Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1)(60)
Blackburn coughed, drawing my attention back to him.
I stood quickly, offering him a handkerchief, but he shook his head, holding a fist to his mouth.
“I’m quite all right, thank you. Possibly something I ate didn’t agree with me. Sure it’s nothing to be concerned over…”
A small part of me wanted to smile. Here was a young man, one who’d surely seen his share of horror working in this line of business, and here I was, a small, slender girl, offering to be his strength.
“I’ll make a few notes, if you wouldn’t mind,” I said. “Then I’ll share them with my uncle. He will be released now, won’t he?”
Blackburn shifted from left to right, watching as I removed a small journal from a pocket within my skirts and wrote notes in my best cursive.
I didn’t want to appear overly eager or hopeful, but needed to know Uncle would be all right. That he’d be safe and working alongside me before long. It felt as if a year had passed before Blackburn finally answered me.
“I can’t see him going to trial after this. Unofficially, I’d wager he’ll be out before the night’s through.” He paused. “Perhaps you’d like to join me for some refreshments? After we look upon the next body, that is.”
I glanced up sharply. Was he really asking to see me under these circumstances? How odd. My thoughts must have shown plainly on my face because he fumbled for an explanation. “I mean, perhaps we could have some tea and discuss the particulars of the victims. I’m sure—”
“I’m sure that won’t be necessary, William,” someone said in a familiar, angry tone. Every single muscle of my body froze; even my heart slowed its beat before accelerating.
Father.
Lord Edmund Wadsworth was a sight a thousand times more frightening than the body lying at my feet. His expression held more warning than a knife placed against my jugular. “When I agreed to let you court my daughter, I’d no idea you’d think it a proper thing involving her in such… vile and masculine matters. I need someone reining her will in and protecting her, not feeding her dangerous curiosity.”
Shock punched at me from multiple angles. So many questions begged to be asked. How did he find me here? How did he know I’d left the house? But the most pressing one fell from my mouth first.
“What do you mean? Allowed him to court—” Before I finished my thought, I turned on Blackburn. Confusion giving way to pure anger. “You’re the one who’s been asking Father about a courtship, meeting in secret, plotting?”
Then another thought occurred to me, so obvious I almost laughed. “That’s why you want to help Uncle, not because you think he’s innocent, but because you’re devious!”
“Audrey Rose, please,” he started, holding his hand up. “I never meant—”
“Am I wrong?” I demanded.
Blackburn pressed his lips together, shooting a questioning look at my father. It was clear he wouldn’t respond without approval, which was never likely to happen now. I fisted my hands. There was nothing I despised more than finding out I’d missed clues all along. What other secrets were being kept from me?
My anger quickly faded when Father motioned for Blackburn’s silence.
He pointed his finger at me, bending it in a “come here straight away” motion. If he ever let me out of the house again, it would be a miracle sent directly from Heaven.
How dare Blackburn keep such secrets from me. I cast another furious glare at him before obediently moving to Father’s side.
Then, when I thought the surprises were over, my brother skulked over, purposely ignoring the body lying a few feet away from his polished shoes.
He didn’t meet my eyes as he made his way to Father’s other side. Clearly, he’d turned me in to this overprotective madman. Filthy traitor. Of course the police barricade wouldn’t apply to either of my family members. I wondered who they paid for their right to shun the laws or commands of the police.
“Now, then. Let’s be gone from this abysmal scene and get you home where you’ll be safe.” Taking my arm, Father offered me a look only slightly less frightening now that I was under his control. “We’ve much to discuss this evening, Audrey Rose. You cannot involve yourself with such dangers. I hate to do it, but this cannot go unpunished. Consequences come with a high cost, some more than others.”
TWENTY-ONE
THE WRETCHED TRUTH
WADSWORTH RESIDENCE,
BELGRAVE SQUARE
30 SEPTEMBER 1888
The carriage ride home was almost as terrible as bearing witness to one of the mutilated bodies at the double event.
I’d rather be on intestine cleanup duty than suffer through the choking silence sitting miserably with us. By the time we pulled up to our home, I was ready to burst out of my skin simply to escape the anger seeping through my pores.
I was furious with Blackburn for conspiring with my father and not having the decency to mention it, but I was seething over my brother most of all.
How dare he betray me by leading our father to where I was. He had to know how mad it’d make Father, thinking his only daughter was in direct danger.
The East End was rife not only with “improper people” but with disease, which spread quickly because of the deplorable living conditions. What’s more, it was foolish to drag Father to an area known for its opium dens.