“Advanced age?” He looked affronted as she continued to smile. “I like to see you smile, Miss Derry. You have a lovely smile.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“I think the carriage is drawing nearer to the townhouse.” She said trying to change the subject.
His eyes were on hers and in the darkened carriage it seemed so intimate.
“I still have the tickets for the concert. A third one would be easy to obtain. Have you changed your mind?” He asked boldly.
“I haven’t thought of it to be honest.”
“It’s a concert. Nothing more,” he shrugged. “Your grandmother would enjoy it I’m sure.”
“She would.” She admitted.
“Next Friday then?” He asked as the carriage came to a standstill.
She nodded. “Next Friday,” and then exited.
???
Over breakfast the next morning, Caroline went over the requirements for the tenants coming into the Housing and her father signed the paperwork for the building to be legally his, which Peter had sent to him. She was excited and when she told her grandmother of the upcoming concert, she looked at her strangely.
“Why are you attending a concert with the Inspector?” Malvina wondered.
“He asked me. He’s a good man from a good family. I didn’t expect you to be against it.”
“I’m not against it, Caro. I just think that as the man who’s investigating Irene’s death, it’s inappropriate.”
“I told him no the first time, but honestly, I would like to hear the music and be out in the world,” Caroline said.
“He’s persistent.” Malvina remarked.
“I think it best you don’t read anything into this,” Caroline said quietly. “As far as I can tell, he’s a man that keeps his own company. He invited me to a perfectly respectable concert. He asked you to attend as a chaperone. I’d like to go so please come with me.”
“Hmmm. He invited me as a chaperone. This doesn’t strike you as odd, Hubert?” Malvina asked her son who was seated at the table with them.
“What is odd?” Hubert asked folding the newspaper so he could read the back page. “The young man asked Caroline to attend a concert. He invited you as well. That seems quite proper. And he also happens to be an Inspector.”
Malvina looked across at Hubert and then back at Caroline. “Then I guess it’s settled.” She said dabbing the napkin to her lips and then excusing herself.
“She cares for you, Caro. It’s been difficult for her. She raised you and Irene and now with Irene gone…” he began.
“I understand,” Caroline said breathing out. “But as I to
ld her, it’s a concert. Nothing else. And he’s a nice man. I would like to hear music again and not feel this heavy weight I feel all the time.”
He patted her hand across the table. “Give it time. This isn’t something that goes away overnight.”
???
Caroline looked over the list of names that Stella had drawn up. She had been in contact with several of the women and their children through the workhouse who she thought might be good candidates for the housing project.
“Did you mention to them what we were doing?”
“Briefly,” Stella said as she sipped her tea. “I thought it best to review the names with you before we proceed.”
“They are families with children?” She asked looking down the list.