A Crimson Warning

by Tasha Alexander

  “Mr. Foster knows perfectly well what he’s done,” I said. “And he must be worried his role in the enterprise will be exposed. I’m certain this is what Mr. Barnes was worried about.”

  “That’s entirely possible,” Colin said. “But do remember that Barnes said his friend’s action, whatever it is, would only appear unethical if taken out of context.” Colin put the documents aside and turned his attention to the bottle.

  “Watch out for the spider,” Ivy said. “It’s horrendous.”

  “What on earth is this?” he asked.

  “I’ve not the slightest idea,” I said.

  “Did you ask anyone at the museum?”

  “I didn’t want to show it to anyone without speaking to you first.”

  He nodded. “I appreciate your discretion. Take it there tomorrow morning as soon as they open and see if the keepers have any clue as to what it could be. I’ll go see Foster at once.”

  “What about Lady Glover?” Ivy asked. “She asked me to help her. What can I do? I can’t let her down. She’s in danger.”

  “Nothing,” Colin said. “We need something more before we can act. But don’t worry, I’m sure Lord Glover will receive instructions for delivering the money before long.”

  “Has he decided to pay it?” I asked.

  “He’s not happy about it, but I have managed to persuade him against negotiation.”

  “You’re a miracle worker,” I said.

  “We’ll find out the truth of that soon enough.”

  5 July 1893

  Belgrave Square

  For all that I’m deathly worried about Lady Glover, I admit to having got rather caught up in all the excitement at the museum today. Seeing Emily like that, in her element, so sharp and insightful, quick-witted and capable, working for justice, made me wish more than ever that I could confide in her and beg her help.

  But I just can’t bring myself to do it.

  Still no reply from him. What we’ve learned about Mr. Foster has me deeply concerned. I understand that business records are more likely to become public than a person’s carefully concealed indiscretions, but knowing how smart Mr. Foster is, I can’t help but worry. If a gentleman of his intellect can be caught unawares—for surely he did everything in his not insignificant power to hide his involvement in this odious organization—how likely is it that my attempt at discretion will fare better?

  28

  Ivy had gone home to Robert. I had Davis bring me a cold supper in the library, so I could read The Aeneid while I ate, as had become my habit that summer when Colin went out for the evening. Ordinarily I loved a measure of solitude, but I was feeling little peace tonight. I knew Colin would be careful, but Mr. Foster was quickly beginning to loom ominous and frightening in my mind, and I was worried about Lady Glover. I did not like sitting idle when someone was in danger. I nibbled on some cold ham and tried to distract myself with Virgil’s poetry. Sed famam extendere factis, hoc virtutis opus: To extend one’s fame by deeds, this is the work of courage.

  Darkness had fallen by the time I’d finished eating and had poured a glass of port. I wasn’t quite sure where the evening had gone, but was well aware of how easily hours could slip away when I was absorbed in a book. I was pondering the late hour when my butler announced Jeremy, who nearly tripped over himself coming into the room.

  “Em, where’s Hargreaves?” he asked. “I need his help.”

  “What’s happened?”

  He pulled a letter out of the pocket of his frock coat. The paper was crumpled. He smoothed it as best he could and handed it to me.

  My darling Bainbridge, I fear the end is nearing for me. Can you please help? I’m so close to home—I could be there in a matter of moments if only someone would unlock this door. I see trees out all the windows of my room, but can hear the sounds of the city. Today I stood on a table to get a better look and am certain I am in a building in Hyde Park. Can you not come and fetch me? You mustn’t bring the police—he’s convinced Cordelia’s parents contacted them and says that’s why he killed her. I don’t know that I’ll be able to write again. Come to me. I’m desperate. I used my wedding ring to bribe the woman who brings my food to deliver this. I pray she does as she promised.

  “She must be in the park,” he said. “There are all kinds of buildings there: gardeners’ and caretakers’ lodges. They could be holding her in one of them. I wanted to get Hargreaves’s advice.”

  “The park seems reasonable,” I said. “It’s where they found her sleeve. But Scotland Yard searched everywhere.”

  “They could have missed something. Please, Em, where’s your husband?”

  The fact that he referred to Colin without making any dig at him brought home to me the seriousness of the situation. “He’s at Mr. Foster’s. I’ll go with you.”

  Davis called for the carriage and within minutes we’d reached Mr. Foster’s house in Belgravia. I banged on the door. After what seemed an interminable delay, it opened to reveal an ancient butler.

  “The Duke of Bainbridge and Lady Emily Hargreaves to see Mr. Foster, please,” Jeremy said.

  “I’m afraid he isn’t available, sir,” the butler said.

  “Is my husband here?” I asked.

  “Mr. Hargreaves is inside, yes.”

  “Will you please admit me?”

  “I cannot do that, madam. I’m under strict orders.”

  “It’s urgent. There’s an emergency.”

  He was unmoved. “Strict orders.”

  “Could you check with Mr. Foster, please?” I asked.

  “I’m not to disturb him.”

  “Would you deliver a message to my husband?”

  “The moment he leaves Mr. Foster’s company.”

  My frustration had reached from my toes to midway up my torso. Much more of this and I might do something I’d regret. I decided, in the circumstances, it was best to waste no further time and cut directly to potentially regrettable action. We didn’t have time to squander. I thanked the butler and told him I wouldn’t leave a message. Then, once he’d closed the door, I pulled Jeremy around the house to the mews.

  “We’re going in through the servants’ entrance,” I said. “We’ll find where they are and interrupt their meeting.”

  We didn’t knock. Instead, we marched in with purpose and conviction. Two maids pressed themselves up against the narrow corridor’s wall to keep out of our way, but neither of them questioned us. We oozed authority. We went up the back stairs to the first floor, but kept to the servants’ hallways rather than risk being seen in the main part of the house. Even these passages, though spare in terms of furniture and finishing, were not without a dash of luxury—paintings hung from the walls. Not so fine, perhaps, as those in the family’s rooms, but better than I’d seen in many country estates.

  “Mr. Foster must be an avid collector of art,” I said.

  “Either that or he has more money than sense,” Jeremy said.

  There were no carpets in the hallway, and the heels of my shoes clacked loudly enough on the stone floor to draw unwanted attention, so I removed mine; Jeremy followed suit. We crept along in our stockings, listening for any signs of conversation, and wound our way halfway around the house before hearing any. I came to a stop when I recognized Colin’s voice and pressed my ear against the door from whence it came.

  “We can’t do that now, don’t you see?” he was saying. “It’s gone too far.”

  “We’re not going back,” Mr. Foster said. “That would be untenable.”

  “And what am I to tell everyone? Scotland Yard? My wife?”

  “That can’t be my problem right now, Hargreaves. You know that.”

  I did not like what I was hearing.

  “What’s your devoted husband hiding from you?” Jeremy asked.

  “Quiet,” I said. “Someone’s coming.”

  Footsteps echoed down the hall. We couldn’t stay where we were. I grabbed Jeremy’s arm and we tiptoed to the next turn in the pas
sage. There was no obvious place to hide. Voices came from the other direction, and I did the only thing I could think of—duck into the next door we saw. My heart was pounding, not because I was afraid of being caught, but because of the words we’d overheard. I wanted to know what was going on.

  We’d stepped into a sitting room, furnished in an impersonal yet fashionable style, the sort of uninspired décor with which one could neither find fault nor much to admire.

  “What is your plan now?” Jeremy asked. “I thought we were going to burst in on their conversation.”

  “So did I,” I said. “But it didn’t seem the thing to do in the moment, did it?”

  “Then let’s go listen to the rest.”

  We waited, ears pricked, while the voices that had sent us scurrying faded in the distance. Then, with caution, we returned to the corridor and crept back to our illicit écoute.

  “And thereafter?” Mr. Foster said.

  “It’s impossible to predict. Things are so volatile right now.” Colin’s voice was calm. “We need to wait to see what sort of situation we’re in after things have settled.”

  “Sit back down. We need to run through it all again. I’ll call for some food. We never did get around to eating.”

  Jeremy tugged at my sleeve. “We can’t stay here all night,” he said. “Lady Glover could be in terrible danger. If we’re not going to interrupt them, there’s no point hanging on when we could be trying to help her.”

  “You’re right.” We retraced our steps, pausing to put on our shoes at the top of the stairs that led down to the kitchen. Once we’d made our way halfway down, the butler appeared at the bottom. When he did, he nearly lost his balance.

  “Sir! Madam!” To say he was aghast would have been something of an understatement. “I … I—”

  “Delightful to see you again,” I said, neatly stepping around him. “I’m sure we’ll meet again before too long. Do enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  Jeremy and I tumbled out of the house, nearly doubled over with laughter by the time we’d emerged back in the mews.

  “I’m beginning to have a vague notion why you like all this intrigue,” Jeremy said.

  “It’s exciting, isn’t it? Terrifying, but exciting.” I was breathless with mirth. “Come, though, we’ve no time to waste. Lady Glover is in danger.”

  We leapt back into the carriage and fairly flew to Hyde Park, crossing through Apsley Gate at Hyde Park Corner. I directed the driver to the first lodge I could remember. We couldn’t have him take us all the way—the clatter of wheels might alert our friend’s captors. Jeremy and I skulked towards the building.

  “You should let me take over from here,” Jeremy said. “It would be safer.”

  “I’ll stay back,” I said. “But I’m keeping you in sight.”

  “I suppose I can’t just knock on the door?” he asked.

  “No.” Moving as quietly as he could, he methodically made his way to each set of windows on the building and then returned to me.

  “Nothing to see there but a gardener and his contented-looking wife,” he said. “Or his dissatisfied mistress. I consider the two interchangeable.”

  “What would be the wifely equivalent of an extremely pleased mistress?” I asked.

  “A widow.”

  We repeated our pattern at three more buildings.

  “I must say I had no idea how pleasant some of these lodges are,” Jeremy said. “How exactly does one go about arranging to live in them? I’m ready to give up my house.”

  As we approached the fourth lodge, a small building in the northern section of the park, I followed Jeremy to the windows. I bunched up my skirts to step over the iron fence—it wasn’t particularly high—and then ducked down when I got close to the windows. Inside, two men were sitting, fierce looks on their faces, their attention fixed on the other side of the room. The upholstery on the chairs, which looked velvet, was worn and threadbare. A bookshelf at the far end was empty save for a pile of neatly stacked newspapers. But it was the object in the center of a rough-hewn table that sent the strongest message to me. The side we couldn’t see. Stepping with care, we moved farther along the outside wall of the house, hoping for a better view. We still couldn’t make out much, but I did manage to catch a glimpse of turquoise satin fabric encrusted with golden-colored crystal beads. Then, one of the men moved, revealing a revolver under his jacket.

  Excitement and fear coursed through me. Wanting to operate with extreme caution, we made our way back to the pavement to discuss our options.

  “We need a plan,” I said. “I think she’s in there.”

  “I agree,” he said. “I think I can—” He stopped talking and lunged towards me. Before he reached me, I felt a sharp blow, and everything went black.

  29

  I tasted dirt when I woke up. Taking a deep gulp of damp, mossy air, I struggled to my feet. My head ached, and I leaned against a tree for a moment, trying to get my bearings. It appeared I was still in the park, but I could no longer see the lodge in which I suspected Lady Glover was being held. There was enough moonlight that I could make out vague shapes around me, and in the not-too-far-off distance I saw the flicker of what had to be gaslight. I walked towards it and found myself only a few paces from the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens. Not finding much to recommend spending any more time in the park than absolutely necessary, I moved quickly in the direction of Kensington Palace.

  Jeremy was nowhere to be found. I worried he’d suffered a fate similar to mine, but knew there was little I could do to locate him on my own in the dark. As soon as the lights of the palace came into view, I started shouting, hoping someone inside would hear me.

  Unfortunately, as the structure had fallen far from its days of splendor, and was now used primarily as a place the royal family could stick inconvenient and distant relatives, there were no guards on hand to assist me. The gates were locked. I shook them and yelled for help to no avail. Not wanting to stop moving until I felt safe, I ran out of the park and into Palace Green, almost tripping up the steps of Lady Carlisle’s house.

  I don’t know when I’ve ever better appreciated the comforting warmth of a family home.

  Lady Carlisle fussed over me unmercifully, and I welcomed her ministrations. She plied me with tea, then sherry, and wiped the dirt from my face and hands herself with a soft linen cloth. Her husband notified the police and sent a message to Park Lane at once. Colin must be beside himself with worry. It was nearly two o’clock in the morning.

  I reclined on the chaise longue and closed my eyes to ward off the throbbing in my head. The sound of Lord Carlisle conversing with someone brought me alert again. Jeremy was standing next to me, along with two inspectors from Scotland Yard.

  “Thank heavens you’re all right,” he said.

  “What about you?” I asked.

  “I started for the thug who was coming for you. Didn’t make it two steps before someone whacked me on the back of the head, too.”

  “Lady Glover?”

  “We’ve been back to the lodge, madam,” one of the inspectors said. “She’s not there. We’ll conduct a more thorough search in the morning.”

  “I’m sure she was there,” I said. “You must believe me.”

  “Did you see her?” he asked.

  “No, just a glimpse of fabric. But I’m certain—”

  “Don’t try to exert yourself, Lady Emily,” Lord Carlisle said. “Your butler sent a message saying your husband is not at home. Would you like to stay here tonight?”

  “He’s not?” I asked, confused and wondering where he could be at this time of night.

  “No. I’m afraid we don’t have any further information.”

  “I see,” I said. “Thank you for your hospitality, but I think it best I go home. He’ll be worried if he returns and finds me gone.”

  “I do wish you’d let me send for a doctor,” Lady Carlisle said.

  “You’re very kind,” I said. “But I’m perfectly al
l right. No permanent damage done, just a little bump. I’ve had much worse. I would, however, be eternally grateful if you’d lend me your carriage.”

  They were reluctant to let me go, but in the end were persuaded to agree that Jeremy could see me home.

  “I’m no longer so convinced about the merits of excitement,” he said. “When I woke up and couldn’t find you I thought bringing the police was the best thing to do.”

  “You were right,” I said.

  “I do wish they’d been able to find Lady Glover,” he said. “It looks like what we saw were some vagrants who had thought they’d find a good place to seek temporary shelter.”

  “Vagrants don’t wear turquoise silk with gold beads,” I said.

  “Well.” He paused. “Vagrants may not, but there are certain women of ill repute who could have access to such garments.”

  “Hmpf.” I wasn’t convinced. “They should be taking what we saw much more seriously after what happened to Cordelia. If this man has moved Lady Glover to another location, he’s more likely to have decided to kill her. This is the time to follow up on every lead as thoroughly as possible.” We’d reached my house. Jeremy offered to come in and sit with me, but I declined. Instead, I went inside alone, then sank down, sitting on the steps in the entrance hall as Davis closed the door behind him.

  “Where is Mr. Hargreaves, Davis?” I asked.

  “He hasn’t returned to the house tonight since he left with Mrs. Brandon, madam,” he said.

  “And he’s sent no word?”

  “No, madam. I’m sorry.”

  With a sigh, I retired to bed.

  * * *

  I hardly slept that night. Colin slipped into the room as the sun was beginning to rise. He was quiet, assuming, I’m sure, that I was asleep, but I sat up the instant he opened the door.

  “Sorry to disturb,” he said. “Are you all right? Davis said—”

  “Davis shouldn’t even be awake,” I said. “Where have you been?”

  “With Foster. Tell me what happened.”

  “I want to hear from you first,” I said.

  “I’ll humor you, but only because Davis has already assured me your health is fine,” he said. “Foster doesn’t have any idea of what’s going on in that factory.”