Beginning, Section II

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Part 9 (iii)

It took one agonizing week before Elizabeth was able to do any snooping about the Ashton household. Victoria went out to pay calls with her mother, leaving Lizzie to do some menial tasks about the house. It had taken her a very long time to get a feel for Victoria's room. Whenever her mistress went out, Lizzie went about Victoria's room, memorizing where she kept everything. She also would look for any incriminating evidence: diaries, notes, bloody garments that had yet to be discarded.... So far, Lizzie's luck had been down on her and she did not find anything useful, yet.

However, with both the Ashton ladies out and Lord Ashton sequestered in his study, the time was an excellent opportunity to some detective work.

Elizabeth had ascertained within her first week where Delia's room was, so naturally that would be where she would start first.

Lizzie crept silently down the corridor, frequently checking over her shoulder, and finally arrived in front of the door. She opened it slowly, cringing when it squeaked from disuse, and expecting someone to jump out at her at any moment. She quickly stepped over the threshold into the room and shut the door.

The room was partially draped in dust cloths. The huge mahogany bed was still uncovered, but stripped of its linens. Elizabeth headed for the wardrobe first and opened the door. A variety of clothes hung on the rack. The most remarkable thing about the clothes were that they were brightly colored. Elizabeth was taken aback, for she was under the impression that Delia had been incredibly conservative. Lizzie withdrew a bright violet gown that would have been considered garish if there had not been muted colors of dark purple trim. Elizabeth was perplexed and then re-hung the gown. She sifted through the others, looking for any hidden panels of fabric or anything unusual. Elizabeth knew that this was a little extreme, but at this late in the case, she was willing to do anything.

Elizabeth became alert when she heard the door downstairs open and then close. She quickly raced to the window and peered below. The carriage in the street was not an Ashton and Lizzie relaxed. "Someone to see Lord Ashton," she thought and returned to her work. She became so absorbed in looking through the drawers of the wardrobe that she didn't hear the footsteps on the threshold of the door. When she became alert to the fact, she quickly looked for someplace to hide, just as the door was opening.

Posted on Friday, 10 March 2000

Elizabeth quickly bolted for the drapes as the door opened. She held her breath once securing her position. The door shut softly and careful footsteps moved across the room. "What are we looking for again?" An obviously male voice asked.

"Her journal, of course," a feminine voice replied. It was Victoria.

"The chances that she wrote anything about your condition are slim to none." The male voice answered tiredly.

"Yes, but suppose she did. We would be found out and you disowned, you should show a healthy amount of fear."

Elizabeth listened quietly, trying to contain her excitement. Condition? What condition? Elizabeth knew exactly what her mistress meant.

"Ughh...! Mother has been back in here again! Whatever for I must wonder, she detested Delia above all things."

"Maybe she was suddenly stricken with guilt, who knows, who cares? Stick to the task at hand." The male replied and Lizzie gasped when she finally recognized the voice. It was George Wickham!

"What was that sound?" Victoria asked, her voice tinged with suspicion and fear.

"It was the sparrows in the chimney. Do not worry," Wickham replied.

"I do not know. I could have sworn it came from the direction of the drapes." Victoria replied and edged closer to the window. Elizabeth clapped her hands over her mouth. She could not afford to get caught.....

Part 9 (v)

Author's note: After some thinking, I decided to add a detail to the last installation without revising the whole thing. Before Wickham and Victoria interrupt Elizabeth's snooping session, Lizzy finds a key hidden in the back of Delia's wardrobe.

Victoria frowned and turned away from the draperies." You are right." She replied finally, and with some reluctance. She returned to the wardrobe and began looking through the clothes again.

"Ugh! No wonder Mother hated Delia, she had no taste in clothing." Victoria exclaimed and extracted a bright green dress trimmed in red. "She must have been aspiring to be a Christmas tree in this."

"Its bad luck to speak ill of the dead," Wickham said rather uneasily. Victoria did not reply and returned the dress to its hanger.

Elizabeth, still ensconced behind the curtain, was still thinking about that comment. 'No wonder Mother hated Delia so...." Why would Lady Ashton hate her own daughter? "For no particular reason," Elizabeth thought, thinking about her relationship with own mother.

Elizabeth heard the pair moving about the room and sifting through drawers. "You go look in the bedside table." Wickham told her. Victoria moved to do his bidding and after a few minutes exclaimed, "Oh, look at this! A box or something."

"Do not get so excited, its obvious that its locked." Wickham said drolly, coming to stand beside her.

"The key has to be here somewhere." Victoria answered testily, and rummaged in the back of the drawer. She found nothing. "She probably kept it in her jewelry box." Victoria said in a moment of inspiration. She ran to retrieve the object and hastily clawed into its contents. "Nothing!" She said angrily. "Can you break the lock?" She demanded of Wickham.

"No m'dear, not without making a great deal of noise. We do not want to alert your new maid to anything peculiar, not do we?" "No, of course not! But she is shiftless, she is probably cooling her heels with the rest of the servants." Victoria replied as she really knew what she was talking about.

"And speaking of that, I think we need a break, to clear our heads. Your Father just left for his offices and our dear Lady Ashton is not due back for another two hours. We could adjourn to your room and.... Well we can come back here when we finish." Wickham told her. Elizabeth immediately gagged and had to place her hands over her mouth. So that was how it was....

"I quite agree," Victoria replied wickedly and literally threw herself at Wickham.

Elizabeth did not hear anything for a moment and her mind did not want to ponder exactly what was causing this silence.

"Not here," Victoria said faintly and Elizabeth heard the door open and quickly shut. She waited a moment before peering around the drape. The room was empty and she made a dash to the wardrobe. That key was hidden.... Elizabeth found the object of her search. She then raced to the bedside table and withdrew the box. Praying fervently, she inserted the key in the lock and was rewarded with a 'click'. Sighing with relief, she raised the lid. Laying patiently in a bed of blue silk was a book. Elizabeth snatched it from the folds and opened it up. Inside were pages and pages of hand written words. A diary.... Elizabeth slipped the book into the waistband of her apron and wrapped her shawl around her more firmly. She cleverly placed the key in the box and shut the lid. Lizzy then replaced it in the drawer. She stood and quickly made her way to the door. Peering out nervously, she found the corridor empty, and then exited the room.

Part 10

Elizabeth sat in her bed that night, anxiously looking over Delia Ashton's diaries. Its contents were intriguing to the extreme.

16 March 1885

Vicki and I have departed for Derbyshire. Our great Aunt and Uncle Wickam reside there. Mama only wants us to "make an appearance" so that we will be remembered in the will. I complained terribly, for we do not need any more money. Mama said that there was having no need for money did not exist. As usual, Vicki was the perfect picture of submission and eagerly started packing. I only hope that we can make this a quick trip...

18 March 1885

We have been at Uncle and Aunt Wickam's for only a day and I tire of it so! Vicki has already ensconced herself with Cousin George. He is devilish handsome and quite a rake from what Mama says, so he cannot be a suitable marriage partner. A few years ago, there was a great mystery surrounding him and the death of a local girl connected to him. I remembered sneaking the morning papers to my room to read the latest developments...

28 March 1885

I have just returned from the local village of Lambton. It is quaint and I should enjoy living there if I had not seen what I had. It will forever remain in my memory. I stopped at the tearoom for a spot of tea when I saw Vicki and Cousin George ride into town. I thought it strange that no one was chaperoning them, for a lady of good breeding does not accompany a man unattended. Of course, Vicki always broke the rules and with a charming smile. I watched them from the window as they left the carriage in front of the tavern and then strike out for the outskirts of town. I quickly paid for my tea and started after them, determined to follow them. Once reaching the outer limits of the village they left the road for a nearby wooded area. I hesitated for a moment, but then decided to proceed. I found them in a meadow and they were... I cannot put this delicately... Cousin George was undressing Vicki and kissing her in a fashion not befitting our familial ties. Vicki was quiet for a moment, but then put her hands up in protest. Cousin George demanded what the problem was. Vicki declared that she was with child. I thought the world had stopped. I snapped out of my trance when Cousin George slapped Vicki across the face. Vicki stared at him in horror and then launched herself upon him, hitting and cursing her. He only laughed and called her "a brainless b*tch". He kissed her and she seemed to calm down. I did not stay, but ran almost the entire length of the way to my Uncle and Aunt's house. I cannot believe that Vicki would do such a thing...

1 April 1885

We are leaving Derbyshire today. We were meant to stay for a month, but barely two weeks have passed. I know why our departure has been so quick. Vicki's condition. I wonder if she will tell Mama when we return home...

15 April 1885

I spoke to Vicki today. I told her that I knew. She was livid, her glare at me was almost murderous. She demanded that I remain silent, to which I agreed. Why would I wish her downfall?

Elizabeth turned the page. A blank sheet stared up at her. She frantically flipped pages and found nothing, except... An address? 38 Farthing Lane.

Lizzie's brow furrowed. 38 Farthing Lane? Why that is in Cockney! Why would Delia have an address in Cockney?