Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“Caroline’s sister.”

Val nodded.

“Well that’s it then. I must have seen her at some ball or party. You know yourself my mother takes a special interest in Caroline’s pet projects. So, I must have seen Irene Derry at one of these events.” He took the mug and gulped it down.

“That’s possible.”

“It’s obviously the only thing that makes sense,” Charles shrugged.

“It could be. Or there could be another explanation. It could be that you had been taken with the younger sister. You found Irene more flirty, more open. More susceptible to your charms. You sweet talked her into giving you what you wanted,” Val said.

“Which is?” Charles asked frowning.

“Herself. Once she succumbed, you were not interested in her any longer. Unfortunately, your dalliance with her left behind a permanent reminder of your time together. And you couldn’t have that. She threatened to expose you to your family, so you killed her.”

“None of that’s true!” Charles said hotly. “I may have spoken to Irene once or twice when she was with Caroline at some event. I always found Caroline to be a quiet beauty. A man doesn’t forget such a woman. But I don’t recall Irene. Not entirely.”

“Not entirely.” Val repeated.

“I read about the strangulation in the paper. Of course, everyone in London knows about the strangler. The primrose strangler. But that’s not me. As I said, I don’t even know these other women,” he told them.

“We’ve often wondered if Irene might be a copycat or a victim made to look like the others,” Val said.

Charles swallowed nervously. “Look here Pierce. Let’s not beat about the bush. We’ve never gotten along. I was your brother’s friend and you were the second son. Maybe you were jealous of the title, the money—“

“I wasn’t. And this isn’t about me, Charles. This is about five dead women,” he pushed the last picture of Prudence towards him.

“She looks…“ Charles began. “She’s that spinster friend of Caroline’s. I met her. She was at that last party my mother threw for Caroline.”

Val hated hearing Caroline’s name on his lips. “That’s right. I believe you were in the library with Caroline that evening. Weren’t you?”

“You know I was. You and Rowland interrupted me with Caroline,” he said.

“What I remember is you being quite drunk and making a fool out of yourself. I also seem to recall your mother and a footman helping you up to your room to sleep it off,” Val said as Charles looked defeated.

“We both know she’s out of your league, Pierce. Even if she wouldn’t marry me, you’d be the last person she’d marry. She’s more suited to your brother, Rowland.” Charles said spitefully.

“Whoever Caroline Derry may or may not marry is not the issue here,” Val said coldly.

Charles shrugged. “This entire thing has nothing to do with me.”

“Well that remains to be seen,” Val told him.

Looking across the room at Felix, he looked back at Charles. “I’m afraid I left my pocket watch at home. Do you have yours on you?” Val asked him.

“I always carry mine with me,” Charles sniffed condescendingly. “It’s a family heirloom.”

He pulled the watch piece from his pocket and flipped open the watch. In the low gas lights, the gold glinted in the light and he told them the time.

“An ungodly hour of three in the morning,” he told them both, snapping the lid shut. “I should be in my bed. This is ridiculous.”

“That’s a handsome piece,” Felix said smoothly.

Charles puffed up looking pleased. He pulled out the watch again and caressed it. “It was a gift from my father when I turned of age,” he said smugly.

“Very fine,” Felix admitted.

“My father wanted to give me something that could be passed on to each first born male so he had it commissioned,” Charles explained.