*At least she had Alice to go with her. She was a particular friend.'

*I see,' said Rory, swallowing.

*Oh, they're quite capable of friendship and affection. That's why they're such a particular charge when they're grown.'

*You mean she transferred elsewhere?' The relief in Rory's voice was evident.

*Oh yes! This place is only for children. When they're grown they go to an adult inst.i.tution, but we do our best to ensure they are placed in the most modern places run on similar ideas to ourselves. Care, compa.s.sion, exercise and pleasant usefulness. Sometimes they can be trained to live simply in the outside world, but in Sophy's case that simply wasn't possible. She'd been in an inst.i.tution all her life and besides, if a mother doesn't want a child home, there really is nothing one can do. Do you think?'

*I don't think she has yet made her decision,' said Rory.

The little girl ran away from me and back to the group with the hoop. The young woman in black smiled encouragingly at me, but I shook my head. I was already feeling uncomfortable about our subterfuge and the innocent, happy cries of the children were making me feel worse. One little boy turned his face towards me and I saw the difference marked clearly upon it. He had beautiful, clear eyes and a lopsided smile. I retreated back towards Rory.

*Come inside,' said Mrs Mason. *I'll show you around. Most of our inmates are at play or work, so we won't be intruding. We do our best not to make them feel they are being inspected.'

I smiled. This was a far cry from the horror tales of Old Bedlam. The inside of the building was much as we might have expected. There were long dormitories for the separate s.e.xes for the younger children and a selection of single rooms for older residents, whose relatives could afford a larger donation, and who it was felt would benefit from isolation. *Most of them prefer to be in the dormitories,' Mrs Mason a.s.sured us. There were large open schoolroom workshop type places where the children were taught occupations according to their abilities. It was a place full of bright light, open s.p.a.ces and cheerfulness. Mrs Mason told us it was inspired by the Quaker values and the central focus was to make the children feel as if they were part of one big, happy and productive family.

*This is a more idyllic childhood than many children achieve,' I said sincerely.

*You must bear in mind that the understanding of many of our charges is severely limited. What seems to you tranquil may still feel overbearing to some of them.'

I nodded sadly. *But after this?'

Mrs Mason hung her head. *Many of them do feel it is a wrench to leave and I feel for them. But the difficulties of looking after simple adults and the temptations that attend them mean that they need a special kind of care.'

*We very much appreciate your time, Mrs Mason,' said Rory as we enjoyed a final cup of tea in her office. *I think it would ease my cousin's mind if we would also see the inst.i.tution that Sophy moved on to.'

*Of course,' said Mrs Mason. *I'll write the address down for you.' She penned a few lines and pa.s.sed them over to Rory. *And please let me say I was so sorry to hear about Sophy. She was a lovely girl, but then the Lord often sees fit to gather these special ones to himself early.'

My cup rattled in my saucer.

*Oh, I've spoken out of turn,' said Mrs Mason. *There really is no reason to think your child won't enjoy a long and happy life, my dear.'

*Unlike poor Sophy,' I said quietly.

Chapter Ten.

Mrs Wilson's Bargain

*I must tell Bertram,' I said.

We were back in the automobile.

*Then we will have to tell him everything we have done. He won't be happy,' said Rory.

*He needs to know he had a half-sister.'

Rory took my hand. *We don't know for certain Sophy was his sister.' I opened my mouth to protest, but he forestalled me. *I agree we have every reason to be suspicious, but we don't have any proof, do we?'

I looked down at his hand in mine. I knew my mother would be appalled at this familiarity, but all I saw in Rory's face was a deep concern. *We could be in danger, couldn't we?' I said.

*Of losing our situations certainly,' answered Rory. *As for anything else. Yes, I agree we might know potentially damaging information about the Staplefords or we may only have uncovered that the late Lord Stapleford made proper arrangements for his unfortunate niece.'

*But she's dead, Rory.'

*Mrs Mason was quite clear that those that G.o.d has made differently often do not live long lives.'

*I know, but I cannot but fear ...'

*That Richard Stapleford killed her? But what reason would he have?'

*Scandal?'

*Do we know the exact wording of the late Lord Stapleford's will?'

*Bert-Mr Bertram said the first legitimate heir of his children would inherit the estate and a trust to run it.'

*It would only matter if there was any chance of her being released from the asylum, marrying and having a child. It's a bit of a stretch,' said Rory.

*From what Mrs Mason says that seems unlikely,' I said. *Besides she is illegitimate, so wouldn't that rule her out?'

*It would depend on how the will was worded.'

*Unless he married Mrs Wilson,' I said.

*I think we can discount that possibility, don't you?'

*It does seem the most farfetched of all the ideas we have discussed,' I agreed.

*Aye, it's a strange world where murder to prevent scandal is more likely than marrying for love,' said Rory.

*I cannot imagine Mrs Wilson ever being lovable!'

*I'm sure she was young once,' said Rory.

*I fear she was merely convenient.'

*You don't think much of the Staplefords, do you?'

*I have no reason to think well of any of the n.o.ble families of my acquaintance,' I said truthfully.

*And you know so many?' teased Rory.

I took a deep breath. *Rory,' I said, *there's something you don't know about me.'

*Aye, la.s.s. I've always suspected you had a secret or two. But is now the right time to tell me? We've got enough on our plates as it is, don't you think?'

*Oh, I don't know. My head is spinning with all this. I want to be honest with someone.'

*Will it change things between us?'

*It might,' I admitted.

*Yer no married to Mr Bertram, are ye?'

I laughed out loud. *Oh no, it's nothing as awful as that!'

Rory's eyes twinkled. *In that case if it's something that's going to open up another long discussion I think we should leave it for now. Tell me after all this. If you still want to.'

*All right.'

*I'll remember you wanted to tell me,' said Rory.

*That's good.'

*So where do you think we go from here?'

*You're right. We need some proof of something.'

*We could go back to the asylum.'

*Back?'

Rory showed me the address. *Didn't you realise the asylum Sophy was sent to was the one Beatrice wanted to investigate? Mrs Mason mentioned Dr Frank.'

*Beatrice was further along in the investigation than we are.'

*Aye, it was a right shame about her.'

*I hope so,' I said under my breath.

We arrived back in London towards evening. Merrit dropped us off at the hotel and took the automobile round to the garage without a word. I found his singular lack of curiosity unnerving, but Rory took it in his stride. *He's a model servant,' was his comment. *Doesn't ask any questions.'

The memorial service was long over, so I steeled myself to face a barrage of questions from Mr Bertram. However, when I enquired of him from the concierge I learned he had not yet returned to the hotel. I left a message at the front desk that I was to be called when he returned and retired to my room. I meant to only close my eyes for a moment, but travelling is remarkably fatiguing. I was dreaming that Beatrice Wilton and I were in a crowded dining room. She was trying to tell me something important as she pa.s.sed me a cup of tea, but the sound of other diners clattering cutlery and chatting drowned out her words. She was becoming increasingly agitated. I, on the other hand, was consumed with the necessity of explaining one never drank tea with dinner. Finally with an expression of exasperation Beatrice slammed a book down upon the table making the dishes jump and startling the room into silence.

I woke up on the edge of the sound unsure if what I had heard was real or still in the dream. My curtains, undrawn, showed a night-black sky. The room was full of shadows and I had the eeriest feeling I was not alone. My heart knocked loudly in my chest and my breath caught in my throat. By sheer effort of will I lay perfectly still. I reasoned if the intruder had not harmed me, believing I was asleep, then they might well depart leaving me unmolested. I squinted into the darkness. Without light my room seemed preternaturally enlarged. I could see nothing but the shapes of the furniture.

A sharp knocking at the door brought me bolt upright. *Help,' I squeaked.

The door, which I had foolishly left unlocked, opened. Rory stood on the threshold and the gas light from the hall flooded in.

*There's someone in here,' I cried, springing from the bed and running towards him.

Rory turned up the gas. There was no one there.

*I think you've had a bad dream, la.s.s,' said Rory.

*I was so sure,' I said sheepishly.

*Dreams can be powerful things,' he said kindly, leading me into the room. We sat either side of the cold fire. *I'm sorry to disturb you, but I've had a thought that might help us.'

*Is Mr Bertram back?' I asked.

*I've had no word, but I imagine he must be.'

*I left word I was to be sent for when he returned.'

*It's late, Euphemia. He may have superseded your instructions.'

*I suppose so, but it's odd.'

*It's hardly a normal time.'

*But what will he have been doing?'

Rory sighed. *I don't know. I imagine he's been with Miss Wilton's family. There will have been many questions. For all I know the family is demanding an inquest.'

*But wouldn't they have had to do that before she was buried?'

*It was a memorial service today, wasn't it?'

*Yes,' I rubbed my eyes. *Of course. There is still time. What did you want to see me about?'

*We need some evidence one way or another and I've thought of someone who can give us some?'

*Who?'

*Mrs Wilson.'

*But she's in a coma.'

*Not any more. Word came to the hall before I left that she was improving. I heard Dr Simpson tell Lord Richard she was having periods of lucidity.'

*But then she could be in the most terrible danger!'

Rory produced a pamphlet from his pocket. *I don't think we can get away with borrowing the automobile again, but we could get a train to the town where the hospital is. There's a milk train that leaves in two hours that would get us there this morning. If we caught the afternoon train back we'd only be gone the day. Your Mr Bertram might not even notice we were missing. We could leave word we had business out of town.'