Page 55 of A Whisper in the Shadows

“I’m not certain there will be one,” Thetford said.

“He died of natural causes then?” Clement asked.

Thetford exhaled, and his brows drew together. “I am not prepared to say anything further on the matter.”

Clement looked about the room, but his gaze didn’t settle on anyone. “I can’t be the only person wondering if Phelps and Eaton were killed by the same person.”

“You may wonder all you like,” Thetford said, his voice carrying through the strangely silent common room. “Only the evidence will reveal the truth.”

CHAPTER 12

Tilda exchanged a brief glance with Clement and managed to silently communicate that she wished to speak with him. A few moments later, he meandered by her, and she whispered, “Call at Number Five White Alley this evening. At the back door.”

Clement didn’t nod, but their eyes met the barest moment, and she knew he understood.

After milling around the common room a few more minutes, Tilda, Hadrian, and Maxwell took their leave. When they were a distance from the pub, Tilda, who walked between the two men, looked first at Hadrian and then at Maxwell. “Mrs. Atkins called the society a movement. Do you suppose anyone else thinks of it in that way?”

Hadrian chuckled. “Mrs. Atkins seemed quite dedicated to a society in which she cannot even be a member.”

“I found that puzzling,” Maxwell said. He glanced at Hadrian. “And she was rather taken with you.”

Tilda looked toward Hadrian. “I noticed that as well. Perhaps we can use that to our advantage at tea tomorrow.”

Hadrian grimaced. “If we must.”

Maxwell frowned as they turned into White Alley. “I’m very disappointed I cannot accompany you to Mrs. Atkins’s. This job at the mercantile house is becoming a burden, in addition to being horribly tedious. I’m not able to learn anything there. I wish they needed a second canvasser, but it’s proving challenging enough to persuade them to hire one—even with Mrs. Atkins offering to pay for the position.”

Tilda understood Maxwell’s frustration. She disliked not being an investigator out in the open, but at least she was able to make inquiries as Mrs. Harwood. Maxwell was stuck working at a job that only served to support his own disguise. “Perhaps you should try to fill the other open position.”

“The third administrator?” Maxwell asked. They’d arrived at Number Five, and Maxwell unlocked the door, opening it for Tilda to walk inside. She removed her hat as Hadrian and Maxwell followed her into the entrance hall.

Maxwell secured the door behind them. “I would have to convince Furnier and Nevill—but mostly Furnier—that I have a higher purpose in wanting to fill this role. I could tell them I have access to a wealthy benefactor who may wish to invest in the society—someone like Mrs. Atkins.”

Tilda walked into the parlor and perched on the settle.

Hadrian followed and sat next to her. “But does the society need another Mrs. Atkins? And how would you know a wealthy benefactor?”

“I could say my mother works as a housekeeper in Mayfair,” Maxwell suggested as he took one of the chairs. “Perhaps she works for the Earl of Ravenhurst.” He smirked at Hadrian.

Hadrian chuckled. “That’s not bad.”

“It’s regrettable we didn’t realize there could be a wealthy benefactor in our scheme,” Maxwell said to Hadrian. “You could have participated in the investigation as yourself, which would probably have been more pleasing to you.”

Hadrian’s brows drew together sharply. “Do you think I mind pretending to work at a gentlemen’s club or taking on the role of canvasser? Don’t forget that I’m participating in this investigation because I want to, not because I’m being paid.”

“I’m aware.” Maxwell cocked his head. “And I do find it perplexing.”

“You shouldn’t,” Hadrian said crisply. “I’m doing this because I enjoy it, and because Miss Wren and I work well together.”

Tilda sensed an undercurrent of discord between the two men. “I would say it’s proven helpful to have the three of us.”

She wondered if Maxwell felt threatened because of Hadrian’s title. But why would Hadrian be annoyed? He was no longer on the outside. He was very much part of this investigation.

Tilda wanted to return to discussing Maxwell’s idea of trying to become one of the administrators. “Since the society already has a benefactress in Mrs. Atkins, it might be more compelling if you had a personal reason for wanting to be involved with the society’s growth and management.”

“Well, that is rather easy,” Maxwell said plainly. “I do have a personal reason. I lost two siblings when they were young, and their funerals were a financial hardship.”

Hadrian swung his attention to Maxwell. “I’m very sorry to hear of your losses,” he said softly.