Page 92 of A Whisper in the Shadows
He cocked his head. “Do you? Every time I think an investigation feels that way, something happens to send us in a new direction.”
“We can’t seem to have a simple case.” Tilda gave her head a shake with a small smile.
Hadrian laughed softly. “No, we cannot.”
“Good night then,” she said.
“Good night, Tilda. Sleep well.”
His gaze lingered on her, and Tilda felt a warmth spread through her, almost as if he’d embraced her, which was silly.
She went to her room and closed the door. It took her too long to fall asleep, and she could not blame it entirely on the investigation.
Tilda had risen early so she could wash the dark powder from her hair. It felt wonderful to have clean locks and to reveal her natural color. She entered the kitchen and saw Hadrian waiting for her near the back door. He looked very handsome with his dark hair and sparkling blueeyes. His costume was still simple compared to what he wore as an earl, but he looked likehimand not Nigel Beck.
His mouth spread into a wide smile upon seeing her. “I recognize you. It’s been some time.”
She laughed, and Mrs. Kilgore waved at them as they left.
They kept their heads bent and pulled their hats low as they hurried along Coleman Street. They did not relax their postures or speak until they reached Gresham Street and crossed over to Old Jewry. And even then, it was just to mark their passage and where they would go to enter the station through the rear.
Upon arriving, they asked to speak to Inspector Chisholm. A constable showed them to his office, a small space with a window high on the wall and a narrow fireplace.
Chisholm stood behind his desk and looked toward them with surprise as the constable announced their arrival. “I wasn’t expecting you. And certainly not looking like that.”
“We thought it best if Mrs. Harwood and her brother weren’t seen walking into the police station,” Tilda explained.
“It’s better if someone recognizes Lord Ravenhurst?” Chisholm asked with a frown. He waved his hand at the constable who took his leave.
“We did come in through the back entrance,” Hadrian said. “I believe you’ll be glad we’ve come when Miss Wren explains the purpose of our visit.”
Chisholm’s brows shot up. “Have you learned something? I just saw you at the inquest yesterday.”
Though Tilda had seen him, they hadn’t spoken. Their only communication had been to make eye contact and then purposely ignore one another. “I spoke with Mrs. Burley yesterday after the inquest. Since she likes gossip, I pretended to want to share information with her.”
Chisholm gestured for them to sit in a pair of mismatched wooden chairs. When they were seated, he sat behind his desk. “I take it she revealed something new?”
“She saw Phelps with a woman at the Black Anchor on Sunday evening when she and Mr. Burley were dining. The description she gave matches that of Mrs. Walters, right down to her amber eyes, which Mrs. Burley saw in close proximity because she made a point of walking by their table to observe the woman more closely.”
“Of course she did,” Chisholm muttered. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “I knew Mrs. Walters was lying.”
“I think we all did,” Hadrian said.
Tilda sat forward in her chair and pinned the inspector with a firm stare. “We’d like to speak with her, using her dishonesty as leverage to persuade her to finally speak the truth.”
“Well, now, this is my investigation,” Chisholm said, his brows pitching together.
“You would be present, of course. We want to know the specifics of the other friendly societies her husband started, as well as his plans for the Coleman Street Ward Amicable Society. Of particular interest is whether he tasked Mr. Eaton with defrauding the ill citizens of the ward.”
“I think we all assume he did,” Chisholm said, echoing Hadrian’s comment.
“We don’t care to make assumptions, Inspector,” Hadrian said smoothly. “May we interrogate Mrs. Walters with you?” He smiled pleasantly, but there was a steel to his gaze, and Tilda thought the inspector wasn’t likely to refuse an earl.
After a long moment, Chisholm nodded. “Let’s go.”
The inspector stood, and Hadrian and Tilda followed him to the door. He led them downstairs to a room and told them to wait.
A few minutes later, Chisholm and a constable entered the room with Mrs. Walters. She looked a bit disheveled compared to when they’d seen her last, and she wore a heavy scowl.