Page 78 of A Whisper in the Shadows

Tilda again wondered why Hadrian had asked her about marriage and about Maxwell. She decided he’d simply been making conversation.

Hadrian removed his hat as they waited for Jarret. Tilda still didn’t care for his fake blond hair. That and his simpler garments made him look very different from the Hadrian she knew. She had to admit he’d surprised her a little with how well he’d transformed into his role as Nigel Beck. It was too bad he was an earl. He was becoming an excellent private investigator.

Isaiah Jarret came into the room. He was around forty years of age with dark, thinning hair and a high forehead. He possessed penetrating blue eyes and a hawk-like nose. He regarded Tilda and Hadrian with guarded curiosity. “Mr. Beck, Mrs. Harwood, I can’t imagine why you’ve come.”

“It’s a simple matter, really,” Hadrian said with a brief smile. “I’m considering working for the Amicable Society as their new canvasser, and since you chose to walk away from the society, I thought I should speak with you before making a decision.”

Jarret nodded, his brow creasing briefly. “That’s wise of you. Please, sit.” He gestured to the chairs and waited for Tilda and Hadrian to take their chairs before he sat. “I think theAmicable Society’s cause is noble, and both Furnier and Nevill are committed to its success. I would likely still be involved with it if not for Walter Phelps and our disagreement.”

“Because he didn’t want to make the society teetotal?” Hadrian asked.

“Yes, but mostly I just didn’t care for him.” Jarret’s tone was laced with disdain. “The longer we were acquainted, the more I didn’t think we would work well together.”

Tilda clasped her hands tightly to keep herself from interjecting.

Hadrian gestured toward Jarret. “Would you consider working with the society again now that he’s…gone? Even though it isn’t teetotal?”

“I might consider it,” Jarret replied thoughtfully. “Furnier doesn’t imbibe alcohol, and I imagine he keeps things as orderly as possible, though it seems there was perhaps some inappropriate activity happening right under his nose.”

“You’re referring to the members who were admitted despite being ill?” Hadrian asked.

Jarret nodded. “Yes, but it’s my opinion that Phelps was likely the poison behind that. The society will be better off without him.”

Though Hadrian was doing an excellent job interviewing Jarret, Tilda could not remain silent any longer. “Do you think Mr. Phelps was behind the ill members being admitted?” She asked the question with a measured amount of distress.

Jarret shrugged. “He hired Eaton and should have been managing him, so if he wasn’t aware of the canvasser’s activities, that doesn’t speak well of Phelps’s administrative abilities. He was either foolish or in support of the corruption, and I never took him for a fool.”

Hadrian cocked his head. “You think he was capable of illegal behavior?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised by it. I found him to be insincere, and certain things about him didn’t make sense to me after I came to know him better. He was very eager to have Mrs. Atkins as a benefactress, and yet he tried to act as though he had money to support himself whilst managing the society from which he supposedly did not profit. I could never tell if he actually had money. He had a few nice things at his house, but they seemed almost like props.”

“What do you mean?” Tilda asked.

“He had those brass candlesticks and a few glass tumblers, but his house was fairly spartan. Those things stood out. There was also a naval dirk that I found intriguing. He said it had belonged to his grandfather who’d served in the Navy. The grandfather that was supposedly from the Coleman Street Ward, and why Phelps came back here to start the society.”

“‘Supposedly?’” Hadrian said. “You didn’t believe him.”

“I find myself questioning everything about him after all that’s happened. Sometimes I wonder if the entire society was a swindle, but I suppose we can’t know.”

Hadrian and Tilda exchanged a glance.

“I don’t think you need to worry about accepting employment with the Amicable Society now that Phelps is no longer associated with it,” Jarret said. “I have to imagine Furnier and even Nevill will be extremely careful going forward.”

“What do you mean by ‘even Nevill?’”

Jarret chuckled. “I’ve known Harvey a long time, and he’s a bit more interested in appearances than substance. He’s a good face for the society, because he knows a great many people and is gregarious. However, his mind for business is not as keen as Furnier’s.”

Tilda made a show of looking confused. “But he owns his own shop. He must be smart enough when it comes to business matters?”

“Yes, he’s smart enough,” Jarret said. “Though I have long helped him with his accounting. Don’t tell him I told you, as it’s our secret.”

“We thank you for your time, Mr. Jarret.” Hadrian glanced over at Tilda, and she recognized that he was trying to confirm whether they were finished.

Tilda gave him a subtle nod, then rose to indicate that they could leave.

“Happy to be of help,” Jarret replied.

Hadrian stuck his hand out and clasped Jarret’s palm. Tilda held her breath, hoping that Hadrian would see something useful. The handshake didn’t last terribly long, and she worried he hadn’t had time to see anything.