Among the Darkness Stirs

“I have to finish up here. So…” the woman said awkwardly.

“Of course. I’ll leave you to it. Thank you again,” she said and left the room.

Audrey waited until she had walked several steps away from the room before she stopped. Marguerite was dead! She had seemed fine. A little shaken up about Alistair’s death but that was natural. She felt for the diary in her purse and turned down the corridor until she reached the door to the courtyard. Under the gaslight outside in the courtyard, she pulled out the diary.

It was the same as she remembered. She found the last diary entry and reread it. It was the same as before.

Alistair is dead. He was coughing badly towards the end. Consumption? That’s what they want everyone to believe.

But as she turned the page, she realized with a start that it was no longer the last entry. When she read the last entry, a coldness swept through her. She looked up to see if anyone was watching her, but she was alone. When she glanced back at the words, she felt herself tremble.

They know that I know. It’s not a game. It’s real. I must be vigilant. I must be ever on the lookout. They killed Alistair. I’m next because I know. I know.

It was getting late, but Audrey caught a hansom cab and made the trip to Henry’s office. She remembered he had said he would be working late. She turned the knob on the door, letting herself into his office.

“Henry!” she called out to him, her voice more high-pitched than normal.

“Audrey? What brings you here at this time of night?” he asked, coming forward to greet her.

She looked across at the mantle clock and saw it was just after nine in the evening. “I didn’t realize the time. It’s late.”

He came to stand before her. “Do you want a cup of tea? I can make you one. I suspect you need it.”

“Thank you.”

Henry busied himself in preparing tea for them both and entered the room carrying a tray with two cups and saucers. Henry set the tray on the desk between them, and they each took a cup.

“Sugar? Cream?” he asked.

“No.” She shook her head, wanting to taste the bitter brown brew.

“I have some biscuits somewhere around here. Would you like some?”

“Yes. Please.”

He rummaged in the front room and came back carrying a tin of Huntley & Palmers biscuits. “Here we are. Perfect with tea,” he said and sat back in his chair with a cup in hand, eyeing Audrey.

She bit her lip, suddenly realizing how rude she was barging in without any notice. “I’m keeping you from your work.”

&nbs

p; “You are,” he agreed, but a hint of smile was on his lips.

“I wanted to speak with you,” she said, her tone serious.

“Is everything all right with your mother?”

“No. We had a row. It’s not the first time. I think the farther removed we are from our old life, the more she resents it and me. I think I’m the focal point of her anger,” Audrey mused.

Henry sipped his tea. “You must not take it to heart, Audrey. She’s not making the transition well.”

Audrey fiddled with her cup. “I know. I was quite harsh with her. I didn’t ask her opinion, but it’s done. She’ll go see the doctor.”

“She agreed?”

Audrey closed her eyes. “She had no choice.”

Audrey felt tears in the back of her eyes and willed them not to fall. She placed the cup and saucer on the desk and tried to smile.