He stood looking at me almost slyly and then said: “Well?”
“Are there any warehouses?” I asked. “Is there any importation of rum and sugar?”
“There are as a matter of fact.”
“And your main business, I believe, is in another kind of house. Not exactly a warehouse. Do they call them whorehouses?”
“An unpleasant term I always thought.”
“Why did you want to see me?”
“I have to discover to what conclusions you have come.”
“I have been thinking a great deal… over our acquaintance, and certain things seem to be becoming clear to me. I hope you have not prepared some intricate fabrication for I shall not believe it.”
“I know that. You are very shrewd. I soon became aware of that. I can see the intricate fabrication would soon be pierced by your astuteness, so therefore it would be a waste of time to manufacture it.”
“I believe you are a scheming adventurer.”
“There is no point in denying it.”
“You came into my family because you knew there was money there.”
He nodded.
“I suppose the inn meeting was a chance one?”
“Yes. There I learned who your father was, and also a great deal about the family from the innkeeper.”
“I see, and you decided that his daughter would be a worthy wife. How could you make your entry? My father is a rather suspicious man with many interests in London. Is that how you figured it out?”
“But of course.”
“So we had the little blind girl episode. One of your girls from your warehouses?”
“We were moving out of the premises. That gave us the venue, you might say.”
“What a convenient coincidence that you were there that day with your decoy.”
“Oh, we had waylaid you several times. We were waiting for the opportunity.”
“It was an unusual beginning, designed of course to earn our gratitude. Having succeeded in that you started to pay court.”
“It was very agreeable. I have always found you attractive.”
“Thank you. But you turned to Amaryllis.”
“You were too lively … too inquisitive. I thought you would very quickly start to pry.”
“And Amaryllis was docile so you chose her.”
“And in pique you turned to the gentleman who is now your husband. Hard luck you should go on with the game after he was injured. But that was your own fault.”
“And having charge of Amaryllis’ fortune, you are increasing your holdings in your apparently very prosperous business?”
“It is indeed profitable. Amaryllis has increased her fortune since marrying me.”
“It is still her fortune, is it?”
“I have been very careful about that. I have used her money, but not taken it. If your father… or any of the family… decided they would look into my affairs they could not default me. I am in the clear.”
“How worthy of you! I wonder what Amaryllis would say if she knew for what purpose her money is being used.”
“She will never know. She is a completely contented wife and mother. It is better she remains so.”
“I think I would rather know what is going on around me. I know why Jonathan was led to Frinton’s. I know where the anonymous letter came from. And then you staged that little affair with Prue Parker. You are determined to discredit Jonathan in my father’s eyes.”
“Well, we have Peterkin now. A male heir right in line. I’ll see that he makes a better job of Eversleigh than Jonathan would.”
I cried: “It’s monstrous! And to think Tamarisk was the one to expose you!”
“That child is a nuisance. She always has been. Let’s hope she goes off with her father.”
“You amaze me,” I said. “You are so indifferent. You don’t mind being exposed.”
“Not by you.”
“What do you mean? You wouldn’t want my father to know the manner in which you make your fortune. You are a procurer. I always thought that was one of the worst things to be. You won’t want my father to know about those tricks you played on Jonathan.”
“I certainly would not.”
“And yet… you seem to think your secrets are safe with me!”
“They are.”
“What do you think my father will say when he knows you deliberately brought Prue into the house, sent her to Jonathan’s room and made her feign that attempted rape scene?”
“He would be horrified of course, but he won’t hear of it, will he? He will be told that by one of those queer quirks of coincidence—which happen more in life than people realize—I discovered Prue Parker walking the streets. I was horrified, for after all she had such a short time ago been a servant in the family house. I questioned her; she confessed that she had attempted to compromise Jonathan and demand money. She knew that he was already in his grandfather’s bad books and had a great deal to lose. It went wrong. Jonathan wouldn’t play, so she pretended he had attacked her. She became frightened by what she had done and fearing exposure ran away. She was without work and there was nothing for her but the streets. She was attached to that club where you discovered us, and when I had found a post of parlourmaid in a respectable household I went along to the club to find her. Then you and Tamarisk burst in.”
“And you think I will allow you to get away with this?”
“You must, mustn’t you?”
“Why should I? How do I know what other schemes you have. I think Amaryllis should know how her money is being used. I think my family should know. After all, you are a member of that family now.”
“But nobody must be allowed to bring disgrace on the family.”
“You already have. It was an ill day when you came into it.”
“We all have our weaknesses. You too, Jessica. This is going to be our little secret.”
“You presume too much.”
“I have justification. Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I was silent. A terrible fear was beginning to grip me.
“You certainly, my dear Jessica, are not without sin. What of this passionate love affair with the fascinating Sir Jake?”
I felt myself flushing hotly. I stammered: “What… what do you mean?”
“I have been frank with you. You must be with me. Do you think I don’t know what is going on? You and the handsome gentleman are lovers, are you not? You visit his house … alone. You spend several hours there. You see, Jessica, it ill behooves any of us to pass judgment on the rest of us.”
I could see his smiling face through a haze of wretchedness. My secret was in the hands of this evil man.
“Sit down,” he said. “You’ve had a shock. I was aware some time ago of the feeling between you. You couldn’t disguise it from me. You have the glow of love upon you, Jessica. Oh, I thought, I must be watchful of this. I am always eager for scraps of information. One never knows how useful they will be. And now here is this. One of my people has been set to watch you.”
“You mean I’ve been followed!”
“To and from the little love nest. Naughty Jessica! But understandable, of course. I’m not blaming you and I shall keep your secret… as long as you keep mine.”
“And if I don’t?”
“It would be rather sad for that kind husband of yours to know that when his wife comes to London it is to be with her lover. You would not want that?”
I was silent. I felt as though the walls of the room were closing in on me. I wanted to shout out to him to go away. He terrified me. He had changed a little. His face had become evil. He was like someone who had removed the mask he had been wearing and now showed himself for what he really was.
He was smiling at me cynically, sardonically, horribly.
“That’s our little bargain,” he said. “You don’t tell on me and I don’t tell on you.”