Page 15 of Murder on the Brighton Express
“Why would she do that?” Goliath asked.
“To escape someone,” Frank told him.
I rather liked my theory, mostly because it meant Ruth was still alive. Even so, it would be unwise to dismiss the awful notion that she’d met her end on the express train from Brighton and her body had been discarded out of the window like a piece of rubbish.
The viaduct seemed the most likely place to find her, given its isolation, but tunnels were also a possibility. Somehow that method of disposal seemed more gruesome.
I folded up the map and handed it back to Peter. “I’ll catch the train to Balcombe tomorrow and search the area near the viaduct.” I’d probably be gone all day, so I needed to think of an innocent excuse to satisfy my family. I doubted my aunt and uncle would accept me going off in search of a dead body. It wasn’t the genteel sort of investigation they preferred me to conduct.
“I can come with you,” Victor said. “I have the day off tomorrow.”
We arranged to meet at Balcombe station so as not to raise suspicions if anyone saw us together. Victor said he’d inform Harmony when his shift ended that evening, and I set about laying the foundations of my excuse. In the end, the only thing I could think of that would deter Flossy from asking to join me on my day out was to tell her I was visiting the museum.
As expected, she wrinkled her nose and declared she had more interesting plans.
Victorand I traveled together in an omnibus out of the village of Balcombe. It was rare for us to spend time together without the presence of either Harmony or Harry, and the journey began awkwardly. I attempted to strike up a conversation by asking him about his work as a cook in the hotel kitchen, but his brief answers cut that short. The reason for his disinterest soon became clear. His mind was elsewhere.
“Miss Fox, may I ask you a question about Harmony?”
“You may, although I may not answer it, depending on its nature.”
“Fair enough.” He removed his cap and stroked the brim between his finger and thumb. He was uncertain, a trait that Victor rarely displayed. Now I was even more intrigued. “Do you think I have a future with her?”
“Aren’t you two already together?”
“Aye, but beyond now.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t be with you if she didn’t see a future with you. Victor, has something been said?”
“I haven’t asked her to marry me, but I wanted to gauge her interest, so I mentioned moving out of the residence hall one day. She said she’s happy as things are and doesn’t want to think too far ahead. Why would she say that if she’s sure about me?”
“Perhaps because you didn’t ask her to marry you. Sometimes you have to ask a clear question to get a clear answer.”
“Doyouthink I should ask her?”
While I wanted to encourage him, I would feel awful if the result was heartbreak. The truth was, I didn’t know Harmony’s wishes for the future any more than Victor did. “Harmony’s career is going swimmingly at the moment,” I told him. “Although her appointment as assistant to my cousin is temporary, it could lead to other promotions later. Marriage could put an end to that chance.”
“I wouldn’t stop her working if she didn’t want to.”
I smiled, but did not nod in agreement. Some men might say that, and mean it, but when they realized how much work went into keeping house and raising children, they changed their minds. Indeed, some married women gave up work they enjoyed out of sheer exhaustion. Juggling several demanding roles was difficult without the help of servants.
Harmony knew how the world worked. She also knew more opportunities would come her way if the wedding reception was a success. I wasn’t sure what she would choose to do if she had a choice or was forced to make one. Even if I had an inkling, it wasn’t my place to tell Victor.
“You have to have a proper conversation with her,” I urged him.
“And if I do and she rejects me, it will all come to an end.” He slapped his cap back on his head. “I don’t want that. Not yet.” Decision made, he turned to look out of the window at the verdant pastures until we reached our destination.
We alighted from the omnibus when the viaduct came into view. It was an impressive structure with multiple arches spanning the wide valley carved out by the River Ouse. If Harry were here, he’d tell me about the design and construction. Victor and I merely sighed as we realized how large our task was.
We began our grim search at the northern end, on the western side of the viaduct since that was the Brighton to London side. Although it cut through paddocks, the immediate vicinity was rather bushy. There’d not been much rain of late, but even so, I was glad I’d worn sturdy boots that I didn’t mind getting muddy.
A train sped along the line some hundred feet above, but once it disappeared into the distance, the only sounds came from birds. We took our time, checking near the base of the hollowed-out brick supports as well as further afield, until we reached the river itself. It was smaller than I expected. It would be almost impossible to time it so that an object dropped from the fast-moving train landed in the river. It was also highly doubtful anyone would survive such a big fall.
“Miss Fox! Over here.” Victor held up a tortoiseshell hair comb.
We exchanged glances before continuing the search. It wasn’t long before we found the brown leather bag belonging to Ruth. It had burst open, and its contents were scattered about. A chemise and a pair of bloomers were stuck to bushes and glass bottles with jewel-colored enamel lids had smashed on impact. They would have been a lovely travel set used at her toilette. Her opera glasses had suffered a similar fate.
I looked around for documents or a journal, but found none. There wasn’t even a book or newspaper that she could read on the journey. I did find two pencils, however.
