A Death for a Cause by Caroline Dunford Read Free Book Online Page A

somewhat sour disposition. She had a strong dislike of male authority and was currently on her last warning.’
    I noticed Fitzroy did not refer to any notes. No, notes could be incriminating, I told myself, and I did my best to retain the information. Whatever the doctor had given me had eased the throbbing, but I still felt as if there was an iron band around my temples that was intent on squeezing my poor brain.
    â€˜The man,’ continued Fitzroy, either not noticing or not caring to notice my discomfort, ‘was Sir Aubrey Wilks, a senior civil servant. Unmarried, or perhaps “married to his job” is a better description. He had been known to frequent the higher class of brothel for his amusement, but not to avail himself of disporting with his own sex. He has no connection with the suffragette movement that I can discover. Though, of course, I have only been looking since this morning. He was not someone on Edward’s watchlist.’
    I swallowed hard, trying desperately not to think of how my mother would react to this conversation. Fitzroy has never amended his manner around me to suggest he thinks of me as a member of a weaker sex or a being with fragile sensibilities. 19 The mention of Edward, the man with bushy eyebrows, a discreet office, and a network of informants across Great Britain, also sent a shiver down my spine. He is less amiable than Fitzroy.
    â€˜The girl Aggie was not known to be a …’ I left the sentence hanging. I might be quite capable of following Fitzroy’s train of thought, 20 but there was no reason why I could not speak as a lady.
    â€˜She was not of the appearance or breeding necessary to procure her a position among the establishments Sir Aubrey preferred.’ He shrugged. ‘And even if on some whim he had had occasion to lower his standards, I can discover no scrap of evidence that she was ever a street-walker.’
    â€˜But you think she might have planted or somehow set of this firebomb?’
    Fitzroy inclined his head to one side, ‘My information suggests she may have been connected to a cell responsible for the destruction of a telephone exchange last month. She has certainly been arrested for window-smashing, and was only spared jail because a foolish man in a wig judged her to be of a respectable position and a woman of promise, who had been led astray by more devious women.’
    â€˜You do not believe that so?’
    â€˜I think she was quick and clever, dedicated to her cause and if she was caught in a fire bombing of her own making it was by accident and not design. I also happen to think that from smashing windows to firebombing is a big step, but to be frank my interest in this matter is Wilks. He was a man of some standing in the Civil Service, and more to the point some of his old school fellows are of even more standing, and want to know what happened to their old chum.’
    â€˜Could Aggie’s death be a suicide and Wilks’s death a collateral effect?’ I countered.
    Fitzroy took a deep breath. ‘So far something of that nature has not yet occurred. It would indeed be a powerful statement.’ He took another sip of his coffee. ‘You know, Euphemia, I am very glad you are on our side. You would make a formidable opponent.’
    â€˜How do you know I do not support votes for women?’ I returned hotly.
    â€˜I suspect you do,’ replied Fitzroy, ‘but you would never condone violence, especially where innocent life is endangered. And your upbringing would preclude you from supporting self-destruction altogether.’ His face softened. ‘I do believe women will one day get the vote and that they deserve it, too, but now is not the time for that particular battle. We will face such peril on these isles that we will all be forced to stand together.’
    â€˜You are suggesting that war will soon come to our shores.’
    Fitzroy’s eyes raised in surprise. ‘I very