After sending Ash away from her house, Nora indulged in another fit of tears, and then a night and a day where she refused to even get out of bed. The subsequent days were not much better. Judith brought her tea and toast and naturally said nothing about Nora’s mood—it wasn’t a maid’s place, particularly a maid so briefly in a woman’s service. Daniel said nothing either, because he was scarcely there. His work kept him at the office for long hours, and he frequently dined elsewhere, so Nora could retire for the night before he even came home.
Thus, she had very little sense of what was happening in her life. Daniel offered some very brief updates on the matter of her martial status.
“Got another letter from Morrison,” Daniel said one night, about a week later. “He says he won’t give up his claim and that he’ll bring in the doctor who wrote the diagnosis of madness should you try to argue your case. I’m afraid that a judge will not look kindly on a madwoman’s word versus a husband’s and a doctor’s.”
“But you know I’m not mad.”
“Yes,” Daniel said, “However, I can’t be a witness if I wasn’t there to see it.”
Nora sighed. “What if I could contact our old neighbors? Or locate our housekeeper Mary Bridger? She lived with us. She could vouch for my sanity.”
“You may try,” Daniel said, with no evident hope. “Write some letters to your old neighbors. Or find old acquaintances. What was the name of your friend…Lydia Farley?”
“Mrs Mumford now. I’ve already spoken to her,” Nora said. A sour taste rose in her mouth, as she remembered Lydia’s innocently given but devastating gossip. “She would vouch for me, I’m sure.”
“It would help if one of your supporters was a man. Close to you, but with an unimpeachable reputation, and known for good judgment.”
“The only man who would qualify is dead,” she said hotly. “That’s why I’m in this mess.”
Daniel frowned. “Don’t raise your voice to me, Nora. I’m not the architect of your troubles.”
“I apologize,” she said, bowing her head.
He looked mollified. “Very well. I have to travel to Portsmouth for a few days on business for the company. Perhaps when I return, the situation will have changed.”
Nora said nothing. She couldn’t help feeling that Daniel wished the situation, and Nora, would simply disappear. Only blood and a need to honor the family name guaranteed his support.
So she spent hours virtually alone, with little to do other than relive all the worst scenes of her past, from the loss of Albert, to the indignities Edmund inflicted on her, to the horribly sharp memories of Ash. She brushed her hand against her bedsheet one morning, and the sensation abruptly triggered memories of the night at the inn. Just the thought of what they’d done made her flush. She sat down on the bed, putting her face in her hands.
“Such a fool,” she muttered. Why had she trusted him? Just because he seemed so intriguing, and kind, and deeply interested in her, plain little Nora.
“Just an act.” Nora told herself that every time, and every time she struggled to convince herself Ash was so talented an actor.
In any case, he honored her last wish. Since he left her house, she hadn’t seen him or heard from him again. It had been over a week of complete silence—for all she knew he’d fallen into a hole somewhere and never climbed out. She worried, a little bit, and then told herself to ignore the pangs of doubt. Ash didn’t need her, didn’t want her.
Instead, she tried to work. She sent Judith out to fetch various types of glass, and then spent hours attempting to regain her interest in the experiments she once found so fascinating.
But now, she could hardly be bothered. She merely fiddled with the glass, propping pieces up in front of candles and mirrors to create rainbows throughout the room. The effect was pretty, and at times mesmerizing. But it was nothing more than a diversion. She learned nothing, advancing not a step toward improving her communication method.
“Bird see toy markings known,” she muttered. It was one of the messages that Edmund sent. “Bird see toy.”
She was certain it was a code, but she’d always shrugged it off. She told herself that it didn’t concern her, that someone else would sort it out. But now, here she was, alone with her secret knowledge. The only person who could sort it out was her.
Nora spent the rest of the day, and the night, and the day after that trying various methods to decipher the words, but nothing worked. Nora had only a rudimentary background in such matters, and all she knew was that the code was either much more complex than it seemed, or it relied on a specific key she didn’t have access to.
Perhaps someone did, however. Nora recalled an old colleague of her husband’s, who took an interest in codes and ciphers. She wrote a letter to Mr Windigate, sending it to the club where both he and Albert had been members. The letter gave no details of the messages—Nora didn’t trust anyone at this point—but merely stated that she had encountered a sticky problem in a code and could they meet to discuss it, if he had time?
Then, because she was forced to wait for a reply, Nora went back to fiddling with her glass panes all night. She was tense and irate, but at three in the morning discovered how layering two or more panels could create an intensely bright beam against the wall. The effect delighted her so much that she simply started to laugh out loud, which brought Judith rushing up to the room.
“Ma’am, what is going on?” the maid asked.
Nora stifled her giggles. “Look!” She aimed the glass panels carefully, and then lit the candle. A bright spot of light appeared on the wall. “It’s as bright as daylight!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Judith didn’t seem nearly as impressed. “Shouldn’t you get to sleep? It’s very late.”
“I’m not sleepy. Anyway, my back aches,” she said petulantly.
“Then I could bring you a tisane.”
“I don’t want a tisane.”
“What do you want?”
Ash. Nora wrinkled her nose, disgusted with herself for still thinking like that. “Nothing,” she said, her voice now dull. “I suppose I should sleep after all.”
Judith remained to put out the lights and close the door. Nora pulled the covers up high, wondering whether she’d made a fool of herself. If her goal was to present a sane and sensible face, she probably should not remain up until the small hours, playing with fire and glass and laughing to herself.
Nora woke the next morning to find that she had bled, signaling her monthly course. Well, that accounted for her pain yesterday. She was simultaneously relieved, because she was in no position to have a child, and disappointed, because if she was bearing Ash’s child, she’d have a reason to contact him. She hated herself for it, but she missed him. Despite everything, she longed to be near him again. Every day, she thought of things, nearly said them aloud, and then remembered only Ash would find them funny.
Judith was attentive and good-natured, but she was a closed book. She reacted to nearly everything with a quiet calm that never hinted of her feelings. In contrast, Nora felt that her heart lay exposed for all to see. How could anyone look at her and not know that she felt shredded?
“Letter for you, ma’am.”
Judith’s timely intrusion snapped her out of her miserable thoughts. She picked up the letter on the tray, pleased to see that Mr Windigate had replied already. After she read through the note, she said, “He requests that I meet him at his club this afternoon at two. One room permits ladies as guests, and we can talk there.”
At half past one, Nora and Judith rode in a hired carriage toward Mr Windigate’s club. Nora sat with her hands in her lap, tugging the fingers of her gloves. Judith sat opposite, looking starched and prim in her maid’s uniform.
“You hope this gentleman can help you with your experiments?” Judith asked.
“Not my own experiments, but rather a puzzle that’s been bothering me,” Nora said carefully. While Judith knew the gist of Nora’s recent experiences, Nora never told her about the messages. “I only want a little information, and I don’t want to get anyone else involved in my troubles if I can avoid it. So a quick interview, and then—”
Without warning, the carriage lurched to a halt. Nora nearly tumbled to the floor, and Judith threw her hands out as her back was pushed against the front wall of the cab.
“What’s the matter?” the maid shouted to the driver.
The was no reply. Nora peeked out the side window. “He’s gone! I see him running away!”
“Stay here, ma’am. I’ll be back.” Judith pushed open the door and bounded out of the carriage in the wake of the disappearing driver.
Nora barely had time to take a breath before the other door was flung open and a man appeared, holding a knife tight by his side. “Get out,” he ordered shortly.
“Excuse me?” Nora asked, too surprised to think clearly.
“Get out, or I’ll pin you right to the seat where you’re sitting.”
He jiggled the knife to make his point. Nora nodded slowly. “Did Morrison hire you?”
“Never mind who hired me. Get out.”
Nora could see he was serious, so she slid down the seat to the open door. The man stepped back to let her descend.
“Quick now,” he muttered.
Once she had her feet on the ground, the man pushed the tip of the blade into her lower back. “Walk forward,” he said. “Down this alley. Don’t be clever. Just walk.”
Nora took a step down the alley where the carriage had stopped. Everything must have been planned carefully. The carriage blocked the view of passersby, making it unlikely anyone would notice a man escorting a lady down the alleyway.
“Where are we going?” Nora asked.
“You’ll find out.”
“I’d rather know in advance.”
“I’d rather you didn’t ask so many questions.” He prodded the knife a bit. “Understand?”
“I understand that if you want to take me to someone you can’t puncture me!”
“Then cooperate. Give me the papers.”
“What papers?”
“The ones you’re taking to the man. Windigate.”
“There are no papers!”
“Then what are you asking him to decode? Don’t be clever, lady, just hand the papers over. Whatever you got the stuff written on.”
“There’s nothing, I swear!”
“Don’t try to play me—”
An oof from behind interrupted him. Nora was shoved forward, and when she scrambled to look around, she was astonished to see Judith attacking the man. The unarmed maid moved fearlessly, moving her body in ways Nora didn’t even recognize. Short, fast punches and kicks made short work of the equally flummoxed mugger. Judith kicked the knife away in one instant, and in the next, knocked the man off his feet.
He groaned, putting a hand to his head. “Who in blazes are you?”
Judith ignored him, asking Nora, “How are you, ma’am? I thought the driver might have been a distraction, so I came back quick as I could.”
“I’m in one piece, thank you.”
“Good. Stay there, if you please.”
Then Judith swooped down on the man, straddling him in a way that made Nora blush. Judith’s intentions were anything but romantic, though. She grabbed the man by the hair. “Who hired you? What do you want?”
“He thinks I’ve written down some information,” Nora said. “But I don’t have anything.”
“Who’s behind this?” Judith asked again.
A shout came from the end of the all by the street.
“Someone has seen us!” Nora said, relieved.
Judith sighed, then slammed the man’s head onto the cobblestones. He went limp.
“What did you do that for?” Nora squeaked out.
“Just let me manage this, ma’am.” Judith quickly rose to her feet, and then screamed. “Help! Help, please!”
The cry sounded helpless and panicked—not at all in keeping with the actions Judith performed. Yet her expression was now one of terror, and she moved to stand very close to Nora.
By that point, several people had come running toward them. Some were gawkers eager for a spectacle, a few were genuinely concerned for the safety of what appeared to be two helpless women, and one was an actual Bow Street Runner who happened to be nearby and followed the commotion hoping to expedite the reporting of a crime—usually Runners weren’t summoned until a messenger asked for them at Bow Street.
Judith played the role of dutiful servant, giving the Runner a false but plausible story about an attempted mugging.
“He was about to take my mistress’s reticule when he slipped on a rock and lost his balance. Hit his head when he fell—that’s Providence at work,” Judith finished, with a pious nod.
Several members of the gathered crowd murmured agreement. The Runner offered to haul the still-unconscious man away and see that he was confined until he came to and could answer some questions. “Not least being his name,” the Runner said. “We like to know who’s misbehaving.”
Nora simply stood there, still in shock at the revelation that her maid was not what she seemed to be. Judith politely refused further aid from anyone, other than for a gentleman to hail another carriage for them to return home—he also insisted on paying the fare. Judith led Nora to the carriage, keeping one hand on Nora’s shoulder, as if she were far more shaken and delicate than she was.
Once in the carriage, however, Nora pulled herself out of her haze. “Judith Markby! Who are you and what is going on?”
“I’m a good servant, ma’am. To your other question, it was thought that considering the situation, it would be beneficial if someone could watch over you, at least until the matter of Mr Morrison is resolved.”
“You’re…with the Zodiac?”
Judith smiled deprecatingly. “Only in a manner of speaking. Remember Crewe? We are all servants, providing necessary service, albeit to unusual people. Like Crewe, I have some skills that were not learned in my education as a maid. We’re called the Disreputables due to our disreputable pasts. But in all ways that matter, ma’am, you may rely on me as your humble servant. ”
“You might have told me before.”
“Apologies for the delay, but it’s so often an awkward subject to raise.”
“I imagine so,” Nora conceded. “You sound as if you’ve done this sort of thing quite a lot.”
“A fair bit, though every job is different.”
“That attack just now,” said Nora. “Why didn’t you tell them what really happened? You wouldn’t have got in trouble for defending me against him.”
“They never would have believed me, and if they did, then there would have been many more questions. It’s better this way. People see what they expect to see. They saw a lady and her maid nearly accosted and saved by Providence. The authorities get to haul away a criminal, and everyone feels that the natural order is restored.”
“But you deserve the credit for stopping him.”
“Which you have very kindly acknowledged, ma’am. What the world thinks of me is of no concern.”
“If you say so.” Nora was doubtful.
“What is a concern, ma’am, is the fact that the letter sent from Mr Windigate was intercepted, allowing an ambush to be set up while you were en route to your legitimate appointment. It means your enemy knows where you are.”
“But I should have no more enemies! Edmund gains nothing by trying to kidnap me again.”
“Does he know that? If he wishes to silence you…”
“Oh.” That sounded just like Edmund, in fact. “You mean I should tell the Zodiac what I know.”
“Certainly, you should tell someone what just occurred. Mr Allander perhaps.”
“That I cannot do.”
“Why ever not?” Judith asked.
“He’s not trustworthy,” Nora explained. “I learned the truth about him via a friend, who shared some news she happened to know.’
“News?”
“Rumors, I suppose. It was news only to me!”
“As you say, ma’am.” Judith added, cautiously, “I will note that I myself am suspicious of rumors, having started a fair number myself for various purposes. You should not believe all you hear.”
Nora sighed unhappily. “I don’t know what to believe.”
“He has the confidence of his brother, for what that’s worth.”
“I told him I would not see him again. My own brother does not wish me to see him or correspond with him in any way.”
“Ah,” said Judith. “Much as you were once forbidden from climbing on rooftops and running away to freedom?”
“It’s not the same at all,” Nora said.
“No?”
“Of course not. My brother has my interests at heart.”
“Family so often thinks so,” Judith agreed. “Of course, he doesn’t know about the Zodiac, or the implications of your invention. Might his advice change if he did?”
“If Daniel knew all that, he’d have heart failure,” Nora said.
Judith simply waited with what Nora could only describe as an air of polite yet bullying expectation.
“Oh, very well,” Nora said at last. “I shall write to Mr Allander. Though only because it is in my interests, not his,” she added hastily.
“Yes, ma’am.”