“Where did he have it made? Do you know?” Felix asked casually.
“The watchmakers Charles Frodsham & Co.,” Charles told him, even as he showed Felix the gold piece with its roman numerals exactly as Oliver had described.
“Do you have a club you attend regularly?” Val asked as the gas lantern sputtered in the room but remained lit.
“Don’t we all?”
“What’s the name of your club?” Val asked again.
“It depends. Sometimes I go to a chum’s club sometimes my own. What is this all about?” Charles asked indignant. “You can’t keep me here. This is unfounded. Because I know of two of these women, I’m not a murderer. I demand you release me.”
Val collected all of the photographs and placed them into the folder. Nodding at Felix both men turned to exit the room.
“Dammit Pierce! You can’t just leave me in here!” He yelled.
Val turned back to the man. “I’ll return shortly. After all, the tea has gone cold. We’ll brew some fresh.”
Felix followed Val to his office. “What are you going to do with him? We can’t hold him forever.”
“I’m going to give him time to cool his heels. But he’s the link, Felix. I can feel it. He knows something. He’s the key,” Val said quietly. “All we need to do now is wait and watch him turn.”
???
Caroline slept badly. It rained heavily in the night and she recalled the thunder and lightning waking her several times. She dressed for breakfast but when she went downstairs, she was alone. Her father had left for an engagement and her grandmother was out paying calls.
“Excuse me, Miss. This was brought for you,” Wilmot said carrying the silver tray that contained the calling cards and mail of the day.
The small envelope contained an invite for tea that afternoon with Lady Arabella Pierce.
“Lady Arabella Pierce?” She said aloud.
She realized Lady Arabella must be Valentine’s mother and he had asked her to invite Caroline to their home for tea. She knew that Valentine was serious about her and this must be her entree into his family. She must make a good impression she thought.
“Wilmot can you please send Thea to me,” she asked the footman.
“Very good Miss.”
Caroline must choose her gown, have Thea dress her hair and then set out for the tea. She didn’t need that much time to choose a gown as she was limited to color because she was still in late mourning. Her mauve colored gown would do nicely and it had a ruffled scooped neckline which was a pretty touch for tea.
When Thea arrived, she explained that she needed her hair done for this afternoon and Thea nodded politely.
“Did my grandmother say when she might be back?” She asked.
“No Miss. I’ve not seen her. I saw your father this morning but it was very brief.”
They discussed the hairstyle and she decided on a low chignon at the nape of her neck. She didn’t wear much jewelry and when she set out that afternoon for the tea, she was nervous. She wanted to make a good impression and was anxious to meet Pierce’s family.
She wondered why the invitation to tea had come from his mother? Why hadn’t Val invited her directly. But perhaps that was the way his mother preferred it. She would have liked to have her grandmother attend the tea with her but she had left before the invitation arrived.
The hansom cab drew up outside the Pierce home and Caroline paid the driver before placing her hand over the brass knocker. A footman promptly opened the door and she introduced herself.
“You are expected,” he said.
The home was richly decorated in dark colors, heavy drapes and marble on the floors. It was a home that radiated richness and Caroline felt swallowed up by it. She could tell from the fabrics, the colors, and the rich decorations that this home conveyed wealth and position. She wished for a moment that she was back inside her comfortable home in Mayfair.
She followed the liveried footman as he led her to a sitting room where an older woman with steel grey hair and a high-necked cobalt blue dress greeted her. The footman announced her as if she was being presented to the Queen.
“You must be Arabella Pierce.” Caroline said smiling, coming to stand before the woman.