It was obvious, the moment she entered, that it was unlikely she’d find anything of value. The barn had been meticulously cleaned out, with new straw scattered over what must have been the place where Colin Mackerbee had died.
After searching around for only a few moments, Cecily gave up and led Samuel back to the carriage. The deeper she dug into this case, the more confusing it became.
Someone out there had managed to dispose of three men without leaving a single clue behind. Except for the gold stamps and the missing locks of hair-a rather deliberate attempt to link the murders.
What kind of strange mind would go to such lengths? Who were they dealing with, and what was the killer’s purpose? Again she remembered Madeline’s words. He is clever and extremely dangerous. Cecily shuddered. Could it be that, for the first time, she was up against a foe so formidable she was helpless to stop him?
Maybe they should call in the inspector, after all. It could take the full force and expertise of Scotland Yard to apprehend a killer this devious.
Not yet. P.C. Northcott had faith in her abilities, and she could not let him down now. She would find this madman and put him behind bars if it took all of Christmas to do so. She just hoped it wouldn’t cost her marriage.
CHAPTER 9
Having wheedled an hour off from Mrs. Chubb, Gertie rushed her twins to the ballroom, where the rehearsal was already under way. As always, there was complete chaos as young women rushed to and fro, bumping into one another and arguing with wildly flapping arms, while Phoebe stood in their midst screeching instructions that everyone ignored.
Gertie was sorely tempted to take Lillian and James straight back to her quarters, but the twins dragged her over to the stage, loudly proclaiming their arrival.
Phoebe caught sight of them and yelled, “You’re late! All children are to go to the green room and stay there until you are called.”
Gertie felt like sticking out her tongue, but, mindful of her little ones, she contended herself with tossing her head before marching the twins backstage and into the green room.
The noise wasn’t much better in there. Three boys and two girls, all close to the twins’ age, were throwing stage props at one another, while one bored-looking mother sat knitting in a corner.
“The rest of the mums left me in charge of ’em,” she told Gertie, nodding at the screaming children. “They won’t take any notice of me.”
Gertie let go of the twins’ hands and yelled at the top of her voice. “Qui-et!”
The yelling subsided, and one of the boys stuck his nose in the air. “Who are you?”
Gertie dug her fists into her hips. “I’m the one with the blinking rolling pin, that’s who. Any more noise from any of you and you’ll get a bloody bonk on the head with it. So shut up and sit down. On the floor. All of you.”
Ignoring the other woman, who sat staring at her with her mouth open, Gertie pointed at one of the boys. “You. Pick up this flipping mess and put it all back where it bloody belongs.”
“It weren’t my fault!” he protested, but Gertie took a threatening step toward him and he darted off, snatching up clothes and wigs from off the floor as he went.
“All right, that’s better.” Gertie crossed her arms and glared at the children, including her twins. “From now on, you all sit still and don’t say a bloody word.”
A muttered chorus answered her.
“Good.” She dragged a chair from out of the corner and stuck it in front of her audience. “Now, you can all tell me your names, starting with you two.” She nodded at the twins.
James and Lillian both promptly announced their names, and the rest meekly followed. Just as the last little girl spoke her name, the door opened and Phoebe rushed in.
“Where are they? Oh, there they are.” She flapped her hands at the seated children. “Everyone up, up, up! It’s time to go onstage. Now file out in a line, one behind the other. That’s it! One, two, one, two…”
Gertie watched them all march out the door, then grinned at the mother. “I don’t bloody envy her one bit. She’s got her hands full, all right.”
The other woman folded up her knitting and shoved it into a bag. “I think you should be the one in charge of them. They pay attention to you. I don’t think they will behave that well with Mrs. Fortescue.”
Gertie patted her on the shoulder. “She’ll manage. She always does. Come on, let’s go and watch them from the front. It’s the first time mine have been in a pantomime. I can’t wait to see how they get on.”
She led the way out front, wondering just how long it would be before the children drove Phoebe crazy. That was always good for a bloody laugh, watching Phoebe Fortescue in one of her temper tantrums. It was usually the highlight of the whole flipping show.
Considering it was the first rehearsal, it didn’t go half-bad in Gertie’s opinion. Lillian burst into tears when told she was supposed to be a boy, but after romping around on the pirate ship for a while, she soon settled down.
Gertie was amazed at how fast Lillian and James took direction and remembered their parts. Phoebe strode about the stage giving orders and getting in everyone’s way, but somehow they all got through the scene without any huge mishaps.
Just as Phoebe called a halt to the rehearsal, Gertie felt a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t have to turn around to know who stood behind her.
“You did a lovely job on the pirate ship,” she said, smiling up at Clive. “It looks bloody real. Especially when it moves.”
He smiled back at her. “I’m still not happy with the wiring. It will take some more work before I allow anyone on it.”
“I’m just glad my twins don’t have to fly.” Gertie looked up at the harnesses hanging from the rafters. “It’s not that I don’t trust your work, but Mrs. Fortescue has a history of bad luck on this stage.”
“I know.” Clive followed her gaze. “That’s why I’m going to be extra careful.”
“Well, maybe this time nothing will go wrong.” She turned her head as Lillian called out Clive’s name and ran toward him.
He swept the child up in his arms and gave her a hug before setting her down.
Once again Gertie longed to know if he had children of his own. She knew, however, that this wasn’t the place or time to ask him. It would just have to wait until the sleigh ride. That was, if the snow didn’t all melt away before they could go.
To her amazement, he seemed to read her mind. “I think we should take that sleigh ride tomorrow,” he said, laughing as both Lillian and James let out a shriek of excitement. “If we wait too long there won’t be any snow left to ride on.”
“I’ll have to see if I can switch my afternoon off with someone.” Gertie saw the expressions of alarm on her children’s faces. “Don’t worry,” she told them. “I’ll manage it somehow.” She glanced at Clive out of the corner of her eye. “This time nothing is going to stop us going.”
Clive put his hand over his heart. “I promise. Tomorrow we go.”
Gertie watched the twins jump up and down and knew exactly how they felt. It had been a long time since she’d looked forward to something this much. All her previous doubts seemed to have melted away. Now tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough for her.
Cecily arrived at Caroline Blanchard’s home just as dusk was settling in over the countryside. The windows of the seamstress’s cottage glowed from the light of oil lamps, and a cheerful fire danced in the fireplace as she ushered her guests into the parlor.
After shooing out what seemed like a hoard of cats and dogs from the room, Caroline offered Cecily a cup of tea, which was hastily declined.
“I am in rather a hurry to get back to the Pennyfoot,” she told Caroline, ignoring Samuel’s look of disappointment. “I’m expecting guests to arrive, and I’m anxious to welcome them.”