Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“You have?” He asked surprised. “When have you?”

She tasted the steak and kidney pie and thought it was very tasty, but it was not as good as their Cook’s.

“I’ve traveled to different parts of London to look into the issues that surround the poor. When I was young, I made toys for the children. As a child, I wanted to help the other children. Now as an adult, I see what they need is so much more than toys.”

“That is quite admirable,” he told her. “But dangerous.”

“I’m careful. I’ve made friends that look out for me. I can’t just sit by and watch. I need to do this,” she said passionately.

His eyes were on hers and he nodded. “I see that.”

The waiter came by and asked if they would like dessert. “We have Egg Custard, Lemon Tart, Bread and Butter Pudding and Trifle,” he stated.

“What would you like?” Val asked her.

Caroline looked down at her hands. “You pick. But not trifle.”

“The pudding then,” he told the waiter.

He looked across the table at her and when she looked back at him, he saw her eyes were filled with tears. “I’m sorry. Trifle was Irene’s favorite.”

He put his hand over hers in a comforting gesture. “It’s very new. The pain. It will get less. Some days are better than others.”

“You speak from experience?” She asked him softly.

“I do.”

She didn’t press him for any information. She sat quietly and when the pudding was delivered it looked delicious.

“Sometimes I think finding joy in things is a mockery to her death,” she told him.

“No. Never think that. She would want you to be happy. She would want you to live. She wouldn’t want you to mourn her forever. Only our Queen can do that,” Val said and Caroline smiled.

“I think you’re right about Irene,” she nodded. “She would relish good things happening. She was so full of life herself.”

After Val paid for the meal, they hired a hansom cab to take them home. They spoke little, but as they neared her home he said, “I have tickets for an upcoming Chopin concert. It’s to be at the Royal Albert Hall. I’d like you to join me.”

Caroline looked across from him in the cab. “I-I couldn’t.”

He frowned. “Why not?”

“I shouldn’t have gone to dinner with you. I shouldn’t be alone with you now,” she said awkwardly.

“We’ve done nothing wrong. And if it would make you feel more at ease, I can obtain another ticket and your grandmother can come to the concert as well. Then you will have a chaperone.”

“Thank you, Inspector. Truly. But I must decline your offer,” she told him politely.

When she stepped out of the cab he was at a loss as to what he had done to offend her. She looked back once to thank him again before she disappeared inside the townhouse.

Entering the foyer, she placed her small beaded purse on the table.

“Caro? Is that you?” Her grandmother called out.

Caroline entered the front parlor and kissed her grandmother’s cheek.

“You look flushed.” She noted.

“It’s cold outside.”