding on your tea with your mother,” she said.
“You’ve no need to apologize.” Hadrian smiled briefly. “But don’t be surprised if I invite you properly for our next one or the one after. My mother will not forget that you have arrived during two of our appointed meetings. Nor will she soon forget that you are investigating amurder.”
“I hope she doesn’t think poorly of me for that.”
“She will not,” Hadrian said firmly. “It is simply something she could never understand—a woman investigating such a thing.”
“Then you must ensure she doesn’t find out I’ve visited a brothel. Or that I’m going there a second time.”
Hadrian barked a laugh. “I don’t want her to knowI’vevisited a brothel. I won’t be divulging any of our investigative secrets to her or anyone else.”
She looked over at him as they reached the entrance hall. “And that is why we make a good team.”
CHAPTER 13
Mrs. Longbotham had been absolutely delighted to help Tilda and Hadrian with their endeavor to disguise Tilda as a man so she could gain entry to Arthur’s. It turned out, there were, in fact, a few women who dressed as men at the Cock and Hen, and one of them was present and eager to transform Tilda into a gentleman. They’d made arrangements to return after dinner—via an unmarked door tucked behind a column on the façade—as they would not be going to Arthur’s until about ten o’clock.
Hadrian had then taken Tilda home so she could dine with her grandmother. Later, Tilda had explained that she had investigative work to do with Hadrian, who’d returned to fetch her. It was notable and perhaps slightly vexing that her grandmother wasn’t worried in the slightest that Tilda was going out at night to make inquiries with Hadrian. If she’d gone by herself, however, Grandmama would certainly have voiced her concern.
Back at the Cock and Hen, Tilda became Mr. William Taylor. They’d chosen a simple, innocuous name—hopefully something completely forgettable. Donning the man’s costume, Tilda looked far more fashionable than she did as herself. But the keyto her transformation was the hair, which included a wig, beard, and mustache, which they affixed with an adhesive used in the theatre. When they emerged sometime later, they’d done so as Lord Ravenhurst and Mr. Taylor.
They were shortly on their way to Arthur’s where they would meet Sir Godfrey, who’d been delighted that Hadrian wanted to return, particularly after the way Louis Chambers had behaved the other night. He was also eager to meet Hadrian’s friend who was visiting from Somerset—the shy and quiet Mr. Taylor.