Death of a Schoolgirl: The Jane Eyre Chronicles (39 page)

“I believe I have a way to protect Mrs. Rochester,” Mr. Douglas said. He rolled back his sleeves to display a small dagger and its sheath strapped to his forearm. “Take this kirpan. Straps at the elbow and near the wrist keep the apparatus steady. The Sikhs believe the kirpan can only be used in self-defense or to protect those who cannot protect themselves. In their teachings, one should never stand idly by and let another come to harm. Mind you, the blade is incredibly sharp. It has saved my life more than once. I suggest you never let it out of your sight. No one needs to know you carry this.”

I nodded, grimly. Suddenly I realized the enormity of the task ahead.

“You should wear it to bed tonight. Especially then, given your plan! If you can practice reaching up your sleeve and withdrawing the blade, so much the better. In addition, I can climb the tree and position myself right outside that window you’ve spoken of. If Mrs. Rochester raises the sash, entrance will be no problem. I’ll never be more than a few feet away.”

Edward nodded. “That sounds much better.”

I touched the small handle and withdrew the instrument from its sheath. I marveled at the size of it—the blade could not have been more than three inches long. I handed the weapon to Edward so that he could examine it more closely.

“By Jove, that’s a dandy.”

“It has served me well,” Mr. Douglas said. “Saved my life several times. I hope you don’t mind that I gave it to your
wife. Like you, I value her courage but am also concerned for her safety. Beg your pardon if my actions give you offense.”

“Caring for my wife will never be offensive to me. I thank both of you for extending your help to her and to Adèle.” Edward returned the kirpan to me. I replaced it and pulled my sleeve down over the ensemble.

“However, Jane, you do not have to do this,” Edward said, drawing me close. “We could take Adèle and go home. I understand that you are concerned for the other girls, but really, my dear, that’s not your responsibility.”

“I am armed. I am prepared. You will all be outside and able to respond to my cries. There is no other way to flush out the killer.”

“Let me impress this upon you: Your opponent is a murderer—and you are issuing a direct challenge to this killer,” warned Mr. Douglas. “Once a person breaks that sacred pact with society and takes one life, crossing the line a second time is much easier. If you are threatened or if you sense danger, I urge you to action. Do not fall victim to the rules that society impresses on your gender. Never let societal whims cloud your own good judgment. You have a duty to protect yourself and to protect others.”

“I understand.”

My life, and perhaps the lives of others as well, was in my hands.

I must have presented an incongruous sight, armed with the knife and wearing Edward’s cloak around my waist while Polly mended my skirt. I did not dare return to Alderton House wearing another dress. That would produce unwanted questions and might lead someone to suspect that I had left the premises.

“Lucy, won’t Augie enjoy hearing all about this when he comes home?” Edward remarked, with somewhat forced gaiety. “He will think us all quite daring or quite daft. I am not sure which. Is Jane’s skirt ready? I believe we need to get her back into the school.”

Lucy watched Polly refasten my freshly mended skirt as I stood in the middle of the guest bedroom floor. “I wish I could go on calls today. Honestly I do. For the first time I can remember, it would be entertaining. Think of all the gossip and slander I could contribute. Instead I must content myself with helping you catch a murderer. Ho hum.”

Once I was fully dressed, Lucy and I returned to the parlor, where the men had been talking in low tones. “Any ideas on how to spirit me back into Alderton House? If anyone suspects I have been away, my plan will be worthless.”

Reclining in the wing back chair, and crossing his legs, Edward grinned at Mr. Douglas. “You are not the only schemer among us. We also need to get Adèle out, to make sure that she is safe. Here is what Mr. Douglas and I have in mind…”

I hunched down in the space between the seat and the wall of the carriage. Edward leaned over. “Are you quite miserable? Luckily, we haven’t much farther to go.”

I couldn’t help laughing at the ridiculousness of our desperate machinations, and my location on the floor of the carriage. The possibility of being discovered and tossed from Alderton House so close to the end of my mission was both appealing and appalling. Had it not been for the girls inside, I would have happily walked away.

The carriage rolled to a halt. Before stepping out into the street, my husband tugged his navy blue waistcoat down into place, smoothed his jacket, and gave me a half grin. “Ready, Jane?”

“Yes!” It came out in a half whisper.

“Off we go!”

“I’m here, sir,” John said, joining Edward on the cobblestones.

I was happy that Edward didn’t catch John’s expression of chagrin. The old servant wasn’t accustomed to subterfuge, and
he valued decorum far too much to approve of Edward’s plan. But he loved the boy he’d helped to raise, and so he was willing to play along, even if he did so glumly.

Williams pretended to close the door after Edward and his manservant, but in truth left it ajar, so I could follow their progress. My husband used his cane and John’s shoulder as his guide up the front steps of Alderton House. Once there, he banged on the door with the head of his walking stick. When no one came immediately, he banged again, harder. Finally, Caje opened up and Edward bellowed, “By God, where is she? What have you done with my Adèle? Where is your superintendent? Tell that woman I expect her here now! Immediately! Move it! By Jove, I shall beat sense into you and everyone else in this ridiculous excuse for a school!”

“You heard him!” John pushed the door so hard it bounced against the interior wall. “Do not just stand there! Go fetch Adèle Varens! Bring her here, right now!”

Both men stood in the doorway shouting as loudly as possible. From inside came the shrill sound of Adèle screaming, “
Mon bon ami! Mon Dieu! Il est ici! Je suis libre!
”

I smiled to myself. In a life full of surprises, some things could be counted on.

Adèle appeared tout de suite.

Edward spoke to her in rapid French, telling her not to say another word. Especially not about me. “
Entre
,” he said and pointed to the carriage. In her native tongue, he told her to stay there no matter what and not to talk to anyone because they were off to Mrs. Brayton’s house in just a tick.

“Jane?” Adèle paused to ask.

“
Tout va bien. Ferme la bouche
,” he said.

On Adèle’s heels trotted Mrs. Thurston, calling after the girl, “Come back here!” and then turning on Edward with, “You, sir! What is the meaning of this?”

Williams wrapped his reins around the rein guides, hopped down, and ran around to the carriage door on the
opposite side of the school. Opening it, he helped me out. Mr. Douglas jumped off the back, where he’d played the part of a rather too tall coachman. Together he ran with me to the side of the house by the horse chestnut tree. By now, Edward and John were inside Alderton House, causing a commotion that capitalized on Adèle’s excitement at being “rescued” by her
bon ami
.

“Remember, leave the window open for me. I’ll climb up to that limb tonight and stay just outside the dormitory in case you need help.”

“Will do,” I said.

“Good luck. Up you go.” Mr. Douglas boosted me up to a low limb, keeping watch while I climbed one branch after another until my waist was even with the windowsill of the Senior dormitory. Pushing off from that last branch, I inelegantly shoved myself back into the window I’d earlier exited. I hit the floor with my hands and walked on my palms into the dormitory until my legs were inside. Then I rolled onto my backside.

I was still on the floor catching my breath when Emma burst through the door. “Miss! There’s a terrible commotion downstairs, and Mrs. Thurston wants you to come right away.”

“Pardon? I dropped a button under the bed. Can it wait until I find it?”

“I’ll help you.” Emma started toward me.

“Here it is.” With great exaggeration, I pretended to pocket my “lost” button. “My goodness! Who is making all that noise?”

Despite my “pleas” that she be allowed to stay, Adèle rode off with her guardian within minutes. Edward did his utmost to look upon me with disdain, while I played my part of mewling former governess as best I could. As he walked past me, he gave me a solemn wink. It was torture not to hop into the
carriage with them. Hearing the front door slam behind them caused my heart to pound wildly.

This has to work. It has to!

I moved through the remainder of the morning’s lessons as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. The Seniors missed Adèle, so I suggested that they write letters to her in German.

We were heading down the stairs to eat our lunch when a street urchin in ragged clothes and a cap that covered most of his face appeared at the front step. I overheard him barter a letter for a shilling. Emma called Mrs. Thurston to make the exchange. The superintendent gave the boy a ha’penny and he went running as fast as his legs could carry him on his makeshift shoes of newspaper tied on with string.

“Miss Eyre?” Mrs. Thurston called to me from the foyer. The upheaval had taken its toll on Mrs. Thurston. Social niceties fell by the wayside.

“Yes, madam?” I gave her a half bow. “I am packed and ready to depart, directly after classes finish.”

“There has been a change of plans.” She waved the letter at me. “You can stay a little longer.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I bobbed to Mrs. Thurston. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Good heavens, what is on your dress?”

I looked down at the dirt I had gathered while climbing the tree.

“Change immediately into something presentable,” said Mrs. Thurston.

“I will do so.”

We were in the midst of eating luncheon when Mr. Waverly rapped at the front door, demanding to see Mrs. Thurston. After a hurried conference in her office, she entered the dining room. All of the girls were already there, as were Miss Jones and myself. Miss Miller remained sequestered in the Infant dormitory. Mr. Waverly, however, also called in Caje, Emma,
and Cook. The staff members took places at the back of the room.

“Go get Miss Miller,” Mr. Waverly instructed a constable, “and escort her to the carriage waiting outside.”

Mr. Waverly took the floor. “I am sorry to tell you that we believe that Miss Miller is Selina Biltmore’s killer. Therefore, we are now taking her into our custody. If any of you have evidence pointing to Miss Miller’s guilt, it is your duty as a loyal subject of the Crown to bring those facts forward. Do not share them with each other. I repeat: Do not share any information you have. I shall return on the morrow, at breakfast. You can give whatever information you have directly to me. That is all.”

Mr. Waverly left, and our meal concluded shortly after. Back in the classroom, a subdued mood settled over the group. The girls were oddly quiet. Rose’s brow puckered and she said, “Will they hang Miss Miller?”

“Let’s keep her in our prayers.” This was an evasion, but one that satisfied all of our needs.

The afternoon lessons dragged along. A soft rain started, gathering effort as it went on, until thunder burst like a drumroll demanding we snap to attention. “I believe we shall work indoors today,” I said.

Once again, loud knocking at the front door disturbed our studies. This time it was the undertaker removing Selina’s body. His assistants also carried all the floral tributes out into the waiting hearse. Twice now she had left this building in the rain. This time, I knew she would not be returning.

This sorrowful event further dampened my students’ spirits. I lectured on birds of prey. Even my thrilling description of how a barn owl can find a field mouse failed to elicit a flicker of interest. Each child turned her fears inward rather than express her worries. Nettie chewed on her fingernails, and Rose twisted a strand of hair around and around her finger. Rufina dug at a bump on her knee. The Juniors mainly sat
huddled together, hunched over, and bleak as an outcropping of small stone protrusions.

Another spate of banging interrupted our session, but this noise came from directly overhead. Leaving Rufina in charge, I slipped out to ask Emma what was happening. “Mrs. Thurston asked Caje to nail the windows shut.”

“What!” My plan depended on Mr. Douglas being able to enter the dormitory from the horse chestnut branch.

“Since Miss Miller won’t be here in the Infant dormitory, this way no one can crawl in or out.”

This would prove an impediment, but there was no help for it. I would have to carry on regardless.

By dinner, the girls had recovered somewhat. Their bright chatter did me good. Children seem incapable of dampening down their natural buoyancy for long periods. By the time we repaired to the sitting room, a modicum of normalcy had returned. Without Miss Miller, Mrs. Thurston was compelled to join us during the sewing hour, as I had hoped she would.

“She plans to sleep with the Infants,” Miss Jones whispered in my ear. “I guess that Mr. Waverly told her in private that under no circumstances were the girls to be left without chaperones again. He was most adamant on that point!”

The superintendent’s presence had a distinctly dreary effect, though she largely ignored the girls. The novel she had been reading must have been captivating, because she stuck her nose in the book and never spoke to the rest of us. After a while, the book fell from her grip, and she slumped over in the big brown tapestry wing back chair, snoring loudly. When Emma brought the tea and bread, Miss Jones tapped Mrs. Thurston on the shoulder. The rotund woman awakened in time to heap her plate high with savories.

I had carefully chosen a spot in the middle of the room, on an ottoman, where I was the centerpiece of the group. As the girls poured tea, I leafed through the handful of papers that
I’d found in Selina’s dresser. They were nothing but poorly done homework assignments and her unkind thoughts about her classmates; however, for my purposes they worked nicely. I waited until Emma brought a second tray of cheese and then gasped loudly.