Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“Without my grandmother or father here? Without asking Val his intentions?” Caroline asked.

“As I have mentioned, Valentine is a strange boy.”

“He’s a man,” Caroline contradicted her.

“He’s a strange man.” Arabella concluded.

“I find him very interesting,” Caroline said. “He’s intelligent. Handsome,” she said, not sure why she was speaking so to Val’s mother.

Arabella laughed. “Well. I suppose you would think he’s handsome as you’ve not spent much time with Rowland.”

“Did someone say my name?” A voice said happily and in walked Rowland Pierce.

“Ah my darling!” Arabella said as Rowland went and kissed his mother’s cheek.

“And who do we have here?” Rowland said, sitting beside his mother looking at Caroline.

“I’m Caroline Derry.” She said quickly, her eyes taking in Rowland with his mother.

“I know who you are Caroline,” he said, his eyes dark upon her. “I remember you with Charles Lyttleton. I think my little brother was a bit jealous that night.”

Caroline looked down at her lap. “He wasn’t jealous. I don’t think he and Charles get on.”

“Get on? They’ve never gotten along.” Rowland smiled while his mother excused herself from the room.

“Why don’t they get on?” Caroline asked as Rowland came to sit beside her.

“Something to do with Aida, I think. But I’m not entirely sure,” he said. “Has anyone told you, you’ve beautiful eyes Caroline.”

Caroline averted them. “Who is Aida?” She asked.

“Aida Harris. Val’s intended. I think there was some skirmish between them. Charles wanted her too. When I saw you together that night, I thought history might be repeating itself,” he smiled and Caroline felt herself shiver.

“History is not repeating itself.” She assured him.

“I think my brother might have his hands full with you,” Rowland said winking at her.

“I think very highly of your brother which is more than I can say for his family. If you will excuse me,” she said standing up and brushing past him.

But as she was doing so, he grabbed her arm holding her back. “You have a very high opinion of yourself considering you’re the daughter of a physician.”

“And as a peer of the realm you lack basic manners and good breeding,” she said in sharp retort before jerking her arm from his. “Please thank your mother for the tea.”

Chapter 23

Val and Felix spent another hour talking to Charles Lyttleton before they released him. Val didn’t care to hold Charles for the drunken punch; he wanted to catch the Primrose Strangler. He knew that if they let him leave, Felix would be able to trail him and he would be the key to all this madness.

When they finally let him go in the early morning, Felix began to trail Charles while Val returned to his new home and slept for a few hours. When he roused himself in the afternoon, he made himself tea and sipped it from the sun room. He imagined looking out over the garden and the thought pleased him.

He bathed and changed waiting to receive word that Charles was either on the move or had settled in. He had probably returned home to sleep as they had kept him up much of the night. He pulled on his jacket and went back downstairs. There was a chill in the air and the rain from last night had left everything outside wet and damp.

He was placing his porcelain dishes away when he heard a knock on the door. It was probably Felix asking to be relieved for a few hours. When he opened the door, he saw Caroline standing on his door step. When he ushered her inside, she looked at his face and gasped.

“Your face.” She said touching his cheek and then moving her hand from him. “What happened?”

His eyes met hers in the darkened foyer. “A disgruntled citizen.”

“They shouldn’t be allowed to attack you,” she said.