The panic in Victoria’s voice sounded with every single word she spoke. Winnie remembered the words Seth had spoken to her, so similar to Victoria’s assertions.
“She is not wrong. What they wanted was the ransom. There is still a chance. We are waiting for Mr. Markham to speak to his former superiors to devise a plan.”
“A plan! “Her uncle exclaimed. “There already was a plan. It was simple. The money was to be deposited at the predetermined location. Once the money was collected, Leo would’ve been set free.”
He glared at Victoria, who continued to sit quietly in her chair. She examined the tips of her fingers in an almost nonchalant way, but Winnifred could see just how shocked her sister was at their uncle’s furious response. Until now, Uncle Ezekiel had always been kind to Victoria. He and Aunt Anna were incredibly close to the girl.
“I just wanted to help.”
Her uncle scoffed. “What would have helped was to follow the letter the gang provided. Now you’ve ruined it. I cannot believe you. So stubborn, so insolent. You act like a child, not as a young lady.”
Victoria gasped and finally raised her eyes. “Uncle Ezekiel… I am sorry.”
“Sorry will not help you when we have to put your brother to rest because of your actions.”
Before she knew it, Winnifred jumped out of her seat and stepped between her uncle and sister.
“I will not have you talk to her like this, not in our own home. My sister’s actions might have been reckless, and the consequences might be dire, but let us not forget who caused the situation to begin with. It was not Victoria. It certainly wasn’t Leo. It was you. Your gambling habits. You caused this, Uncle Ezekiel. Had you not borrowed money from this man, none of this would’ve happened.”
Uncle Ezekiel likewise jumped out of his seat and faced off to Winnie. Her uncle was not a tall man, and they saw almost eye to eye.
“Elton would have gladly taken the ransom money and released Leo. It was not trying at all. The instructions were simple.”
Winnifred frowned at this. Something about her uncle’s statement struck her as rather peculiar, but she could not put her finger on what it was. It took her a second but then when she thought back to the conversation at his house the previous day; it came to her.
“Did you not tell me that you never knew the name of the person who loaned you the money? Did you not make a grand show out of telling me just how secretive these people were? I recall asking you who lent you the money, and you said you did not know the name. Now, suddenly, you know it was Elton?”
Her uncle swallowed, and his eyes grew wide.
“You must’ve used his name. For I certainly did not know it before now.”
From the corner of her eye, Winnifred noticed her sister shifting.
“I arrived here just after your conversation started, and I know for certain that Winnifred did not use the name, Elton. I know it because the Bow Street Runner I made my report to mentioned it. But Winnifred did not. Uncle Ezekiel, did you really not know who loaned you the money?”
To Winnifred’s surprise, Victoria crossed the room and stopped beside her. Having her sister by her side was unexpected but comforting. For the first time in many years, she felt she and her sister were united on a quest to elicit the truth from their duplicitous uncle.
“Yes, Victoria is right. How did you know who loaned you the money?” Their uncle took a step back towards the door.
“I… I do not know what you mean. I did not know the man’s name. You certainly must have used it. And if not, then maybe one of his associates I deal with mentioned it at some point. I do not know. In any case, I only came here to see how the exchange went in order to welcome my nephew home. But, seeing how it all ended in disaster, I must return home to inform your aunt. She will be ever so heartbroken.”
“No, Uncle. I think you owe us an explanation. You came here ready to accost me for attempting to involve the authorities, and yet all along, it seems you have been keeping secrets from us.” Victoria stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
“Victoria is right. You are keeping things from us. What do you know? You have not told us the whole truth,” Winnifred demanded, her head tilted to one side and her eyes wide open as she glared at their uncle.
However, he shook his head and turned. He hastily made for the door with both Winnifred and Victoria on his heels.
“Wait. Where are you rushing off to? What is it you’re not telling us?” Victoria shouted. The shrillness of her voice made Winnie’s skin crawl, and she rolled her eyes. If only Victoria could contain her emotions. However, she never had been able to, and she likely never would. In this situation, Winnifred couldn’t even blame her—she, too, wanted to scream at her uncle.
At the door, their uncle looked back at them. “I am keeping nothing from you. And I will not have my own family make such accusations against me. Do you not think that I would tell you the truth? We all know that it was my actions which caused Leo to be taken in the first place. I already feel bad enough as it is without your accusations. I shall leave now. Please inform me if and when there are any new developments.”
He rushed out of the door as both girls followed him. Victoria was ready to run after him, but Winnifred grabbed her by the arm.
“Let him go. It will do us no good.”
“But he knows more than he’s telling us.” The worry in her sister’s voice ached.
“I know it. But there is nothing we can do. If he is not willing to tell us more, we cannot force him. All we can do is rely on Mr. Markham now. Let us hope and pray that he comes up with a plan.”
