Page 90 of A Whisper at Midnight

“Thank you, Mrs. Dunning,” Tilda said. “You can go back downstairs, though the inspector may wish to speak with you when he arrives.”

The cook sent a nervous glance toward Beryl on her way out the door. The housekeeper accompanied her.

Teague arrived a short while later with a pair of constables. He retrieved the knife from the drawer and confirmed that it belonged to Mrs. Dunning. He then questioned Beryl about how the knife may have come to be in her dresser. After that, he spoke with Clara.

Ultimately, as Tilda expected, he took Beryl into custody.

She wept as the constables led her from the house.

Tilda told Teague they would come to Scotland Yard, as she still needed to tell him about Louis Chambers selling Beryl’s jewelry to the pawnbroker.

As Hadrian guided her to the coach, he said, “I had quite a conversation with Daniel Chambers.”

“I can’t wait to hear about it on the way.”

“I also need to tell you about the vision I saw when I helped Joanna Pollard to stand.”

Tilda nearly missed the step as she climbed into the coach. How had she failed to notice Hadrian having a vision?

Hadrian sat beside Tilda in the coach and removed his hat, tossing it on the opposite seat. He wiped his hand across his brow.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t notice your head was bothering you,” she said. “My investigative skills are failing me.”

“I don’t believe that for a moment. There was a great deal happening today.” He gave her a faint smile. “My headache is fading.”

“Good.” She sounded relieved. “Now tell me about the vision.”

He laughed softly, glad that it didn’t hurt to do so. “Because I was touching Mrs. Pollard, I know that what I was seeing and feeling was her memory. She was at the lodging house in Spitalfields with Martha Farrow.”

Tilda’s eyes rounded briefly. “Joanna Pollard is the woman in the veil?”

“I believe so because Martha looked as though I was seeing her through a film. She advanced on the maid, but that was all I saw before Mrs. Pollard released my hand.”

“You didn’t see if Mrs. Pollard pushed her?”

“I did not, unfortunately.”

“Did you feel anything?” Tilda asked.

“Rage. Mrs. Pollard was most definitely angry with Martha. I’ve no idea why, of course.” Hadrian exhaled with frustration. “I wish I could hear the thoughts that go along with a memory and not just the emotions.”

“Still, this is significant. We must speak with Joanna Pollard again. I’d like to call at the shop tomorrow.”

Hadrian’s brows arched briefly. “Am I invited?”

“Of course. What happened with Daniel Chambers?”

Hadrian leaned back against the squab. “I finally know why Louis Chambers despised me. Apparently, I stole a woman he was interested in when we were at Oxford.” His lips twisted into a brief smirk. “I barely even remember him from Oxford—we did not attend the same college. I certainly don’t recall whatever woman I ‘stole’ from him. He never forgot, however.”

“All this time, he’s held a grudge against you for something of which you were not even aware?”

“So it seems. The worst part is that he stole Beryl from me as an act of revenge. You recall Pollard saying Louis didn’t really want to marry.”

“I do.” Tilda gave him a stony look. “Just when I thought my opinion of Louis Chambers could not sink any lower, it does.”

“Quite. Daniel Chambers confirmed what his brother said about Louis being terrible at managing his finances. Both he and Beryl were spendthrifts.”

“Was he aware that his brother had a mistress?”