Elsie

Chapter 24: Evidence

"So, you've seen the photograph, but you still don't believe Ray?" Mary asked.

It was Thursday afternoon, and the past three days had been the longest of Elsie's entire life. It had not taken her long to realize that the handwriting on the back of the photograph was Ray Sullivan's. Once she knew that, she understood his message. He had accused Clement of visiting brothels at the New Year's Ball, and now he was sending her evidence. She sat on the information for three days trying to decide what to do. Now that it was Thursday, a weight sat in her stomach. She had convinced Nora to let her visit Mary today, having recovered from her illness.

"Clement has been nothing short of a gentleman to me and everyone else," Elsie sighed in frustration. "That is far more than I can say for Ray."

Mary cocked a brow. "But you're here, telling me this... so you must have your doubts."

"I can't deny what I saw in the photograph," Elsie replied. "When Ray first brought me to Elmsdale, he threatened to publish something damaging about Clement. I didn't see what it was at the time, but now I know it must have been the photograph. Clement didn't seem to care if Ray published it then, so there must be an innocent explanation. Besides, I'm not even confident that the building in the picture is a house of ill repute."

"You're also courting him," Mary stated.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You want to believe the best of him," Mary pointed out, shrugging her shoulders.

Elsie rubbed her forehead. "I should show him the photograph," she said, "and give him a chance to explain it."

"What?" Mary gasped. "Tell him that someone accused him of visiting a brothel?"

"I can't let this one suspicious incident define my impression of Clement," Elsie stated flatly. "I owe him more than that. He has never once treated me badly, and after all he has done for me, I owe it to him to ask for an explanation. I refuse to allow lack of communication to cause misunderstandings or animosity between us. I'm going to tell him plainly what I know and give him the opportunity to give me a reasonable explanation."

"He could lie," Mary noted.

Elsie thought over the way Clement had tended to her when she was ill, and she smiled a bit when she remembered that he had told her he was going to marry her. "I know him," she rebutted confidently. "He wouldn't lie to me, and he certainly wouldn't visit any brothel."

"Are we taking bets?" Ray Sullivan's voice cut through the air, and Elsie jumped back.

"What are you doing here, Ray?" Mary asked angrily.

"I knew Elsie wouldn't be able to resist telling you once she knew," he said cockily.

"You've been following me," Elsie accused.

Ray shrugged.

"What do you want?" Elsie snapped.

Ray shook his head in mock disappointment. "Your temper doesn't become you, dear cousin. And here I was coming to offer you my services."

"You've done enough," Elsie replied.

"I'll drive you tonight," Ray came straight to the point. "You can see for yourself."

"Or I could ask him about it myself!"

"You could, but you'd always wonder if he was telling the truth," Ray tempted her. "Like Mary said, the man could lie."

"He's not a man like you, Ray," Elsie scoffed.

"Well, then, I suppose you have nothing to fear by coming with me this evening."