Page 34 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
“Is that what Gracie said?”
Archie nodded.
“But if Madame Chambon was being blackmailed, then Madame would have just the motivation for killing his lordship?”
“’Cept she didn’t.”Archie sounded very sure about this.
“Yes, that’s what she told me, too.But why do you think she didn’t?”
“Cos Gracie says she saw Madame checking in on the copper wot’s leading the investigation, just as one of the girls said she heard a cry from Madame’s study before someone ran out into the passageway.And that it weren’t Madame Chambon cos she was upstairs wiv this copper chappie.”
Lily gave a lopsided smile.“So, Miss Tarot won’t see her mama go to the gallows and have her reputation dragged through the mud.She does have some chance of contracting a decent marriage.I am relieved about that, at least.”
“That’s if Lord Bellingham don’t mind who her ma is,” said Archie rising, but Lily waved him back into his seat saying sharply, “She can’t marry Lord Bellingham and there’s an end to it.However, Mr.John Farnley danced with her twice at Lady Gilray’s’s ball after I introduced them.He seemed very taken.”
Archie pulled out his pocketknife once more and began to fiddle with it.“Farnley’s wasting his time, if you’ll beg me pardon, m’lady… an’ so are you.Fact is, Miss Tarot’s heart is set on Lord Bellingham.”
Lily was not going to accept this.Of course, Miss Tarot would hope that a young man of Lord Bellingham’s caliber would offer for her, but a little digging and her reputation would be in tatters.“Lord Bellingham is very dashing and gallant, but he is far too above her for a match between them to be possible.He has a future in politics.He needs a wife of impeccable lineage and, believe me, Miss Tarot’s background will be scrutinized to the nth degree.Mr.Farnley just needs money and would be more than happy to overlook Miss Tarot’s lineage, besides which, he’s a very sweet young man.Not like Lord Dunstable, who clearly blackmailed Madame into agreeing to the match and would no doubt have soon shown his true colors to Miss Tarot.But no, Lord Bellingham can’t risk marrying Miss Tarot.We must prevent it.For the sake of both their happiness.”
Archie frowned.“Neither of ‘em know wot you and me know, m’lady.An’ I reckon you’re too late.My Gracie says the words Lord Bellingham wrote to invite Miss Tarot to the opera made Kitty’s heart fair melt after Kitty recited what his lordship had written to her.Now me Gracie wants me to be a poet like ‘im but it ain’t necessary when Gracie knows how I feel about her.”
“Does she?”Lily asked, distracted, before bursting out, “How did it get this far so quickly?I thought they only met at Lady Gilray’s ball last night?Or at least, they surely have only danced a couple of dances.”She clasped her hands together, the photographs on her desk forgotten.“Miss Tarot must simply return Mr.Farnley’s regard and all will be well.”She nibbled her little fingernail while anxiety churned.“I shall speak to Hamish.He’ll know what to do.”When the photographer merely sent her a skeptical look, Lily made another appeal.“Do you understand what I’m saying, Archie?Miss Tarot’s sensibility is that of a lady.I don’t know she’d survive the discovery of who and what her mother really is?Worse, how would she feel knowing that Dunstable more than likely blackmailed her mama into marrying her?He knew Evelina Tarot came with a very handsome dowry and he was prepared to overlook everything else in order to claim it.Plus, no doubt, he knew Madame would prove a lucrative ongoing source of revenue as he continued to blackmail her while married to her daughter.”
“You ought to be leadin’ this investigation, m’lady,” Archie said admiringly.“I never thought o’ that, but it makes perfect sense.Well, maybe Miss Tarot’s papa will double her dowry and then it really won’t matter to Lord Bellingham, who can then take her off to far distant oceans where ‘er troublesome reputation won’t be a bit ‘o bother.”
Lily tightened her clasped fingers to control her agitation.“That’s if we knew who Miss Tarot’s father was.We know her mama is Madame Chambon, and that’s bad enough.But what if her father is a felon who stole a fortune which he secreted away, and who’s now languishing in Newgate Prison?I don’t suppose that’s something your darling Gracie or her friend Kitty might know?”
Archie sighed and shrugged his shoulders before asking in a resigned tone, “So what do you want me to do about all this, m’lady?”
Lily gazed at the photographs on the table before her.There was the Princess of Wales, regal and elegant, flanked by her philandering husband, also known by the moniker Dirty Bertie.As a royal, Bertie could get away with little short of murder and he’d still be received anywhere.
But Lily knew how lonely and painful it was to be shunned by society.
And that’s what Miss Tarot had been reared to believe was her … tribe; the people amongst whom she belonged.
If her past was laid bare and it became known that her mother was a brothel madam and her father… what?… a criminal, murderer, or, just as bad, simply anyone who refused to acknowledge her, then she would live her life friendless.
Lily rose.“I must go home now, but Hamish will be in the office with you until late this evening, I know.”She reached for her cape and bonnet, putting them on as she added, “Just tell my husband that if he sees Lord Bellingham at his club tonight, he must do what he can to dilute his Lordship’s interest in Miss Tarot.Matters cannot have gone too far since they’ve met only once or twice.But, please, tell Hamish that even if it’s a white lie, Lord Bellingham must be made to understand that his association with Miss Tarot is too risky to continue for a man who is about to launch a career in politics.”
Chapter16
Evelina was intensely aware of William’s closeness on her left as they sat in the stalls and watched the performance onstage.Lady Perry sat on her right, quiet and crow-like, poring over the programme, occasionally making some remark to Evelina.
This was all for show.Lady Perry had little real interest in Evelina.She’d been hired by her mother to adhere to the protocol.
Evelina didn’t mind.She was totally in thrall to Lord Bellingham.
William.
Her William.
The orchestra began tuning their instruments in the pits, and the audience stirred.
It should have been a source of intense excitement to see a Crystal Palace Saturday Concert in the lofty concert hall.
Evelina had never been to the theater or a concert of any kind in such a large and public arena.And certainly to nothing public in male company.Lord Dunstable was to have taken her, though she’d been more excited at the prospect of the programme that featured Beethoven, Wagner and Mozart than his actual company.
Now it was the company that gave her the greatest thrill.
