The Circle of Sappho (10 page)

He had not long arrived back from his meeting with George and Bridges, but the events of the whole day now invaded his mind, all wishing to be recorded as he opened his journal to the last entry and began to write.

Bath, Monday 26th March, 1804

Am I forever to be cursed to live my present life entwined with the ghosts of past ones? The day has presented a number of surprises and, at the same time, memories of an earlier existence have been resurrected and brought to consciousness once more.

The book Miss Jennings mentioned was so familiar to me, even after all this time, it was all I could do to stop myself calling out my beloved's name; that sweet sound I used to savour each time it emanated from my lips. But then why should it not be so, ‘The Adventures of Telemachus' was her favourite work of literature and she used to read it to me when we were together to try and convert me to become one of its many admirers.

But I must stop there, for if I continue down this path of recollection I shall find the way too painful to bear. I know one day that I shall record it within these pages and spare no agonising detail, but now is not the time; there are other matters from the past that call for my attention.

The Scarred Man represents my life's work, or rather the work I have dedicated my life to; that of bringing those who killed my father to justice. I was perhaps one step closer to realising it for a while today. The confirmation of his presence in Bath, by George and Bridges at our meeting this evening, was swiftly made obsolete by the further news, delivered by the landlord of the Fountain Inn, that the Scarred Man had left the city that morning. My instinct in the White Hart, to search the streets to find him, was therefore correct. I may well have sighted him if I had done so, but now he is gone from my grasp once more.

One positive aspect to this episode is that I realise I felt his presence while in the city. The feeling that he was near came on late yesterday afternoon and was similar to when I encountered Malone at the fair all those years ago.

As disappointed as I am at this turn of events, I am not wholly downhearted for two good reasons. First, this sensing of him means I may now know when he is in close proximity and I intend, therefore, to follow my instincts next time. And second, I fully believe this will be sometime soon. Why am I so certain? Given that Thomas Malone was Wicks' predecessor in the city, and a connection has now been established between the Scarred Man and the two of them, it can be assumed there exists an association between the criminal element in Bath and that of London. And given the Scarred Man's former link with Thomas Malone, it can only be assumed he also has a connection with his brother, even after all these years. Also, on leaving the city, he headed out on the Bristol Road, not the London Road, which means he may surely pass through Bath on his return to the capital.

Why Thomas Malone was murdered remains a mystery. Since being in Bath I have learnt that Wicks was responsible for the killing, but why did he perpetrate it? Probably to assume control of the city by usurping Malone; but did Wicks know of his connection to the London underworld (and who he was related to) when he killed him? What is strange is that the London connection seemed unconcerned by the murder, and merely continued with Wicks in charge as they had done previously with Malone's brother; business as usual. But this does not ring true in my mind and I believe that Wicks knew exactly who Thomas Malone was associated with in London and, likewise, that his brother knew exactly what was going to happen in Bath and did not stand in the way. Whether the London Malone ordered his own brother's death or merely allowed it to take place, the question remains as to what Thomas Malone had done to warrant his murder.

If it were not for the case I have undertaken for Lady Harriet, I would leave for Bristol this very moment and search the streets until I found him. But where would I even begin to look? As well as I may believe that I know the intricacies of Bath's criminal world and its streets, passages and alleyways, it would be like starting again in Bristol. I could send George and Bridges there again, but to what end? What could they find out in that city which could not be gathered in this one. Given the Scarred Man was heading in the direction of Bristol, it can be assumed, perhaps, that this city is also part of Malone's criminal web. I am certain that the Scarred Man will come back through Bath on his return to London, whenever that is, and this is my best chance of coming face-to-face with him. Failing that, I need to find out as much as I can about Wicks' operation in Bath and its connection to London. I will find George and Bridges tomorrow and ask them to make enquires and ascertain if any disgruntled members of Wicks' gang are willing to disclose the information I require.

In the meantime, I will attempt to solve the case undertaken for Lady Harriet, although the more I think about it the more I fail to understand why she requires my services at all, given her connection with the government's network of secret agents.

I cannot believe the conspiracy angle Lady Harriet mentioned though; that of Napoleon, through his secret network, having killed the girl and her teacher. If there is a murderer, then I believe either he or she to reside within the school grounds. I intend to learn more when I return there tomorrow.

At least I am not involved in Fitzpatrick's blackmail case. As much as I am sorry to disappoint my friend, it is one problem I am pleased not to have to concern myself with.

While I have been writing this entry one thought has come to mind: is it more than coincidence I was otherwise engaged with this potentially nonsensical case for Lady Harriet while the Scarred Man was in the city? Only time will tell.

Early on Tuesday morning Swann hired a chaise and drove out to the school at Grove Park, where the deaths had taken place two days previously. The morning was dry and a slight breeze added to the pleasantness of the journey. The lone horse, harnessed to the chaise, made fair speed as it trotted up one of the northern hills out of the city and onto the flat expanse that was Lansdown.

The main building, Grove House, named after its original owner and where the majority of classrooms and dormitories of the school were now located, had been built in the late fourteenth century. It had once stood in the middle of grounds twice as large as they were today, but even so, the land that still surrounded it was generous. The estate had remained in the Grove family for one hundred and fifty years before being sold to a wealthy, self-made gentleman, who it was said had acquired his fortune by mysterious means. The new owner immediately set about altering the estate to his own design. He enlarged the gardens, covered the grounds with Classical statues and dammed the main stream that ran through the estate, so creating an island surrounded by a lake. Meanwhile, inside the main house, it was rumoured that major alterations had been undertaken in great secrecy. False panelling and underground tunnels were said to have been installed, but these were, for the most part, merely the idle musings of the local clientele who frequented the nearby inn.

It was also suggested that all this work, both internal and external, had been for the mistress of the house, who held clandestine meetings with her female friends and where obscene rituals were performed naked. Whether this was true or not, nobody knew for certain. But what was known, however, was that after she died her husband abandoned the estate and moved abroad. The house and grounds was auctioned off in lots, with the main buildings and immediate land bought by an anonymous bidder. This person had subsequently become the main benefactor of the school that Miss Jennings opened.

Swann arrived at the gates to Grove Park and immediately noticed the absence of the protestors, which may have been, he surmised, due to the early hour. On being announced, he spoke briefly to Miss Jennings, who had arranged for him to interview the girls who had shared a dormitory with the dead girl. Before this, however, he requested permission to speak to Mr Bolton – the girl's ‘protector' and temporary French master. Miss Jennings agreed and said she would assemble the first girl in thirty minutes' time, in her office. Swann thanked her and left.

Swann found John Bolton outside, standing on the lawn near the house. The other man was obviously expecting Swann as he did not seem surprised when he came up beside him. Swann was not sure whether the man knew the truth of the incident, whether Lady Harriet had enlightened him, or if he was still under the impression the two women had been killed in a boating accident. He therefore kept his questioning vague enough not to reveal the true circumstances if Bolton was unaware.

‘I would like to ask you to describe to me your movements yesterday morning,' said Swann. And then, almost as an afterthought, added: ‘Your name seems a familiar one to me, have we met before?'

‘Not that I am aware,' replied the other man. ‘As for my movements yesterday, I have told everything to Lady Montague.'

‘Well,' said Swann with more than a little annoyance in his tone, ‘I am asking you to repeat it for me, as my services have been engaged to discover exactly how the girl you were meant to be protecting came to be killed.' This seemed to convince the man and once he had cleared his throat, he began to speak.

‘After the early meal and when the others had left for church, I accompanied Miss Templeton to the dormitory. She said she wished to complete the packing of her clothes.'

‘And what happened when you reached the dormitory?'

‘She went inside, while I remained outside.'

‘Is this what normally happened?'

‘This type of occurrence rarely arose, but yes; especially as there were no other doors in the dormitory.

‘Then what happened?'

‘I stood outside the dormitory for about ten minutes, maybe fifteen, as there was no hurry for her to be ready, because the carriage hired to take her home was not due for around two hours. After that I knocked on the door to check on her, but there was no reply.'

‘Why did you knock then, when you said there was no need for expedience?'

‘I cannot say for certain. Only, perhaps, that there was no sound from the room, which one might expect if a person is gathering their belongings together.'

‘And then what did you do?'

‘I knocked on the door again, but Miss Templeton still did not reply. This time I opened the door, or rather pushed it open, as a chair had been leant against the back of it.'

‘Miss Templeton had not locked the door?'

‘No. There is a rule in the school that there are no locks on the girls' rooms.'

‘What did you see when you entered the dormitory?'

‘It was empty. Miss Templeton's trunk was next to her bed, but she was not in the room. I walked over to one of the windows that faces the lake and found the latch undone and the frame slightly open.'

‘Was it that window there,' asked Swann, pointing up at the building.

Bolton nodded. As he looked up his expression changed to one of surprise; a small balustrade ran along the building wall underneath the window, and from where the ground could be easily reached or another floor accessed. Swann noted Bolton's reaction.

‘It seems you were unaware of the balustrade as a means of exit, or entrance?' said Swann.

It was obvious from Bolton's expression this had been the case.

‘And then what did you do?'

‘I came down the main staircase and out into the grounds to search for her,' replied Bolton.

‘You searched for her on your own?'

‘For a while I was aided by the gardener, but yes, for the majority of the time I searched alone.'

‘So why do you think Miss Templeton left the dormitory without you?'

‘I have no idea,' said Bolton.

‘And where were you when her body was found?'

‘I was with the coachman, who had by now arrived to collect Miss Templeton.'

‘Thank you, Mr Bolton, those are all the questions I wish to ask for now.'

Despite his story, John Bolton was a key suspect. On his own admission there was no one else with him for most of the time Grace was ‘missing', though one aspect in his favour was that he was still here at the school. If he had killed Grace, along with Miss Leigh, then surely he would have left the scene of the crime as quickly as possible?

These thoughts would have to wait, however, as Swann still had the girls to talk to, along with the gardener, Tom. He thanked Bolton for his assistance then headed into the main house and Catherine Jennings' office on the first floor.

Seven girls had shared the dormitory with Grace, but by the time Swann began to question the fourth of them, a pattern had emerged. It was not that they were deliberately colluding with their uniform answers, but rather, Swann surmised, they did not have much to say; especially as they were still under the assumption both their classmate and teacher had met their demise as a result of an accident. It became apparent, however, that Grace and Miss Leigh had been very much liked by all in the school and nothing unusual had happened in the time leading up to the tragedy.

The fifth interviewee was a girl called Anne. She had been, according to Miss Jennings, Grace's best friend, but her monosyllabic responses and vacant expression shed no real light on their relationship or gave any insight into what may have happened that morning. She was either ill, or had taken a substance, possibly for her grief, that had left her less than lucid.

Swann finished his questioning and Anne stood up to leave. As she did so she tripped and stumbled forward into him. He helped her stand upright again and she was then escorted from the room by Elsa, the head girl, who was sitting in on the interviews at Miss Jennings's request, given how upset they all were over the deaths.