the alley?”
“I heard you scream from my carriage.”
“Did you strike him?”
“Yes, I used some force on him...only when I saw you were in danger. He’ll live though.”
I looked down remembering Kurten’s words.
“Thank you Sir. You saved me from great harm.”
“I am only glad I could do so.” He turned on his heel and left.
The next few days passed uneventfully but I did not see my savior Mr. Brighton. I was worried that he had gone to the authorities in St. Marhen and related what had happened. I could not allow that since they would quickly know who I was. I waited on pins and needles to see Mr. Brighton again. Mary also noticed that Mr. Brighton was not spending as much time at home as he had been the past few weeks. She had many questions as to what had transpired between us two.
“Nay, Lilly, ‘e don’t look a bit too happy does ‘e? Wot ‘appened in St. Marhen?” I could only shake my head, for I did not know either.
A week passed without a word from Fredrick. I was beginning to think he was following up with a police investigation. I grew anxious the longer he stayed away.
“Aye Missus, did ye ‘ear bouts the girl they found dead outside the pub ‘ere in town?” I shook my head no.
“They found ‘er dead and stiff as board. No one knows what ‘appen to ‘er.” That was big news in a small village such as this where crime was rare. I hadn’t heard anything of this before and told her so.
“Ooh, ye haven’t? Constables don’t know who commit crime. Can’t find no suspects.” It began to rain lightly outside and I shivered thinking of the dead girl.
“An I spoke ta the scullery maid at the pub an she said note was found on body. Only ‘ad a name on it.”
“A name?” I questioned. Mary nodded her head vigorously.
“Aye. Name was somethin’ different, nothing I ‘ad ever ‘eard before. An maid said the girl was bloody and ‘orrible to look at.”
Just then Mr. Brighton entered the kitchen with a dark scowl.
“Mary!” He said sharply. “Stop talking such nonsense and clear the dishes away.” She shot him a hurt look but obeyed. Neither Mary nor myself had seen him in weeks and his sudden appearance startled us both badly.
“Lilly, come in to the parlor we need to discuss some matters.” I followed him to the parlor and sat down in my customary spot.
“I have some good news.” But the way he said it, it didn’t sound like it was anything to be happy about. I focused my attention on him as he looked intently into my eyes.
“We are going home.” He stated flatly.
“Home Sir?” I questioned. He nodded looking out to the fireplace watching the fire dance among the burning logs.
“Yes, back to my home. We will leave at the end of this week so be prepared. Pack up all your things, including Naza’s. A porter will come and collect our luggage, so only keep your purse if you wish, with you. Naza will have to travel in the animal car, but she will be quite alright in there.”
“Animal car?”
“We will take the train.” He said as he stood up to take his leave. More than likely to go down to his gloomy basement. Of course I did not know if it was gloomy since I never even touched the handle to the door. I stood up as he did when Mary entered the room with an excited look on her face.
“Aye remember !” Mr. Brighton and I looked at Mary in bewilderment. I could tell Mr. Brighton was in a sour mood still and trying to suppress it.
What the deuce are you babbling about girl?” Mr. Brighton said sternly.
“Aye remember what the note said, the name!” She was referring to the body they had found.
“Mary,” Mr. Brighton began in a softer tone this time, “please do not speak…”
But Mary cut him off.
“Note only ‘ad one word, ‘Claren.’ ” Mr. Brighton continued to scold Mary for speaking of gruesome things but
“I heard you scream from my carriage.”
“Did you strike him?”
“Yes, I used some force on him...only when I saw you were in danger. He’ll live though.”
I looked down remembering Kurten’s words.
“Thank you Sir. You saved me from great harm.”
“I am only glad I could do so.” He turned on his heel and left.
The next few days passed uneventfully but I did not see my savior Mr. Brighton. I was worried that he had gone to the authorities in St. Marhen and related what had happened. I could not allow that since they would quickly know who I was. I waited on pins and needles to see Mr. Brighton again. Mary also noticed that Mr. Brighton was not spending as much time at home as he had been the past few weeks. She had many questions as to what had transpired between us two.
“Nay, Lilly, ‘e don’t look a bit too happy does ‘e? Wot ‘appened in St. Marhen?” I could only shake my head, for I did not know either.
A week passed without a word from Fredrick. I was beginning to think he was following up with a police investigation. I grew anxious the longer he stayed away.
“Aye Missus, did ye ‘ear bouts the girl they found dead outside the pub ‘ere in town?” I shook my head no.
“They found ‘er dead and stiff as board. No one knows what ‘appen to ‘er.” That was big news in a small village such as this where crime was rare. I hadn’t heard anything of this before and told her so.
“Ooh, ye haven’t? Constables don’t know who commit crime. Can’t find no suspects.” It began to rain lightly outside and I shivered thinking of the dead girl.
“An I spoke ta the scullery maid at the pub an she said note was found on body. Only ‘ad a name on it.”
“A name?” I questioned. Mary nodded her head vigorously.
“Aye. Name was somethin’ different, nothing I ‘ad ever ‘eard before. An maid said the girl was bloody and ‘orrible to look at.”
Just then Mr. Brighton entered the kitchen with a dark scowl.
“Mary!” He said sharply. “Stop talking such nonsense and clear the dishes away.” She shot him a hurt look but obeyed. Neither Mary nor myself had seen him in weeks and his sudden appearance startled us both badly.
“Lilly, come in to the parlor we need to discuss some matters.” I followed him to the parlor and sat down in my customary spot.
“I have some good news.” But the way he said it, it didn’t sound like it was anything to be happy about. I focused my attention on him as he looked intently into my eyes.
“We are going home.” He stated flatly.
“Home Sir?” I questioned. He nodded looking out to the fireplace watching the fire dance among the burning logs.
“Yes, back to my home. We will leave at the end of this week so be prepared. Pack up all your things, including Naza’s. A porter will come and collect our luggage, so only keep your purse if you wish, with you. Naza will have to travel in the animal car, but she will be quite alright in there.”
“Animal car?”
“We will take the train.” He said as he stood up to take his leave. More than likely to go down to his gloomy basement. Of course I did not know if it was gloomy since I never even touched the handle to the door. I stood up as he did when Mary entered the room with an excited look on her face.
“Aye remember !” Mr. Brighton and I looked at Mary in bewilderment. I could tell Mr. Brighton was in a sour mood still and trying to suppress it.
What the deuce are you babbling about girl?” Mr. Brighton said sternly.
“Aye remember what the note said, the name!” She was referring to the body they had found.
“Mary,” Mr. Brighton began in a softer tone this time, “please do not speak…”
But Mary cut him off.
“Note only ‘ad one word, ‘Claren.’ ” Mr. Brighton continued to scold Mary for speaking of gruesome things but
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