A Crimson Warning

“Never. But surely you haven’t summoned me here under false pretence to discuss some old piece of rubbish?”

“No, I was hoping you could explain some of the finer points of politics for me. I’m coming up against some interesting bumps in my work for the Women’s Liberal Federation.”

“I hadn’t realized you were still pursuing it,” he said. “I thought Mr. Dillman’s death had changed your direction.”

“It has to a large degree, but I’m not privy to everything my husband is. There are frequent occasions on which all I can do is wait. I’m told patience is not a quality I possess in abundance.”

He smiled. “No, I imagine it wouldn’t be. What are your political woes? I’m happy to help you pass the time until more exciting work comes your way.”

“If women do get the vote, I can’t imagine anything could be more exciting,” I said. “So let’s see if we can help make that happen, shall we? Several gentlemen I’ve spoken to have offered various levels of support for our cause.”

“Excellent news.”

“Yes, except it’s come to my attention that some of them, in their personal lives, have attached themselves to projects, shall we say, that are less than desirable.”

“Projects? Do you mean affairs?”

“No, no,” I said. “Nothing of the kind. Business, I mean. They’re engaged in business practices that fall short ethically.”

“And what is your concern?”

“Do we want our movement to include them, given their moral shortcomings?”

“The unfortunate truth is that gentlemen do fall short sometimes, particularly when it comes to business. They let their desire for wealth trump their desire to conduct themselves ethically.”

“I can’t condone that,” I said.

“Nor can I,” he said. “It’s an issue that’s troubled me greatly for years. I’ve done much work trying to ensure better conditions for the working class, but try to convince their employers to help when it requires cutting back even slightly on their profits.”

He smiled again, his composure utterly intact. This was not a gentleman concerned his own role in such scandalous dealings was in danger of being revealed. Or rather, this was not a gentleman concerned I was a person likely to cause him any problems, despite my role in the investigation.

“It’s outrageous,” I said. “I recently had occasion to become better informed about the way the working class live. Something must be done. Given that I feel so strongly on the subject, how can I overlook the failings of those persons supporting the vote for women?”

“That, Lady Emily, is the problem of politics. You should speak to Mr. Barnes. He’s an expert on refusing to compromise when it comes to morality. Because he works to shape policy from a distance, he insists on higher standards. He can distance himself from anyone who doesn’t measure up. As a result, people on both sides of the divide listen to him—they know his opinions and analyses aren’t tainted by overwhelming desire to win the next election.”

“Like you.”

“Yes,” he said. “Like any of us whose fortunes rise and fall with the whims of the people.”

“I don’t know how you can bear the pressure,” I said. “I couldn’t.”

“One doesn’t enter politics unless one is thrilled by every aspect of it. Elections are titillating times during which anything can happen.”

“But what if the outcome is all wrong?” I asked. “That must be infuriating.”

“The loser always thinks the outcome is wrong,” he said, pulling his brows in close together. He tugged the sleeves of his jacket. “Which is why it’s best to never find oneself in the position of losing.”

“I’ve heard stories of unscrupulous politicians going to great lengths to ensure victory. Surely that’s no way to secure the right outcome? A man willing to cheat has proven he’s a bad choice to hold office.”

“What made you think of that?”

“Nothing in particular,” I said. The truth was, it had seemed to me a fairly obvious jab at political scandal.

“It’s not something that happens,” he said. “Not really. Not these days. People can’t just go about stealing elections, no matter what anyone tries to claim.” His voice had an edge to it I’d not heard before.

“I imagine it happens more than anyone cares to admit,” I said. “Unscrupulous men who care about winning above all? I can easily picture their sort arranging to have ballot boxes stuffed.”

He balled his right hand into a fist and released it, again and again in rapid succession. “No, Lady Emily, you’re off the mark on this one. It doesn’t happen except in fiction.”

Unethical business practices didn’t cause him any unease, but his entire demeanor had changed when he spoke about elections. That gave me enough for the moment. I would figure out what to do with it later. “What do you think of this business with Lady Glover? It’s terrifying, isn’t it?”

“I imagine she’s undaunted, even in the face of abduction,” he said. “She’s a brave girl and will come out of this with stories to dine on for years.”

“You’re not worried about her?”

He sighed and flushed just a little. “I am. But I’m trying not to give up hope altogether. Too easy to fall into despair if one thinks on it too much.”

“After what happened to Cordelia Dalton, we’re all on edge.”

“Of course,” he said. “Try not to trouble yourself with it. It will be sorted out. Forgive me, but I must be off. I’ve a meeting with the prime minister. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.”

“It’s always a delight to spend time with you,” I said.

He got up to leave, but turned back as he was about to leave the room. “Emily, next time you want me to come to you, there’s no need to pretend it’s your husband who’s in need of company. I assure you I’ll always give you my utmost discretion.”

*   *   *

Four hours after Mr. Foster left me, the Post ran a special evening edition. A boy from the East End who rented his affections by the hour had sold them his story, and all the lurid details of his encounters with Mr. Stanbury had been exposed for public consumption.

*   *   *

Colin came home at nearly seven o’clock. “You’ve seen the paper?” he asked, tossing a copy of the Post on my desk.

I nodded. “We need to talk about Mr. Foster. I saw him this afternoon.”

“You didn’t speak to him about the papers you found, I hope?”

“No. I knew you’d want me to leave that to you,” I said. “But I’ve learned quite a bit today, and your friend, Mr. Foster, may not have quite the character you’d like to think.” I told him everything that transpired.

“Well done, Emily,” Colin said.

“Don’t you think it’s odd that Mr. Stanbury’s secret was exposed so soon after I’d unnerved Mr. Foster? Mr. Stanbury, who’s also connected to that dreadful match factory?”

“Foster got agitated when you mentioned election fraud, not the mistreatment of working class,” he said. “Why would that push him to do anything to Stanbury? And Stanbury’s secret didn’t have to do with the factory. I’m telling you, Emily, the factory isn’t what you think.”

“I despise the place,” I said.

“I know,” he said, placing his hand softly on my cheek. “I’ve spoken to our solicitors and set up an account for you to use. We will look for a building in a suitable location and you can design a better plan for Mr. Majors’s charges.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I still don’t trust Mr. Foster, though I am sorry I seem to have made him think I was sending for him on false pretenses.”

“You did send for him on false pretenses.”

“Yes, but not those false pretenses. You must make a point of letting him know we’re blissfully happy so he doesn’t get the wrong idea.”

“Gentlemen don’t speak to each other in such ways,” he said.