THE BARONET'S DAUGHTER

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

                        CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Quipp called on Mrs Possimer on the first day of June, having formulated a plan which he felt would be beneficial to them both.

    Mrs Possimer’s expression turned quite eager when she saw who her visitor was, and her invitation to enter her humble room was quite cordial.

    Quipp, who missed nothing, noticed that a fine china vase which had stood on the mantelpiece last time he was there was missing. Pawned, no doubt, and he felt a measure of sympathy.

    She indicated that they should sit and then regarded him with some hope in her eyes.

    ‘You have come with some news that will help me?’ she asked him.

    ‘I have indeed, Mrs Possimer,’ Quipp said. ‘I have made enquiries regarding the woman you saw with Mr Granville at the lodging house. Mrs Sophie Vallentine.’

    ‘How can that help me?’

    ‘Mrs Vallentine moves in very exclusive circles,’ he said. ‘She has the acquaintance of the Regent himself.’

    ‘Really?’

    ‘At present Mrs Vallentine, not content with being Mr Granville mistress, is attempting to attach herself in marriage to a very wealthy and respectable gentleman. Therefore she cannot afford even a whiff of scandal to connect to her name.’

    ‘I don’t see...’

    ‘You, my dear Mrs Possimer, could ruin all her plans.’

    Her eyes widened. ‘I?’

    ‘Here is her address,’ Quipp said handing her a note. ‘You must present yourself to her and ask that she employ you as, say, housekeeper; providing you with bed and board and a good wage.’

    ‘Why would she do that?’ Mrs Possimer asked. ‘I think she would show me the door.’

    ‘Ah! But you must make her aware of your knowledge,’ Quipp said. ‘You must make her see how damaging it would look in the broadsheets if her name appeared in connection with the murder of a baronet?’

    ‘But I am sure she had nothing to do with that,’ Mrs Possimer said in bewilderment.

    ‘No, but she was, according to what you overheard,’ Quipp said. ‘Willingly aiding and abetting Mr Granville in persuading Sir Edward Wellesley, the murdered man, to part with his property. The judging public might call that fraud if they were to read about it in the broadsheets.’

    ‘But...’ Mrs Possimer stammered. ‘You are talking of blackmail.’

    ‘That is a word I never use,’ Quipp said evenly. ‘And in your case it is no more than recompense for the dastardly way Mr Granville treated you; leaving you penniless after your loyalty to him.’

    ‘Recompense, yes.’ But she still looked uncertain.

    ‘It will take some courage, Mrs Possimer, to do it,’ Quipp said persuasively. ‘And I am certain Mr Granville will be rather put out that you have attached yourself to his mistress.’

    She shook her head, looking doubtful.

    ‘Mrs Possimer, do you know that the lodging house which you kept so respectable is now a...well, not to put too fine a point on it, a brothel.’

    ‘Ooh!’

    ‘Mr Granville still owns it and quite a few others besides,’ Quipp told her. ‘I believe prostitution is the mainstay of his wealth. These houses are very low, frequented by the very dregs of the city, so he does not expect his activities to come to the attention of his high society friends.’