“And she’s one of the five victims. She was killed by the strangler?” Caroline asked, recalling the name in the newspaper alongside her sister’s.
“Yes.”
“You never told me. You never told me you were to be married. You never told me she had been killed possibly by the same man who killed Irene.”
“I believe I mentioned her once to you but not in great detail.”
“Was Charles interested in Aida? Is that why you don’t get along?”
Val sighed. “Something like that.”
“Tell me. I want to know.”
“He never said it outright. She never confirmed it. But I saw the way he looked at her. Charles fancied Aida. Why she chose a second son over Charles, I don’t know. Charles was a bit immature and a Mummy’s boy but nevertheless, she chose me. A week before the marriage was to be held, Aida came to me crying. She was distraught. Upset. She said he had raped her. He denied it of course. But she wanted to postpone the marriage. She said she wasn’t ready. I disagreed. I could feel her pulling away from me. I wanted to keep her safe. I was so angry. She was killed shortly after.”
Caroline gasped. “Val! Don’t you see?! Charles could be the strangler. He has ties to Aida and I know he knew Irene, no matter if he denies it.”
Val shook his head. “He’s involved in something. I already know that. But he didn’t kill Aida. After she died, he was the first person I went after. He had an alibi for almost the entire night. He was at some sort of Albert Hall poetry reading and dozens of people saw him there. Then he went to a local pub for a night cap. People confirmed he was there too.”
Caroline shivered in the cold room and she could feel the temperature dropping.
“I need you to promise me something. My mother, she’s harmless. She’s wrapped in appearances and what people think about her status and wealth. But I don’t trust Charles. He knows something. I want you to stay away from him.”
“I’ll do as you say but I never see Charles unless I visit Lady Lyttleton. And I don’t have any upcoming appointments with her,” she confirmed.
He took her slim shoulders in his hands. “Please Caroline. Be wary. You can’t be too cautious.”
She nodded. “My grandmother and father told me the same thing after Irene was killed.”
He looked after the curves of her face and he shook his head. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you. Honestly. I couldn’t bear it Caroline.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. You’ll catch this killer. I don’t doubt that. Then all this will be over.” She nodded. “All this will be over and we can start fresh.”
“We?” He met her eyes and his face was filled with hope.
“Well, there is a you, and a me. Which makes a we,” she said.
“Caroline. When this case is over, I want to make plans for the future. I want us to be together,” he said solemnly taking her hands in his.
“You should speak to my father.”
“I will,” he promised her. “Once this case is over, I will speak to him. But what if he says no and bars me from the house?”
Caroline smiled. “He won’t.”
“If he demands I stay away from his daughter and never see you again?”
“He never would,” She said smiling still.
“What if he threatens me with a duel?”
“Don’t worry. He’s a skilled physician. He’ll stitch you up like new.” She smiled again.
“Oh! I see! So I’m the one that will be hurt in the pretend duel,” he said pulling her against him. “Caroline,” he breathed in the scent of her hair and gently kissed her temple. “Nothing has changed for me. I’m still besotted.”
“You’re very persistent.” She agreed.
“I know what I want. Only you will do, Caroline.” He kissed her on the lips and when they broke apart, she was breathless.