Seth got up from the heavy leather chair, his boots clanging across Mr. Markham’s hardwood floor, and he stopped at the window. He placed one hand flat against the wood-paneled wall and looked outside, his blond hair moving slightly as he shook his head.
“It is one of the theories we spoke about last night, but at least one question remained. Why not simply tell us in this letter that they are alive and demand the same amount he has demanded before?”
He looked over his shoulder. The sun streaming through the window illuminated his face in a way that made him look like one of the figures depicted in the artwork of churches, in the marvelous stained-glass windows.
“I suppose it is a test. If you agree to these terms, he will likely be there at Vauxhall Gardens on Saturday and collect the ransom. If you do what this letter instructs, to the very detail, you will likely be sent another communication telling you that now the trust has been re-established, a fair exchange will be made, freeing your siblings.”
“So you think Elton is banking on us noticing his secret message?”
Markham turned the palms of his hands up. “It doesn’t matter one way or the other. Not to Elton. If you didn’t see the secret message, you’d pay the money for their remains, and he’d follow up with another demand. If you did, then it would only raise the probability of you making payment. It would be insurance of sorts. If, indeed, Elton was the one who underlined the letters.”
“So what is your advice, Mr. Markham? Should we do as the letter demands? Go on Saturday and bring the money and then see what happens? But what is to keep Elton from toying with us endlessly? You said at first that if he made a ransom demand and we paid it, our siblings would be returned. But everything is different now because of the authorities.”
Mr. Markham leaned back in his chair, which creaked as his sturdy frame pressed against the back. “That is correct. Had everything gone to plan, he would’ve simply released your siblings, but as you quite rightly noted, Miss Keating, the code of honor that would have bound him before no longer applies because you did not follow his instructions. He is free to do whatever he pleases. He could endlessly draw this out. I am sure eventually your siblings will be returned, but….”
“You cannot know this, Mr. Markham. He may be toying with us now as it is.”
Winnifred looked up at Seth and noted that his face was a shade of red she had never seen before. His hands were curled into fists, and his lips trembled with anger.
“We must beat him at his own game. We cannot continue to follow his instructions in the dim hope that our siblings are alive. We can no longer be simply reacting to his demands. We must take action.” Seth turned his head, the look of intensity he cast at Winnifred sent a buzzing all through her body.
“We must take action as we did at the very start of this investigation, Winnie.”
“When we each went into St Giles?”
Slowly the grim expression on his face was replaced by a slight smile.
“Indeed. But this time together.”
“Your Grace, no. I must strongly advise you against any such action. Your first attempt at visiting St. Giles was reckless. And I have told you this. And to involve Miss Keating in this….”
“Mr. Markham, I think by now you should know that I might be a lady, but I am not afraid. Not anymore. And especially not with Seth by my side. I trust him. He trusts me. Now we need for you to trust us as well. Please, Mr. Markham, give us whatever information you have on Elton and his gang. Anything at all. We must go there and investigate Leo and Rose’s fate ourselves. We are going to get our siblings back, with your help or without.”
“Miss Keating, you will have my help regardless. I wish to see Lord Drayton and Lady Rose returned with as much intensity as you do. But you are endangering yourselves. Allow me to be quite blunt—you are both easily recognizable as members of high society.” He looked Winnifred up and down, and she followed his gaze.
She wore a silk mourning gown with a matching shawl draped around her shoulders. While the gown was black, it still stood out for its fine material and intricate embroidery. Hundreds of tiny marigolds—the flower of sorrow—were stitched into the fabric. In addition, she wore a black bonnet with a veil made of silk.
Yes, Markham was correct. She looked like a lady of high society amid her mourning period.
As she glanced at Seth, she saw further justification for Markham’s worry. Particularly Seth’s golden cufflinks and the gold pocket watch chain which hung from his navy-blue waistcoat gave away his status, even though he otherwise wore black.
Seth rolled his eyes at Mr. Markham. “Markham, by Jove. Of course we would not venture into St. Giles as we presently are. We may not have your street wisdom, but we are not simpletons. After all, we have uncovered a lot quite on our own without your help. And we shall uncover more.”
The anger in his voice at first surprised her. Mr. Markham had been nothing but helpful and supportive of them throughout this ordeal. But then she understood. Because of her and Victoria, he had to hold in his grief these past few days. While Winnifred sunk into despair, as had her sister and their entire household, Seth remained strong. For them.
But it was all beginning to overwhelm him, as was apparent by his reaction. He had lost just as much as she. His parents were gone, as was his brother, and now his only sister might also be. But, even though she and Victoria were not close, they still had one another. There was a chance that this tragedy could even bring them closer together. Even if Leo was found alive, Seth did not even have that little bit of hope to cling to.
I must take some of this burden off him. He has done so much for me, it is time to repay him. I must take the lead. Indeed, I have become much too reliant upon him throughout this investigation. I was so determined to do everything on my own, but I have done nothing but lean on him these past few days.
She cleared her throat and cast her eyes squarely at the investigator. “Mr. Markham, I can appreciate you only have our well-being in mind. But please, allow us to proceed as we see fit. Please share with us any information you have that might be useful. Surely you must have some ideas.”
“If you are simply unwilling to wait for Saturday, which is my explicit advice, then your only other option is to gain information from Elton’s gang. There are some members who might be willing to share information for the right price.”
“It seems risky, questioning any member of his party. And it seems Mr. Weston’s informant could not gather a lot more information that is helpful to us. Does he not have any friends that might be able to be of assistance?” Winnie asked.
“Family,” Seth suddenly said. “In his letter, the one in which he declared our siblings were dead, he spoke of his family.”
Winnifred’s eyes grew wide as she wrapped her hands around the arms of her chair.
