Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4)(92)
I wished to return to the subject of yet another missing young woman, but something else caught my attention. “Harry?”
Minnie blinked slowly as if awakening from a dream. “Did I say Harry?
Goodness me, Henry. My Henry is such a lovely man. Wait until you see this wallpaper. It’s from Paris!”
We situated ourselves in a lovely blue-and-white sitting room, the fabric as rich as any fine dessert. Gold thread shot through navy-and-cream stripes on our chairs. Little gold tassels tied back deep blue curtains that appeared to be made of velvet. A matching blue-and-white tea service was promptly brought out with
a stack of freshly baked biscuits.
A proper household always boasted of polished silver, but Minnie took it even further. Crystals dripped off of shining candelabras and hothouse flowers bloomed fragrantly in vases nearly the size of a dog. It was quite a flashy show of excess.
“The flowers are lovely,” I said, motioning around the room. “Are they for a special occasion?”
“Henry is a man of fine refinement and taste.” Minnie poured me tea and herself coffee. “He enjoys beautiful things.”
Her smile seemed to freeze in place, like there was more she wasn’t saying aloud. I accepted my cup of tea, treading carefully. “Does that make you sad?”
“N-no, it’s not that.” She set her cup and saucer in her lap, staring down into the swirling cream. “It’s just… my sister said something rather unflattering the other day when I told her we’d married. I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. I’m sure I’m simply being silly.” She glanced at the tea service again.
“Sugar?”
“No, thank you.” I sipped my tea, enjoying the taste of vanilla and something richer. She added a few cubes to her coffee with silver tongs, seemingly lost in thought. “If you’d like to talk about what your sister said, I’m happy to listen.”
She gave me a grateful smile. “Sisters are wonderful, truly. No one in the world will hug you when you’re breaking and slap sense into you at the same moment.”
While I didn’t have a sister by blood, I thought of Liza and all of the ways that was true. There was no one who’d stand by your side and stare down demons with you as much as a sister would. She’d then kick you for being stupid and getting involved with demons after the fact, but a sister was always there when it counted. Images of Daciana and Ileana sprang to mind, too. I was elated to count them as my sisters as well, regardless of the ruined wedding.
“What did she say that upset you?”
Minnie drew in a deep breath. “I know I’m not… as I said before, Henry enjoys beautiful things. I know I’m plain. My hair is a dull brown; my eyes are utterly ordinary. I often wonder how I drew his attention, but when Anna said I was being foolish… that if he was as handsome and charming as I’d described
—” She sniffled. “Well, she doesn’t think his intentions are very pure. You see, we have a small inheritance. And I started thinking about—”
Just then, a man in a bowler hat and matching brown suit stepped into the room. He started forward, then halted when he noticed me. I nearly dropped my
tea when I recognized his striking blue eyes. He was the young man who’d given me directions to the pharmacy.
Those same eyes fixed on my face, widening ever so slightly before he blinked. Warmth flooded his features. “Minnie, my dear, I didn’t know you were entertaining. I’m sorry to barge in so rudely.” In a few strides he crossed the room, bending to kiss his new wife. He turned to me, a small grin starting. “Miss Wadsworth, wasn’t it?”
I nodded, impressed he’d recalled my name. “I apologize, but I don’t remember…”
“Please, call me Henry.” At Minnie’s confused expression, he explained. “I ran into Miss Wadsworth and her fiancé on their way to the pharmacy the other day.” He turned back to me, expression polite. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
The bloodstained bedsheet crossed my mind. It was alarming, almost, how I could envision such garish things with startling clarity and pretend them away.
“No. I’m afraid we didn’t.” I narrowed my eyes a bit. “You didn’t mention owning the pharmacy.”
“Quite right. I don’t like boasting about my properties and businesses. I own several around Chicago alone. Well,” he said, his attention flicking to the clock on the mantel. “I must be off. I just wanted to give my wife a proper good-bye.”
He kissed the top of Minnie’s head, warmth returning to his features. I studied him, trying to find truth in what Minnie’s sister had worried about. To all outward appearances, he seemed to genuinely care for Minnie. The sparkle in his eyes didn’t appear fake. Though he wasn’t quite as perfect as she’d made him out to be. He was of average build and height, if not a bit on the short side. His face was wholly unremarkable except for his cunning blue gaze. That was shockingly magnetic. I imagined he’d get lost in a room full of men with similar builds.
“Don’t wait up, my dear,” he said. “I have a meeting all the way in the South Side tonight, and you know how that may go. If it gets too late, I may spend the evening in our rooms there.”
With another polite good-bye, he left us to our visit. Minnie’s demeanor had changed, her worry dissipated like morning dew in the sun. Her cheeks flushed pleasantly, and I wondered why she thought herself plain. When she looked at me, her whole face lit up. “Well?”