Page 34 of A Whisper in the Shadows

After thinking a long moment, Maxwell brushed his hand over his jaw. “I suppose that seems reasonable. I trust your judgment, so if you think this scheme will work, I am in favor of it. Will you speak with Mr. Clement?”

“Yes, I can call on him in Fleet Street tomorrow morning with Lord Ravenhurst.”

Mrs. Kilgore walked into the dining room and surveyed their empty bowls. “All finished, then?”

“Indeed, and it was delicious. It’s one of my favorite dishes that you bring to the station,” Maxwell said with a smile.

Mrs. Kilgore only nodded as she expertly cleared the table.

Tilda noted she did not smile often. “Thank you, Mrs. Kilgore. We are lucky to have you here,” Tilda said. She was most grateful for Mrs. Kilgore’s cooking, as it was not her forte.

“I am glad to help.” Mrs. Kilgore carried the dishes from the dining room.

Alone with Maxwell once more, Tilda met his gaze. “There is one more thing I’d like to share. Or discuss, I suppose.”

Maxwell settled back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s that?”

Tilda hoped the inspector would support Hadrian’s idea as he’d done with asking Clement to assist them. “Lord Ravenhurst came up with a scheme that will be most helpful. It seems the Amicable Society is without a canvasser, and now they are without their chief administrator. His lordship thinks he ought to seek the vacant canvasser position. He would likely learn a great many things if he were an employee of the society—even more than you can learn as a member.”

Blinking in what appeared to be surprise, Maxwell uncrossed his arms. He shifted his attention away from Tilda as he seemed to ponder the suggestion. “That is a good idea.” He returned his gaze to Tilda. “I suppose that would mean he would be living here all the time then?”

“Yes,” Tilda replied. “He would quit his pretend job at the gentlemen’s club in order to work for the society. If Furnier and Nevill agreed to hire him.”

Maxwell didn’t react immediately. His gaze was once again trained on nothing as his brow creased.

“You seem hesitant,” Tilda observed.

“I’m not.” Maxwell exhaled, and a lopsided smile flashed over his features. “I suppose I wish I’d thought of it.”

“Why would you have? We didn’t realize the canvassing position was potentially vacant.”

“That’s true.” The inspector inclined his head. “Yes, let’s see if they’ll hire Lord Ravenhurst.” He regarded Tilda a moment. “You and he seem to work well together.”

“We’ve conducted several investigations, and I would say we’ve formed an excellent working relationship,” Tilda replied.

“It’s entirely professional then?” Maxwell asked. He quickly added, “I don’t mean to pry.”

“Not at all. Lord Ravenhurst and I are business associates as well as friends, but it’s not as if we attend social engagements together.” Tilda chuckled. “We hardly move in the same circles.”

“No, I can’t imagine you do,” Maxwell said with a smile. “I’m curious why you wanted to be an investigator. Some would say it’s an odd occupation for a woman.”

“I findmostmen thinkmostoccupations are odd for women.” Tilda didn’t mask the edge of disdain in her tone.

“I don’t,” Maxwell assured her. “I think it’s wonderful that you’re an investigator.”

Tilda felt a surge of pride—and pleasure. So few people endorsed what she did. Even her own grandmother wasn’t entirely supportive. She would greatly prefer Tilda marry instead. “Thank you for saying so. I did not believe you found my occupation strange,” Tilda clarified. “How could I, when you hired me whilst the Metropolitan Police would not?”

Maxwell met her gaze with a pointed look. “That is their loss. Still, I imagine it stings, since your father worked for the Met.”

“It does,” Tilda admitted. “However, I’m glad to have a good relationship with Inspector Teague there. I believe he would hire me if he could.”

“Well, it’s not as if women don’t already work for the police,” Maxwell said. “Mrs. Kilgore works as a searcher for the City, and I believe she’s helped her husband with a few cases in the past—posing in a role as you are doing, though not necessarily conducting inquiries on her own as you are. I’m sure Scotland Yard has women searchers and likely utilizes police wives in a similar fashion.”

“They do,” Tilda said. “I could angle for one of those positions, but I don’t really want to search females who are arrested. I want to be an investigator.”

Maxwell cocked his head. “And why is that?”

Tilda lifted her shoulder. “I suppose I inherited my curiosity and interest in investigation from my father. He was a sergeant but was going to move to the detective branch when he was killed.”