A Victorian Tale Part 6

Chapter 6 (Hellacre) The Earl of Gotham arrived at his betrothed's lodgings an hour after she had left Keystone Manor. It was past ten and he was able to find out from the elderly Lawrence that Miss Prince was still awake. He demanded entry and found himself facing an anxious looking Etta, who blurted out the story and showed him the incriminating arrow. Lord Wayne studied the arrow and his lips tightened. He carried it with him as he was escorted to the upper salon. There he found Miss Prince in an armchair, enwrapped in a long robe, her hair in a single braid, reading a book. Etta gave Diana a warning look as she shut the door behind them. Diana looked up at him. "What are you doing here?" "Why did you leave? I looked around for you only to be told by a footman that you went off with that policeman!" "I am surprised you noticed at all. Did Miss Lane enjoy her "cooling off"?" "Don't be childish, Diana. I have explained to you that Lois and the General are very good friends of the family. Your going off in a huff with Inspector Kent only served to draw unwanted attention to your departure and lack of courtesy to our host.......and from what Etta told me......put your life in danger! She said this was fired at you!" He held up the arrow. Diana snapped her book shut. "Yes. I was fired upon. What of it?" "You are sitting here reading as if nothing is amiss!?" "Perhaps you would prefer me to have a fit of the vapours or go into hysterics, my lord?" He said in his brusque, almost dismissive way, "Facetiousness does not become you." He ignored the infuriated clouding of her blue eyes and declared, "You cannot remain here." "I can and will. You know I have work with the orphanage and I cannot go to Wayne Manor without a proper chaperon." "I'll organize for a chaperon. I may have to write a few letters........"He began to pace, his face creased with thought. "In the meantime, you will not go off without proper escort and I will send more staff to watch over you. I have a couple of ostlers who are retired army-men......" "So I must stay here until you say otherwise?'' She stood up now, facing him with a mutinous twist to her lips. He could see she was ready to challenge his authority; from past experience he knew she could be very stubborn and opinionated. But he also knew what tactics to use to get her to relent. He said grimly, "You may not have a care for yourself, but Etta was very shaken and I understand the arrow was not far from her head. If you cannot take care for yourself, maybe you can for others." Diana seemed to grow a bit pale at this harsh reminder. She said rigidly, "Very well. I suppose I will have to postpone the engagement with Madame Julie tomorrow." He looked blank. She explained slowly, "The modiste who is finishing off the gown for the Luthor ball tomorrow." He frowned and rubbed his chin. "Ah. Yes. We must go to that. Don't worry; you'll be able to go to your dress-maker. I'll make arrangements. Do recall, I have business to follow up at the Exchange and it may take up most of the day. I will see you when I pick you up to go to the ball." He took her hand and began to draw her towards him. Diana allowed him but turned her face to the side and his kiss fell on her cheek instead of her lips. He let her go and said a bit tightly, "I see I'm still not forgiven." She sighed wearily, "I am tired, Bruce. Please, I long to retire." He was wise enough not to press the issue. He bade her a civil goodnight and they parted on the landing of the salon. The next day Miss Prince rose and readied for her ten o clock appointment with the modiste. Etta was agog to inform her that two men had joined the staff. "Strappin' men, missus! Built like oak trees, they is!....One of 'em will be driving us out.....the other seems bent on marchin' round the 'ouse like some tin soldier......" Diana picked up her reticule and parasol. She looked at Etta's face, her plump cheeks were flushed like an excited schoolgirl's. She said curiously, "You seem very happy at that prospect, Etta." Etta coughed. "Well, tis not often we gets to see anyone.... yer know.....stronglike.....and 'andsome....Though yer may n't think much of 'em,yer havin' the Earl and 'is fancy clothes and way of talking........All I 'ad was ole Lawrence, god bless his dear half -deaf 'eart." Miss Prince laughed. "Why, Etta, I think you are smitten." Etta blushed but protested. Miss Prince resisted the temptation to tease her further and the pair went downstairs. Lord Wayne had made provision for a carriage be sent for from the nearby mews. One of the new men was perched on the driver's seat, and, waiting patiently beside the two horse equipage, was Inspector Kent. Kent bowed. "Good morning,ladies." Miss Prince halted in her tracks and stared at him. Etta murmered," He's a right fine rozzer in daylight, ain't he?" Diana chided softly, "Hush, he will hear." She continued politely, "Good morning. What are you doing here?" "I was requested by the Earl to accompany you on your outing today." "What? Do not be absurd! We are only going to the dressmakers. And in a carriage, with a driver-escort. It is not that far......." "It's far enough for Lord Wayne to be concerned, especially after last night's incident." "You know about that already?" "Yes, a message was sent to my Captain for me to report here instead of the Wayne mansion to keep an eye on you..." She looked to the heavens and seemed to beseech wearily, "Clark, I do not need a personal-guard.......not for this." He said, in an undertone, "Whilst I'm on duty let it be Inspector or Mr. Kent. It's more for my benefit than yours...." He stepped back to open the carriage door." Maybe you do not think you need me here, Miss Prince, but I have my orders." "And you take these orders even if it may be a waste of both our time?" He said matter-of-factly, "That remains to be seen whether it is a waste of time." "Really, Inspector, I am sure nothing will happen." He smiled. "Well, I'd have done my job then." She sighed and looked up to see the newest member of staff doff his hat at them. He was a man in his late forties with greying fair hair and introduced himself as Mr. Trevor. Etta stole a sly glance up at him as he made a comment about the weather being especially fine and how honoured he was to serve them. Miss Prince gave the directions for the modiste in Regent Street and she and Etta and Kent climbed aboard. As they drove towards their destination, Miss Prince eyed Kent opposite her. "Is this the kind of thing you normally do?" "Escorting a client is not unusual." "You normally escort clients to dress-fittings? I find that hard to believe." "I've done worse." They arrived at the modiste's shop and the Inspector scandalized the maid and discomforted Miss Prince by going in with them. Diana berated him. "You ought not come in!" He said, with that implacable calm of his, "My orders were strict. I am not to let you out of my sight." The modiste Madame Julie was non too pleased either; but said nothing because it was early and no other customers were about and Miss Prince was the Earl of Gotham's betrothed. She tolerated the large policeman as one would an elephant in a china shop. Diana watched him as he took his place in a corner, leaned back against a recess and folded his arms across his chest. He may be mild-mannered but there was something imposing about the way he filled a space. Etta sat on a chair whilst her mistress was escorted behind curtains to try on a claret coloured creation. Madame Julie waited outside, armed with a tape, scissors and pins to make adjustments. Diana appeared, looking a bit self-conscious. Etta beamed. "Oh Miss!Yer looks righ' prettie as a pitcher...." Kent straightened up, shifting his weight from one foot to the next. He fidgeted again with his collar. Madame Julie circled her, pulling and tugging and pinning. "Very good....but ah cherie, it is a bit loose around the back and this neck....the decolletage...low enough, n'est ce pas?" Diana blushed and covered the obvious swell of her bosom with her palms. "Too low....", she whispered, as the modiste made note of the adjustments. She was conscious of Kent regarding her with a pensive expression, as one would as they considered a fine painting or statue. She found this candid, almost meditative scrutiny more unsettling than the Earl's penetrating gaze. She blurted out. "I wish you would stop gawking at me, Inspector." He blinked. "Was I gawking? I beg your pardon." Madame Julie announced briskly, "Voila! You will make a favourable impression at the ball, Mademoiselle." She said hastily, "Fine. Are you finished?" "Oui, you can change and I can do the alterations in half an hour. You will wait?" "I need to go to the milliner's down the street......." Etta spoke up, "I'll wait, Miss. Yer can go on wid the Inspector......" Ten minutes later they were walking down the street after Diana had indicated to Mr. Trevor her intention and that he was to wait with Etta. Kent began, "I did not mean to offend you." She looked a bit guilty. "I am sorry if I seem impatient.......it's just....well, the Earl has a high-handed manner of doing things. He rarely involves me in anything important...He makes decisions and expects me to accept them even though he knows .....well....he knows how I feel about that......" Kent said gravely, "He's only trying to protect you." She sighed and muttered, "I've been protected all my life........" "What?" "Nothing. Never mind. Here's the milliner." They spent fifteen minutes in the shop. Diana tried on several hats whilst Kent received disapproving glares from mainly elderly female chaperons as he lounged near the door. They emerged eventually; Kent carrying a bandbox for her whilst she carried a package with ribbons and flowers. He looked at her curiously. "You bought only one?" "Yes." "The hat-woman seemed a bit disappointed that the future Lady Wayne was not more extravagant." "Well, I am Miss Prince still. Not Lady Wayne. And one ought to buy as one needs." "Interesting." "Why is that?" "You have the Wayne fortune at your disposal........" "It would be highly hypocritical of me to act the lady of mercy to the disadvantaged but then go on wild spending excursions. That may be the way of some, not me." She paused to peered in at the window of a booksellers. "I really would not mind going in. I have heard much of the writer Mr. Dickens and would love to buy one of his works....." Kent took her elbow. "We cannot stop. Come along...." "Oh, it will be alright. Mr. Trevor and Etta will wait for us. Truth be told, I think they would like to be left alone for a while longer........" "No, that's not the reason." "What then?" He looked a bit tense. He said low, "We are being followed." "What?!" "No, don't look back....."He gently put his palm down the small of her back and propelled her forward. She asked, "How do you know?" "We have been followed since we left the dress-maker's......" "By whom?" "A figure in a grey coat and hat." Diana stopped abruptly, pretended to drop her parcel and, as she bent to pick it up, glanced past her shoulder. Through the throng of people, she saw a tall figure in grey suddenly stop and pretend to speak to a chestnut seller. The Inspector frowned. "I told you not to look back. He may realise that we are wise to him. I must get you back to the carriage....." She said, a bit ruffled, "I am not a child. All this trying to shield me is only serving to make me more nervous! We ought to try to find out who he is!" Kent looked at her taken aback. "We? That's not a good idea. The Earl will not approve." As he spoke, light droplets of rain began to fall. He looked up in relief at the drizzle. "It's begun to rain.....let's hurry before it comes down harder....." "A little rain does not hurt anyone." "Miss Prince........Diana, "he said earnestly, "we don't know who or what is following and on a public street you make an easy target....." She looked unmoved by his attempt to appeal to her sensibilities. She glanced up at a cobbled pathway leading onto an adjoining street. She announced, "Let us give him a real chase!" To the Inspector's astonishment, she lifted her skirt with one hand and began to run up the narrow path. He let out a smothered oath. "Ah hell!" She surprised him by being nimble and swift. He called from behind, "Diana, you are being fool-hardy!" She glanced over her shoulder and shot back, "I never took you for a coward, Clark!" "That is not the point! Damn it!", he grunted, nearly tripping over a pile of old crates in an attempt to sidestep a couple of drunkards in the alleyway. She called, "I think we may have got his attention........" True enough the grey clad figure was following, trying to push past people along the street and alleyway. Diana emerged into the next street and would have gone towards an open square; but the rain began to fall heavier. People began to scamper for cover. Kent was able to grab her arm as she paused to consider the area. He hustled her to a nearby arcade of columns and archways lined with pawn, antique and book shops. He pulled her into the covered passageway." You'll be seen!" He dragged her into a small pawnshop and they peered through the glass pane of the door. The pawnbroker, a short bucktoothed man, looked up form behind his counter. "Can I help you, folks?" Kent breathed, "No.......we are just looking about......." "Well, don't be touchin' anything if you ain't going to buy......." They nodded and let out a tiny gasp as they saw the grey figure appear at the end of the arcade, slowly making its way towards them. The figure was peering into every store window. Kent suddenly had an idea. He shoved Diana to the window of the shop and ordered, "Pretend you are looking at something!" Diana picked up a book from a shelf and stood in front of the dusty window and pretended to read. The figure's face was hidden by the large hat and a scarf over the mouth; it peered in and seemed to start as it saw Miss Prince inside. Kent waited behind a shelf full of old brass fireplace items and kitchenware. The grey figure suddenly pushed opened the door and went behind the seemingly oblivious woman. The Inspector picked up a meatplate and smacked the stalker at the back of the head. The figure fell, dazed, in a heap at Diana's feet. The pawn-broker saw his precious charger crack into two and came running. "I hopes you will be payin' for that...That is royal Dolton...." Miss Prince retorted as she put her book down, "Bill the Earl of Gotham........" "I don't care who the bleedin' Earl of Goth......" The Inspector flashed a badge and ordered coldly, "Move." The man paled and began to apologise and retreat. "Oh beggin' yer pardon,sir.......I'll take meself to the back....." "Yes,you do that." Diana asked, "Who is it, Clark?" Kent bent and flicked the hat off, and drew down the scarf. The face that looked up at them was not that of a man as they had believed. The features were those of an attractive woman with titan hair, pulled back in a tight knot. Diana held her cheeks and gasped. "Artemis???!!!!!." She bent at once and tried to help the groaning figure to a sitting position. Kent regarded them in astonishment. "You know this woman?" "She is...like a sister to me....We grew up together in Themyscira......" "Themyscira?" "It is an island province in the Mediterranean. My mother is a Contessa.......and Artemis and I went to school at the same seminary........." "A Contessa? You are from a privileged background?" "Whatever privilege I had, according to our custom, I renounced to come here with Lord Wayne......I did not leave home under the best of circumstances. I left without mother's blessings." Kent folded his arms and said dryly, "Your fiancé omitted to tell me any of this. It makes sense that he should wed a blueblood like himself." "I do not consider myself a blue-blood...." She looked at the woman and asked gravely, "Why are you here?" The woman called Artemis winced, and rubbed her head. The hat had prevented her from sustaining any serious injury. "I was only coming to warn you.......someone is trying to kill you......" Kent looked at her with a cynical lift to the brow. "I believe we are aware of that fact and it seems we have now established the identity of that someone." Artemis looked at Diana earnestly. "You cannot believe it is me! You know I never would hurt you, sister." "Then why are you in England? Why are you following me?" "The Lady Hippolyta sent me ...........to try to persuade you back home......." Diana observed, "You fired that arrow at me last night, didn't you?" Artemis looked guilty but said defiantly, "We thought it would scare you into leaving......" "We?" "I came with your mother's servant, Hermes" She assisted her up. "Silly creatures, I guessed it from the feathers on the shaft...they were not native to Britain." Artemis grimaced. "I had not thought of that.......But that was all we ever did.....We witnessed when you were nearly run over by that carriage two days ago." "Well, that was only one of three other incidents......You cannot have been here long...." "Going on four days. It has been impossible getting access to you. You have been surrounded by Waynes' staff day and night." "Where is Hermes?" "I persuaded him to watch your maid and driver whilst I followed you two. I never expected you to knock me near senseless." Kent, listening to the conversation, finally felt the need to remark skeptically, "So you would have us believe that you have been following Miss Prince only to watch over her and you are not trying to get rid of her?" "Why would I want to do that? And who are you?'', she asked a bit frostily. "This is a police-man, Inspector Kent. Lord Wayne hired him to investigate the matter and like you, he too is watching out for me .....", Diana explained. "Your best option would be to leave here, sister, the longer you stay the worse your chances of survival. Your fiancé is a man with a dark past and many enemies......If you are wise you will not marry the Earl of Gotham......"