I saw no reason to hide the fact. He might speak of it eventually, even though he had refused to meet with me.
“I thought you might be able to provide information that could assist in the situation.”
“The calling card you included? Brodie and Forsythe?” she inquired then.
“You resolved the murder attempt on the Prince of Wales!” Rose interjected.
“My husband and I assisted in the matter. Mr. Brodie was previously with the Metropolitan Police for several years as inspector, now in private inquiries for clients.
“We have found that we are often able to assist in situations where some might be hesitant, or unable for whatever reason.”
“It cannot hurt to have both doing whatever it takes to find Charlotte,” Rose implored of her mother.
Mrs. Davies nodded. “I don’t know what more I can tell you that we have not already told the police.
But if you have questions, I will try to provide answers.
I only want my daughter found, even though I know that with the amount of time that has passed …
” She removed a handkerchief from her reticule.
“I understand,” I replied. “I have been through similar circumstances.”
I left it at that, as our waiter returned with a fresh pot of tea and poured our cups. I waited until he departed. And then posed a question.
“Is there a young man in your daughter’s life? A romantic attachment perhaps?”
“No,” Mrs. Davies replied. “She is somewhat of an independent spirit, and spoke of remaining unattached for now.”
“She wants to travel,” Rose interjected. “She talked about Egypt and China all the time.”
“A foolish notion,” Mrs. Davies added. “We are not poor. Mr. Davies works very hard in his position. However, such ideas are simply not possible. It would cost a great deal, and we have Rose and her education to think of as well.”
Her daughter frowned and made a sideways glance that said a great deal. It was something that I had seen from Lily, more than once. Not that I had never reacted in that same manner at their age …
I thought of Lizzie Smith and her postcards.
“Did she collect pictures of any of those places? Was she perhaps saving for those travels?”
“We provide the girls everything they need. Any money they have would be gifts from family.”
“She wanted to take a position,” Rose added, which brought a startled look from her mother.
“There are not many opportunities for respectable young ladies,” Mrs. Davies added.
Unless they created those opportunities for themselves. I thought of my novels that were published. Might Charlotte Davies have been motivated to that sort of thing, or some other means of earning money for the travels she wanted to make?
“She answered an advertisement in the newspaper,” Rose commented.
Her mother turned to her. “What advertisement? Your sister said nothing of this to me.”
“It’s found on the first page of The Times. It mentioned a travel companion and all expenses paid.”
Rose was certainly far more well-informed than her mother.
“She showed it to me and said that she was going to reply to it. I warned her that you wouldn’t be pleased,” she told her mother. “But she was very determined.”
Elizabeth Davies stared at her younger daughter.
“And you said nothing about this.”
“She knew you would disapprove, and made me promise that I wouldn’t say anything.”
“Did she receive a response?” I asked. “Something that would have been posted in the paper?”
Rose nodded. “She received instructions through the same box number where she was to meet the person who placed it. She was so excited. It seemed like a wonderful opportunity for her to travel.”
And she had not returned.
“You spoke of a similar situation.”
I looked over at Rose.
“My sister disappeared.” I didn’t mention that her maid was found murdered.
“Did it … end well?” she asked.
I assured her that it had.
“Then there is still hope ... that she might be found.”
I assured her that there was. There was no need at this point to explain the horrifying statistics about young women across London who disappeared all the time, and were never found. It was a sad, tragic part of our inquiry business.
She reached across and took hold of my hand “You must tell me when you find anything that might tell us what has happened.”
I told her that I would.
“You’ve been very helpful. I will contact you when I learn something important.”
I thanked Rose as well. “I realize that you made a promise to Charlotte—however, you did the right thing telling me about the advertisement.”
I watched as Mrs. Davies and Rose departed the tea room.
These situations were always difficult, and I felt enormously sad for their family.
Brodie had warned me, there were times when the inquiry business was often heartbreaking.
Yet I was determined to find answers for Mr. and Mrs. Davies and Reggie Tavers.
After leaving Rose and her mother, I returned to the office on the Strand to update my notes and also to send round a message to Mr. Dooley at New Scotland Yard about the additional information I had learned regarding the disappearance of Charlotte Davies.
“There was a message sent round for you, miss,” Mr. Cavendish informed me. He handed me an envelope.
It was from Monsieur La Geness according to the name across the back of the envelope.
“And Mr. Dooley was just here not more than an hour past,” Mr. Cavendish added. “He said you was to contact him straight away at the Bond Street station.”
“Did he say what it was about?”
“Only that it was important.”
I tucked the envelope from La Geness into my travel bag and waved down a cab.
It had grown quite late, street lamps well-lit as I arrived at the Bond Street Station, with the hound at Mr. Cavendish’s insistence.
He trotted alongside as I entered the station.
I went directly to the desk sergeant and informed him that Mr. Dooley was expecting me. He appeared almost immediately.
Mr. Dooley had once served under Brodie when he was with the MET, and had made detective the year before. He had provided valuable information to us on more than one occasion, even when it was against the policy of the Metropolitan Police.
In spite of the difficult circumstances that led to Brodie's departure from the MET, I was aware that he held a deep respect for Brodie from their time together.
He was somewhat short of stature, barely taller than myself, with a ruddy complexion, sandy hair, and a direct gaze that now fastened on me.
He took me by the arm and directed me to a small room that was much like others among the police stations where people were taken for questioning in the matter of a crime.
“What is it?” I asked as I took a chair beside the small desk.
He closed the door. “I learned of it right after I received yer message, and thought it best to speak with you first. Mr. Brodie is not with you?”
“He has not returned as yet.”
He nodded, his expression quite grim. “It seemed important to send round a note considerin' the two other cases,” he explained.
“You must tell me what has happened, Mr. Dooley,” I insisted.
“A young woman’s body has been found.”