Page 49 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
“Good to see you improving yourself by reading an article like that.You should be grateful for the good fortune that you’re not living in the gutter like those poor creatures,” Lady Perry said.“Instead, you’re living in the lap of luxury and Mr.Farnley and his mother are going to take you to a concert tomorrow.Your dear mama can heave a sigh of relief in a few weeks that she has done her duty and you are off her hands, married to a solid, respectable and worthy husband.”
Evelina assumed she did not mean Lord Bellingham, but she was wise enough to remain silent, so she was surprised when her mama asked, “Has Lord Bellingham called or sent round a note, Evelina?I was harsh with you last night and for that, I am sorry.If he truly loves you, then a lack of dowry, of course, will not stand in his way if he should wish to make you his wife.”
Evelina jerked her head up.“What do you mean, Mama?Papa has made very generous provision for me.”She sighed, turning to the next page of the magazine.A group of soberly attired, serious looking men stared up at her.Politicians, all of them.Like Bellingham.Or rather, he had political aspirations, though she wasn’t certain what that entailed.She’d imagined being his hostess and organizing lavish dinner parties and grand banquets in between appointments with her dressmaker.
“Not as generous as I had been led to believe, my dear,” said her mama.“It was the reason Dunstable took issue with your papa over the contract.Not all that was promised was forthcoming.It’s one of the reasons I’m so anxious that you are settled this season.I do not think there will be funds for you to enjoy a second season in London.”
Evelina dropped the magazine and sat up straight.“What are you saying, Mama?This is the first I’ve heard of such a thing.Have I offended Papa?How can I please him if he won’t see me?”Her throat felt dry as she added, “Did you tell Lord Bellingham this?That my dowry was not as generous as … as before?What did you say?Oh, Mama, tell me this minute!”Twisting in her chair, she looked at her mother, who turned back from speaking to Lady Perry, her expression implacable.
“That is what was conveyed to him, yes.Now, please don’t cry, Evelina.Surely you would not have wanted him if his primary motivation in marrying you was your money?Now, at least, you know the reason he has ceased paying you attention—”
Evelina leaped up with a gasp.“You are cruel, Mama!”she whispered, the tears beginning to fall.“Cruel, cruel, cruel!No wonder Papa no longer wished to live with you.No doubt he believes I am just like you.Maybe that is why he won’t see me.”
Chapter22
After being directed by the housekeeper of Captain Blackheath’s home to the small river that ran behind, William found his quarry sitting contemplatively on a rock by the water, a Panama hat upon his head and a cheroot between his teeth.
Blackheath’s eyes widened when he saw William.
“Good lord, is this a fortuitous meeting or have you run me to ground?”
“Run you to ground?”William repeated, taking a seat on a nearby rock.“Isn’t that what one does when one is chasing quarry that wishes to evade capture?”
Blackheath shrugged.If he had a guilty conscience, it did not show.“It’s also the term used if one feels pursued for any reason.You’ve not come to challenge me with pistols at dawn because I danced three times with that young lady you’ve been sniffing after?”
“Miss Evelina Tarot?”
“That’s the one.”Blackheath’s mouth turned up as if he were smirking at her name.William wondered what the man knew.If it was true that Dunstable had been blackmailing Madame Chambon over Evelina’s parentage, had Blackheath learned the truth?Could he have been blackmailing Dunstable?Had something gone wrong when the two men had come head to head if Blackheath knew what Dunstable knew: that Evelina was Madame Chambon’s daughter; a brothel-keeper’s by-blow, whom Dunstable was to marry?William cringed at the term he’d heard used to describe the woman he loved.
The woman whose reputation must be protected to be acceptable in the eyes of society if he were to make his wife.
Even if Blackheath had not murdered Dunstable, it was still possible he might have found the same proof that linked Evelina with Madame Chambon, in which case he had no doubt he’d blackmail William.He had to be careful.
“Caught anything?”William nodded at the fishing rod, its line stirred by the wind.
“Not many fish today, I’m afraid.Still, one doesn’t fish purely to reap the rewards of one’s efforts,” replied Blackheath.“Sometimes it’s to enjoy the fresh country air when one needs to escape the noise and dirt of a busy metropolis.”
“Escape.Yes, we all need to do that from time to time,” William agreed.“That poor girl who’s been charged with Dunstable’s murder isn’t going to escape, though.It’s the noose for her, I hear.”
“Someone’s been charged?”Blackheath showed the first sign of concern.“Who?”
“One of the girls at Madame Chambon’s.LuluBelle Croft.”
“Good God!”
“Know her, do you?”William asked.
“She’s a capital lass.She’d not have done it in a thousand years,” Blackheath declared, looking rattled.“When did you hear this?I’ve not read it in the newspapers.”
“My valet told me last night.Said one of the servants who lived opposite had seen her being marched away in handcuffs.Apparently, the girls at Madame Chambon’s confirmed the story.”He hesitated.“It’s also drifted into public discourse that you’d been at the house the night of Dunstable’s murder and you were heard arguing with Madame Chambon.”William chose his words carefully.“As I was passing this way, anyway, I thought I’d let you know.”
“The police took all of that testimony down,” Blackheath muttered.Agitated, he flicked his fishing rod, saying with energy, “But they can’t convict her if they have no evidence.”
William shrugged.“They seem to think they have all the evidence they need.Dunstable’s family is agitating for a conviction.They’ve made their disillusionment with the police quite apparent in the newspapers.You can imagine the reaction of a police inspector, under pressure, knowing that his own conduct does not show him in an admirable light since he was visiting that very house the same evening.”
“Dunstable’s damn family,” Blackheath muttered.“That Miss Victoria has a reputation for being a troublesome female.Never satisfied!”
“You know Miss Victoria?”
