“No, thank you,” Josie said. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said. I had the lavender removed, the room aired out, and I had no further problems. I reached up to touch the plant between me and Joe. “I fear my plant won’t recover, though.” The potted plant had wilted, in spite of all attempts to cleanse its soil.
Joe grinned. “It’s just a plant.”
Josie moved to the window. “What a lovely view you have.”
Josie was such a dear, giving us time to speak privately. “Thank you.” I turned to Joe. “There’s something I wished to ask.” I hesitated, not wanting to remind him of how rude I was to him. “Do you remember when you called on us in January?”
Joe blinked. “I suppose.”
“Did your coachmen notice anything peculiar?”
“Why, no,” Joe said. “Why do you ask?”
His gaze flustered me. “I — we had reason to fear an intruder on the grounds that day. Might my husband speak with them?”
Josie stood gazing out of the window. “We had to let them go. But I can send their names, if you wish to contact them.”
“I hope nothing was taken,” Joe said.
I smiled at him. “Nothing of the sort.” I gestured to Josie. “You’re welcome to look at the art book there.”
“Thank you!” Josie sat in the window seat, eagerly paging through the book.
“Josie loves art,” Joe said. He took my hand, whispering, “As much as I love you.”
I clasped his hand in mine. “I desire nothing more than to leave with you. This place is a madhouse. I fear I might go mad as well, should I stay here.”
Joe leaned forward. “Have you been harmed?”
I shook my head. “I can’t speak of it, even if I had time.” Should I ask? I peered in his eyes. If anyone was trustworthy, it was Joe. “I can’t leave my Ma in Bridges —”
A flash of surprise crossed Joe’s face.
“She’s a knife to my throat as long as she’s here,” I said. “We must find a way to bring her with us.”
He nodded, his gaze downcast. “I don’t know if I can get that many tickets. It’s a terrible large amount for one ticket, let alone four. Do you have any money at all?”
I stared at my hands. It was a dreadful risk. If anything happened — Joe getting waylaid, Ma refusing to go, an unscrupulous ticket agent — I could lose everything I had saved these six years. But I couldn’t leave Ma here — any minute, someone might learn she was alive. “Wait here.”
When I opened the door, Pearson said, “Mum, are you well?”
“I need to fetch something,” I said. “I’ll return straight-away.”
“But is it not something your maid could fetch for you?”
I hurried up the stairs, locked the door behind me, then went to my hiding place in the back of my closets. Ten dollars (in ones) for Thrace Pike. Pennies for the taxi, change for Mrs. Bryce. The rest I placed in my pocket, returning the bag to its resting place.
I placed the cash into a large sealed envelope. I wrapped a newspaper around the envelope and brought the newspaper to Joe. “Keep this safe. It’s all I have in the world.”
He gazed at me soberly. “I’ll guard it with my life.”
* * *
Tony was out, so after the Kerr twins left, I took tea in my rooms, Amelia serving me.
“Amelia, please fetch me onion.”
She blinked in surprise, then said, “Yes, mum.”
She returned with a saucer filled with minced raw onion. “For your sandwiches, mum?”
“No, Amelia.” I smiled at her. “Did you never write secret letters as a child?”
Amelia laughed. “I never did, mum. Not much time for that.”
She’d worked ever since her father died when she was eight. Perhaps I could show her some fun. “Bring my stationery box.”
I crushed the onion with the back of my teaspoon until the juices flowed. Then I wrote a note to my Ma in ink:
A friend will visit.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Amelia said, “What nonsense is this?”
I grinned.
I then took out a new pen, dipping it in the onion juice. Underneath, I wrote:
When the owl flies
The letters were faintly wet on the page.
Amelia said, “What does this mean?”
I chuckled. It was something we said in the Pot: when the owl flies, he doesn’t come back. “Well, that’s the second half of the secret. My reader will know what I mean, but someone else who finds this won’t.” I put down my pen. “That’s odd.”
“What, mum?”
The message Frank — or perhaps his leader — sent could’ve been read by anyone who thought to search for a secret message. The police, even. And it wasn’t coded. How could he have been so sure I’d be the one to read it? “Ever tricked someone, Amelia?”
She smiled. “That reminds me of when I was a young girl. A man would follow me in my sweeping every day. Not walk past — when I moved down the road, he’d be watching me. Finally I went behind a tavern and found Peter with the horses. He was tall as he is now, so I thought he was a man grown. I told him about the man and he hid me. The next day when I went to work Peter came too, told the man he’d thrash him if he came round again.” She laughed. “The man never knew Peter was just a boy.”
“And that’s how you met.”
Her cheeks colored. “Yes, mum. That’s how we met.”
“I feel certain someone is tricking me. But I don’t know who or why.” I sealed the note. “Have Pearson fetch the Memory Boy. I have a message for him.”
“The third part of the secret?”
I grinned at her. “Yes. Please inform me when he arrives.”
After a few hours, Pearson notified me of the Memory Boy’s arrival. I went out to the front porch with my message.
Werner Lead was maybe seven, with white-blond hair and a bright red jacket. The left chest and right shoulder sported a circular white patch with “MB” written upon it in red. His two brothers stood behind at the bottom of the steps.
“Good day,” I said.
“Hello, Mrs. Spadros,” Werner said.
I handed him the note, and his eyes went wide. “I’ve never taken a note before.”
I chuckled, leaning over. “Hand them that. Tell them it’s from me. But here’s the real message: My favorite flowers.”
“My favorite flowers. Yes, mum. Where to?”
“The message is for whoever is in charge at the Cathedral now.” I handed him a dollar.
“Okay, mum. Thanks!”
But he came back two hours later empty-handed. “I gave the note to them, and the men brought it inside. A woman came out and I told her the message. But when I asked if there was a message to return, she said no.”
Was this woman Ma? “What did the woman look like?”
“Oh, very old, mum, blue eyes, with straight white hair. She walked with a cane and men helped her.”
I nodded. Not Ma. Ma and Molly were close to the same age. I pictured Ma’s brown skin, curly dark hair, dark eyes. Did this mean they kept her safe? “You did well. Thank you.”
* * *
Three days later, I went to Madame Biltcliffe’s shop for the final fitting of my Summer dress. I might never have a chance to wear the dress until next year, should the zeppelin inquest go on much longer, but Tony was true to his word.
Madame came to greet the carriage, but ushered me and Honor inside without a word. For once, her office door stood open. Several racks were missing, and those that remained held a smaller selection. Did she have to sell some of her goods to pay her newly increased fees? I should have written to tell her that the men who attacked her weren’t Spadros men, but impostors.
She led me to my private dressing room. She ignored Honor, then dropped the curtain to shut him out. Tenni curtsied when I entered. My new dress hung on a rack in the corner.
“I hope you’re well, Madame?”
Madame gestured for Tenni to help me out of my dress. “I’m well, thank you.” Madame’s manner was stiff, formal.
“Has anyone been back to hurt you?”
“No. They did not return.”
“I like your shop’s new appearance. More open.”
Madame gave a fake smile, not meeting my eye. “Thank you.”
Tenni helped me into my dress and the two of them began working on it in silence.
I wondered what happened, but I didn’t want to pry in case it was personal. “I forgot to ask the last time I was here: I’d like your recommendations on a new dressmaker.”
Madame nodded. “The list is on my desk.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
The two continued to work their way around my dress without a word. When the entire dress was marked and pinned as Madame wished, she gestured for Tenni to help me out of it.
Once I dressed, I said, “Madame, may we speak privately?”
“Certainly.” She gestured to Tenni, who left through the back curtain. “How may I help?”
“That was my question exactly,” I said. “Clearly something is amiss. If I may help in some way —”
“You’ve done enough,” Madame snapped.
I stared at her, shocked, hurt. “What happened?”
“It’s what has not happened which distresses me.”
“I don’t understand.”
She glanced away and spoke bitterly. “I’m a foolish, foolish woman. I have never before given my regard so poorly.”
I felt perplexed. “Have I offended you?”
Her head drooped, and she gave it a small shake. “I know you don’t share my feelings. But after all the years you have known me I thought you might have some instant of consideration for my injuries —” She shrugged. “— perhaps once write to inquire as to my health. Even if you saw me as a mere merchant ....”
It had completely slipped my mind. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “You’re not. It’s clear now. How could I have been so blind? You used me, my shop, my friendship, even my regard. And when I needed you — when your husband and his men stood threatening — your first impulse was to run away. Abandon us, who have given so much. Your loyalty is only to yourself.” Madame turned away, hand to her forehead. “I can’t stay here anymore. Once this is sold, I’m moving.”
This shocked me. “Moving? Where?”
“If you must know, I have bought a shop in Clubb quadrant. But I hope you will not visit.”
Madame wished never to see me again? How could this be? Then I remembered the eggshells in front of her shop the other day. “You no longer wish to be associated with me.”
“That’s not what this is about, and you know it.” She sighed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I must leave. Your men will pursue me, but they won’t attack once I’m in Clubb quadrant.”
“But they weren’t our men! They were impostors, dressed in our livery. Our men won’t hurt you. My husband’s given orders.”
She stared at me, mouth open. Then her expression hardened. “Even so. I will stay no longer.”
“What’ll happen to Tenni? Her little sisters?”
Madame shook her head. “I have secured a position for Tenni at a shop nearby. She’s of age now and may do as she likes.” She pointed at me. “But you must not embroil her in your schemes any longer. The girl has suffered enough.”
I pondered Madame’s words, and how much they echoed Vig’s, the night he helped me question Morton’s young “ace,” Clover. His misery as he said: You used me.
Who is your loyalty to, Mrs. Spadros?
Your loyalty is only to yourself.
My heart crumbled. I used to know who I was. I used to know what to do. Spadros Manor had changed me. Being around these quadrant-folk had changed me. If I didn’t get out of Bridges I feared it would destroy me. “You’re not the first to tell me such things.” Her eyes were as red as mine must have been. I did love you, if not as you wished. “I’ll trouble you no further.”
I retrieved the list and left, wondering not whether she would forgive me, but whether I was worth forgiving.
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