Dear Readers,
I finally took the time to work on my Substack layout. I found that using my logo at the head of each post gives me a terrible static page. I’ll change that starting this week with Part 4 of Heartless. So far, all we know is that young girls are missing( Part 1), and another young girl might become the next victim (Part 2). In Part 3, we meet a young man with a bad reputation who arrives uninvited at this girl’s house, but her mother is alert and protects her from his advances. There’s a planned outing with the girl, her mother, and a new friend, Mrs. Kent. In the meantime, the police have their first clue. And now….
Heartless, Part 4
October 8, 1871
The Glenford-Leigh Estate
Miller placed a small envelope next to Mrs. Glenford’s breakfast plate.
She read the short note from her solicitor. I must see you on a matter of great importance. May I call at about eleven today? Hector Bromley, Esq.
“Oh, dear.” She looked across at Giselle. “I won’t be able to go with you after all. The solicitor has something he needs to see me about.”
“I can cancel. We can go another day,” Giselle said.
“No. You need an outing. I insist you enjoy time with Mrs. Kent and bring me back reports of that lovely hotel.”
At ten, Mrs. Kent’s carriage arrived for Giselle. Mrs. Glenford dressed to meet Mr. Bromley, then sat in the parlor reading. For a time, she lost herself in Louisa May Alcott’s newest fiction, but looked out the window with irritation when Mr. Bromley hadn’t arrived by ten past eleven.
“Tiresome,” she murmured, taking up her book again and settling in. At the sound of the bell, she huffed and rose to meet her solicitor. When Miller opened the parlor door, it was Mr. Grayson, and the hall clock was chiming twelve.
“Mr. Grayson?”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Glenford, but I was hoping you could give me a moment of your time.”
She stepped aside and let him enter. Before closing the door, she said to Miller, “Send a boy to Mr. Bromley and ask why he hasn’t come.”
“Yes, Madam.”
As she turned her attention to her guest, he spoke quickly. “I won’t stay but briefly. I’ve come to ask your permission to court your daughter.”
Mrs. Glenford sank into her chair. She wasn’t able to reply.
“My reputation has been sullied by baseless rumors and nothing more. I would like an opportunity to show you and your daughter that my character is beyond reproach.”
This was the last thing she’d expected, but she noted the sincerity in his voice and attitude, so she couldn’t dismiss him out of hand. She rose once the initial shock had eased, and she leveled her gaze on him. “I will give your request some thought, sir.”
Grayson’s expression troubled her. She couldn’t decipher if it was gratitude or self-satisfaction. She would give his request some thought, but when her solicitor arrived, she would most definitely have the man investigated. Thoroughly.
Police Headquarters
What do you see in these pictures?” Detective Scofield turned the four images to face Sergeant Hawkins.
“Very pretty young ladies, sir. All very similar in face and stature.”
“Their dresses. Look at them.”
“Sorry, sir. I’m not much…but they do look alike with the roses and all.”
“Exactly.” The detective grabbed his hat and cloak. “Let’s find us a seamstress.”
They visited each of the families of the missing girls. And in each case, the same seamstress had made their daughter’s dresses. Once they had the address, they drove to the location.
A little after five, they entered a cramped shop. A woman straightened from her task and turned dim eyes in their direction. With arthritic fingers, she removed pins from her mouth and stepped away from the dress dummy. It was draped in a ball gown, and they’d interrupted her as she pinned roses around the neckline.
The detective showed his credentials and then produced the pictures of the missing girls. “Do you know these girls?”
She peered through spectacles set at the end of her nose, then, looking up, said, “Yes. And their gowns. I made them. Each young lady had a special occasion, you see.”
Hawkins gave his detective a slight nod of respect.
“How did these girls come to you to make their gowns?” Detective Scofield asked. “There are many seamstresses in this area of Chicago.”
“A lady has taken an interest in my work. She brings clients to my shop.”
“And her name?”
“Elizabeth Kent.”
Hawkins wrote down the address, and with the only lead they had in this case, they hurried across town.
And there you have it. Next week, Part 5.
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The suspense is mounting. I'm looking forward to the next chapter next week.
Oh wow. I cannot wait to see them confront Mrs Kent!