Of Night and Dark Obscurity

by Nicola Italia

  “It’s obviously the only thing that makes sense,” Charles shrugged.

  “It could be. Or there could be another explanation. It could be that you had been taken with the younger sister. You found Irene more flirty, more open. More susceptible to your charms. You sweet talked her into giving you what you wanted,” Val said.

  “Which is?” Charles asked frowning.

  “Herself. Once she succumbed, you were not interested in her any longer. Unfortunately, your dalliance with her left behind a permanent reminder of your time together. And you couldn’t have that. She threatened to expose you to your family, so you killed her.”

  “None of that’s true!” Charles said hotly. “I may have spoken to Irene once or twice when she was with Caroline at some event. I always found Caroline to be a quiet beauty. A man doesn’t forget such a woman. But I don’t recall Irene. Not entirely.”

  “Not entirely.” Val repeated.

  “I read about the strangulation in the paper. Of course, everyone in London knows about the strangler. The primrose strangler. But that’s not me. As I said, I don’t even know these other women,” he told them.

  “We’ve often wondered if Irene might be a copycat or a victim made to look like the others,” Val said.

  Charles swallowed nervously. “Look here Pierce. Let’s not beat about the bush. We’ve never gotten along. I was your brother’s friend and you were the second son. Maybe you were jealous of the title, the money—“

  “I wasn’t. And this isn’t about me, Charles. This is about five dead women,” he pushed the last picture of Prudence towards him.

  “She looks…“ Charles began. “She’s that spinster friend of Caroline’s. I met her. She was at that last party my mother threw for Caroline.”

  Val hated hearing Caroline’s name on his lips. “That’s right. I believe you were in the library with Caroline that evening. Weren’t you?”

  “You know I was. You and Rowland interrupted me with Caroline,” he said.

  “What I remember is you being quite drunk and making a fool out of yourself. I also seem to recall your mother and a footman helping you up to your room to sleep it off,” Val said as Charles looked defeated.

  “We both know she’s out of your league, Pierce. Even if she wouldn’t marry me, you’d be the last person she’d marry. She’s more suited to your brother, Rowland.” Charles said spitefully.

  “Whoever Caroline Derry may or may not marry is not the issue here,” Val said coldly.

  Charles shrugged. “This entire thing has nothing to do with me.”

  “Well that remains to be seen,” Val told him.

  Looking across the room at Felix, he looked back at Charles. “I’m afraid I left my pocket watch at home. Do you have yours on you?” Val asked him.

  “I always carry mine with me,” Charles sniffed condescendingly. “It’s a family heirloom.”

  He pulled the watch piece from his pocket and flipped open the watch. In the low gas lights, the gold glinted in the light and he told them the time.

  “An ungodly hour of three in the morning,” he told them both, snapping the lid shut. “I should be in my bed. This is ridiculous.”

  “That’s a handsome piece,” Felix said smoothly.

  Charles puffed up looking pleased. He pulled out the watch again and caressed it. “It was a gift from my father when I turned of age,” he said smugly.

  “Very fine,” Felix admitted.

  “My father wanted to give me something that could be passed on to each first born male so he had it commissioned,” Charles explained.

  “Where did he have it made? Do you know?” Felix asked casually.

  “The watchmakers Charles Frodsham & Co.,” Charles told him, even as he showed Felix the gold piece with its roman numerals exactly as Oliver had described.

  “Do you have a club you attend regularly?” Val asked as the gas lantern sputtered in the room but remained lit.

  “Don’t we all?”

  “What’s the name of your club?” Val asked again.

  “It depends. Sometimes I go to a chum’s club sometimes my own. What is this all about?” Charles asked indignant. “You can’t keep me here. This is unfounded. Because I know of two of these women, I’m not a murderer. I demand you release me.”

  Val collected all of the photographs and placed them into the folder. Nodding at Felix both men turned to exit the room.

  “Dammit Pierce! You can’t just leave me in here!” He yelled.

  Val turned back to the man. “I’ll return shortly. After all, the tea has gone cold. We’ll brew some fresh.”

  Felix followed Val to his office. “What are you going to do with him? We can’t hold him forever.”

  “I’m going to give him time to cool his heels. But he’s the link, Felix. I can feel it. He knows something. He’s the key,” Val said quietly. “All we need to do now is wait and watch him turn.”

  ✽✽✽

  Caroline slept badly. It rained heavily in the night and she recalled the thunder and lightning waking her several times. She dressed for breakfast but when she went downstairs, she was alone. Her father had left for an engagement and her grandmother was out paying calls.

  “Excuse me, Miss. This was brought for you,” Wilmot said carrying the silver tray that contained the calling cards and mail of the day.

  The small envelope contained an invite for tea that afternoon with Lady Arabella Pierce.

  “Lady Arabella Pierce?” She said aloud.

  She realized Lady Arabella must be Valentine’s mother and he had asked her to invite Caroline to their home for tea. She knew that Valentine was serious about her and this must be her entree into his family. She must make a good impression she thought.

  “Wilmot can you please send Thea to me,” she asked the footman.

  “Very good Miss.”

  Caroline must choose her gown, have Thea dress her hair and then set out for the tea. She didn’t need that much time to choose a gown as she was limited to color because she was still in late mourning. Her mauve colored gown would do nicely and it had a ruffled scooped neckline which was a pretty touch for tea.

  When Thea arrived, she explained that she needed her hair done for this afternoon and Thea nodded politely.

  “Did my grandmother say when she might be back?” She asked.

  “No Miss. I’ve not seen her. I saw your father this morning but it was very brief.”

  They discussed the hairstyle and she decided on a low chignon at the nape of her neck. She didn’t wear much jewelry and when she set out that afternoon for the tea, she was nervous. She wanted to make a good impression and was anxious to meet Pierce’s family.

  She wondered why the invitation to tea had come from his mother? Why hadn’t Val invited her directly. But perhaps that was the way his mother preferred it. She would have liked to have her grandmother attend the tea with her but she had left before the invitation arrived.

  The hansom cab drew up outside the Pierce home and Caroline paid the driver before placing her hand over the brass knocker. A footman promptly opened the door and she introduced herself.

  “You are expected,” he said.

  The home was richly decorated in dark colors, heavy drapes and marble on the floors. It was a home that radiated richness and Caroline felt swallowed up by it. She could tell from the fabrics, the colors, and the rich decorations that this home conveyed wealth and position. She wished for a moment that she was back inside her comfortable home in Mayfair.

  She followed the liveried footman as he led her to a sitting room where an older woman with steel grey hair and a high-necked cobalt blue dress greeted her. The footman announced her as if she was being presented to the Queen.

  “You must be Arabella Pierce.” Caroline said smiling, coming to stand before the woman.

  Arabella extended her hand out to Caroline, “I’m Lady Arabella Banham. As you might recall my husband is the Earl of Banham.”

  “Yes of course. L
ady Banham.” Caroline said realizing she might have offended Val’s mother by not calling her by her proper title.

  Caroline looked about the sitting room which was furnished in a forest green and brown. The footman brought in the tea and placed it before Lady Banham who looked over the tea tray and nodded.

  “You might have thought my invitation a little odd,” Arabella said as she poured the water into the cups using a strainer to catch the loose tea leaves.

  “Milk? Sugar?” Arabella asked.

  “A little bit of milk please,” Caroline replied. “I suppose I did think the invitation odd,” Caroline nodded. “Only because we’ve never met and I thought an invitation such as this might come from Val himself.”

  “Val?” Arabella paused then smiled. “I never thought when we named our youngest son Valentine that everyone would insist on calling him Val. And no. Val knows nothing of this invitation. I wanted to meet you and speak with you. Away from Valentine.”

  Caroline nodded unsure of what to say as she felt she had gotten off to a rough start with Valentine’s mother.

  “Now Rowland, my dear boy, is never called anything but Rowland. Once his father passes on, he’ll be the Earl of Banham. He’ll make a fine Earl.” Arabella said smiling brightly.

  Caroline didn’t know what to say. “I-I’m sure he will but hopefully that will be some time in coming.”

  “Hmm?” Arabella said handing Caroline one tea cup and taking another in hand. “Oh of course. We don’t wish any harm on dearest Abram.”

  Caroline nodded in agreement not knowing but understanding that Abram was Val’s father’s name.

  “But he can’t live forever my dear,” Arabella laughed a little.

  Caroline sipped the tea and Arabella waved a hand at the table before her. “Take a cucumber sandwich my dear or an iced cake. They’re very good. Our Cook is quite gifted.”

  Caroline took a small sandwich and placed it on a plate and then balanced it on her knee. She took a small bite and sipped the tea.

  “It’s very good.” Caroline told the imposing woman.

  Arabella ran her fingers along the long string of pearls she wore and caressed them as she spoke. “Valentine was always such an odd boy. He was always asking the servants questions about their lives and playing with children not in his class. Such an odd boy,” she smiled.

  “That shows him to be attentive, surely,” Caroline wondered.

  “Quite. But classes are important my dear. Take my darling Rowland. He must marry and hopefully very soon. His choice of wife is paramount. She’ll need breeding and status and money.”

  “Do you need money?” Caroline said before she could stop herself.

  Arabella smiled. “When Rowland does finally choose a bride, she’ll need to be the right sort of person. In Valentine’s case, it doesn’t matter that much. All we want is that she be a nice girl, pretty and amiable.”

  “I see.”

  “As Valentine tells us practically nothing about his life, I thought it best I invite you to tea and we can talk about the future.”

  “I’m sorry?” Caroline asked feeling lost.

  “Rowland tells me you’ve been seen with our dear Valentine. As you are somewhat acceptable—“

  “I am somewhat acceptable?” Caroline asked, feeling at once irritated and frustrated with the strange conversation.

  “Caroline dear. I’m sure I can call you Caroline. Our family is a British peerage going back two hundred years. It is important who my sons marry.”

  “Are you under the impression Val has asked me to marry him?” Caroline said not knowing what he had told his family.

  “Not exactly. But Rowland mentioned Valentine is quite fond of you so I wanted to see you for myself,” she said.

  “Without my grandmother or father here? Without asking Val his intentions?” Caroline asked.

  “As I have mentioned, Valentine is a strange boy.”

  “He’s a man,” Caroline contradicted her.

  “He’s a strange man.” Arabella concluded.

  “I find him very interesting,” Caroline said. “He’s intelligent. Handsome,” she said, not sure why she was speaking so to Val’s mother.

  Arabella laughed. “Well. I suppose you would think he’s handsome as you’ve not spent much time with Rowland.”

  “Did someone say my name?” A voice said happily and in walked Rowland Pierce.

  “Ah my darling!” Arabella said as Rowland went and kissed his mother’s cheek.

  “And who do we have here?” Rowland said, sitting beside his mother looking at Caroline.

  “I’m Caroline Derry.” She said quickly, her eyes taking in Rowland with his mother.

  “I know who you are Caroline,” he said, his eyes dark upon her. “I remember you with Charles Lyttleton. I think my little brother was a bit jealous that night.”

  Caroline looked down at her lap. “He wasn’t jealous. I don’t think he and Charles get on.”

  “Get on? They’ve never gotten along.” Rowland smiled while his mother excused herself from the room.

  “Why don’t they get on?” Caroline asked as Rowland came to sit beside her.

  “Something to do with Aida, I think. But I’m not entirely sure,” he said. “Has anyone told you, you’ve beautiful eyes Caroline.”

  Caroline averted them. “Who is Aida?” She asked.

  “Aida Harris. Val’s intended. I think there was some skirmish between them. Charles wanted her too. When I saw you together that night, I thought history might be repeating itself,” he smiled and Caroline felt herself shiver.

  “History is not repeating itself.” She assured him.

  “I think my brother might have his hands full with you,” Rowland said winking at her.

  “I think very highly of your brother which is more than I can say for his family. If you will excuse me,” she said standing up and brushing past him.

  But as she was doing so, he grabbed her arm holding her back. “You have a very high opinion of yourself considering you’re the daughter of a physician.”

  “And as a peer of the realm you lack basic manners and good breeding,” she said in sharp retort before jerking her arm from his. “Please thank your mother for the tea.”

  Chapter 23

  Val and Felix spent another hour talking to Charles Lyttleton before they released him. Val didn’t care to hold Charles for the drunken punch; he wanted to catch the Primrose Strangler. He knew that if they let him leave, Felix would be able to trail him and he would be the key to all this madness.

  When they finally let him go in the early morning, Felix began to trail Charles while Val returned to his new home and slept for a few hours. When he roused himself in the afternoon, he made himself tea and sipped it from the sun room. He imagined looking out over the garden and the thought pleased him.

  He bathed and changed waiting to receive word that Charles was either on the move or had settled in. He had probably returned home to sleep as they had kept him up much of the night. He pulled on his jacket and went back downstairs. There was a chill in the air and the rain from last night had left everything outside wet and damp.

  He was placing his porcelain dishes away when he heard a knock on the door. It was probably Felix asking to be relieved for a few hours. When he opened the door, he saw Caroline standing on his door step. When he ushered her inside, she looked at his face and gasped.

  “Your face.” She said touching his cheek and then moving her hand from him. “What happened?”

  His eyes met hers in the darkened foyer. “A disgruntled citizen.”

  “They shouldn’t be allowed to attack you,” she said.

  “They shouldn’t be allowed to do many things,” he smiled. “It’s nothing.”

  He closed the door behind her and she walked through the half-furnished home.

  “It looks like you still haven’t all together moved in,” she said.

  “I haven’t. Some of the furniture is being made and some o
f it has been ordered and I’m waiting for it all to arrive. It does seem a little barren, but once it’s all arrived…” he let the words fall.

  “Once it’s all here, it will be such a lovely home.”

  She followed him into the dining room and then wandered to the sun room. “I do like this room. It would be so pretty with some wicker furniture and a garden outside.”

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing,” he smiled.

  She looked about nervously and then sighed. “I’m not sure coming here was a good idea.”

  “You’re not sure coming here was a good idea? I’m confused. Did you need to speak to me about something? Is there something on your mind?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I was invited to take tea this afternoon. I’ve actually just left. The invitation was from your mother.”

  “My mother?”

  “I thought perhaps the invitation was at your request and that you wanted me to meet her. But I soon learned that was not the case and that you didn’t know or request the invitation. I should have guessed. You would have told me and we would have gone together.” She reasoned.

  He looked over her face and they sat down on the window seat. “Was she cruel to you?”

  “Cruel? No. She wasn’t cruel. But you’ll forgive me for saying that she seems to be very slanted in her praise towards you and seems almost entirely focused on your brother.”

  Val smiled. “There’s no need to be selective in your words. My mother has always favored Rowland.”

  “It’s very apparent. I must say a little odd. Even though it was only Irene and I growing up, my father was very generous to both of us and my grandmother the same. I never felt a sense of favoritism.”

  “I accepted it early on. When I went to university the other sons, the second sons,” he smiled, “we had all experienced it in some form or another. So much rests on the eldest son. It can be daunting.”

  “Your brother Rowland was there at the end right before I left,” she told him.

  Val seemed to stiffen. “Rowland was there?”

  “He spoke to me.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He mentioned a sort of rivalry between you and Charles Lyttleton. Is that true?”