“It’s a city in?—”
“I have visited Amsterdam.”
“And you missed the sex shows? What kind of tourist are you?” I continue walking. “As for your club, it was boring. I didn’t honestly expect dancing girls, but there wasn’t even a heated game of chess. Now I know why you don’t let women in. So they don’t see how dull you all are.Ah, yes, let us go to our secret club and drink tea and smoke cigars. How scandalous!”
He only shakes his head. “As for the case...”
“Fine,” I say with a deep sigh. “Drag me back on point.”
“Yes, I am as dull as my gentlemen’s club.”
I could go along with it and tease him. But I find myself leaning to tap my winter bonnet against his shoulder and murmuring, “You are never dull, Duncan.”
“I know.”
I have to laugh. “Do you?”
“Of course. If I were dull, you would not stand my company for one moment longer than necessary. Did you hear my questioning of the younger Simpson?”
“Enough to think him a very fine suspect. I love it when my suspects are assholes. Makes my job a true delight.” I glance over, catching his expression. “You disagree?”
“About preferring heinous suspects? Not at all. But while I think Arthur is eager to see his brother wed to Lady Inglis—especially as she is unlikely to provide an heir—stealing the letters will not do that. Lord Simpson likes his current lifestyle. Note that he was quick to offer to pay the ransom but not to marry her. He won’t.”
“But does Arthur know that?”
“Fair point.”
We cross the road, and I pick up my pace to keep up with Gray’s long strides. “Tell me about this new mistress. I missed that part.”
“She is an actress.”
“Ah.”
That’s all that really needs to be said. Female actors inhabit an odd place in Victorian society. They’re independent women pursuing a career that was once entirely the province of men.
Actresses have more freedom than the average Victorian woman. Yet when women move out of their prescribed roles, they risk no longer being seen as “proper women.” They become dangerous, and the easiest way to dismiss them is to question their morals.
To many, “actress” means “harlot.” They are considered women of easy virtue who make most of their living off the stage. Do some of them engage in sex work? Sure. So do some shop girls and factory workers. Mostly, actresses just enjoy a greater freedom overall, which also extends to their sex lives.
“Did Arthur give you a name for this actress?” I ask.
“He did. I do not recognize it, and he says she’s an ingenue.”
“Young, then.”
“Catriona’s age or slightly older.”
While a nonmonogamous arrangement wouldn’t be my choice, itisa valid choice. With Lady Inglis and Lord Simpson, not only are both parties consenting, but both parties apparently pursue other relationships. So maybe it shouldn’t bother me that Simpson is hooking up with an actress half Lady Inglis’s age. But it does because I can’t help but wonder whether it would also bother Lady Inglis.
Sharing him with other mature widows would be one thing. This feels... It feels like the stereotypical form of adultery, the guy screwing around with a girl from a lower social strata, one young enough to be his daughter.
If Lady Inglisisbothered, might she decide she’d finally had enough of this open relationship and lock him in with marriage? Shedidvisit just before the letters went missing.
I’m not sure how I feel about Lady Inglis—and I know any judgment could be marred by her past with Gray—but I’d like her to be what she seems to be: a merry widow, independent, free thinking and free loving, not an aging woman who fears losing her lover to a younger woman and tricks him into marrying her.
I don’t say any of that to Gray. Arthur Simpson raised the possibility, and I will let Gray bring it up. If he doesn’t, then I trust his judgment.
“Could the actress be a suspect?” I say. “She might be the hot young new fling, but Lady Inglis is the longtime lover who’d stand in the way of the actress winning Lord Simpson.” I pause. “Is that even a possibility? Can an actress marry a lord?”
