Claudia surprised Adeline at her home the morning after Rose's funeral as she awaited word from Mr. Grae.

Claudia and her husband had, indeed, attended the funeral service, however upon Eli's request that Adeline stay by his side for the event, she and Claudia had seen very little of one another that sad day.

'People are talking, Addy. Of your relationship with Eli, I'm afraid,' warned Claudia appearing ill at ease.

'People always talk,' Adeline dismissed distractedly, the Blackthorn letter being the only matter of concern that morning.

Claudia continued while delicately dipping a shortbread finger into her tea, 'The whispers were nearly deafening at the funeral. I'm shocked you could not hear them. People think there's a romance between the pair of you. It's all becoming rather scandalous'

'What others think of me is no business of mine, Claudy. People talk alot and yet know very little,' stated Adeline very matter-of-factly.

Claudia chewed and swallowed a bite of her biscuit before a retort, 'I'm afraid that's not all, Addy. You see, after witnessing the closeness between you and Eli, some are going on about the idea that the passings of Thomas and Rose are nothing short of suspect, being that they happened so close in time to one another. They wonder if it isn't a conspiracy to commit murder!' she gasped in jest, placing her hand on her bosom to feign shock.

Adeline smiled at her friend's silliness and shook her head, 'How scandalous. Have people nothing better to do with their time?'

'Quite not, it would seem,' Claudia chuckled.

Adeline shook her head once more in thought, lowering her gaze to the teacup in front of her.

'Addy? Are you alright?' Claudia asked.

'Isn't it just cruel that a widow be expected to shut herself away from the world when she is already suffering such unthinkable loneliness? I mourn, whether I am alone or surrounded by others. I should not have to suffer perpetual seclusion to validate the depth of my grief, or endure such witless and vindictive speculation by people so stodgy they've got nothing better to do than weave ridiculous tales about the bereft,' Adeline confessed wistfully.

'How one ranks these matters so critically is beyond me,' Claudia concurred.

Conversation fell short for several painful moments until Claudia spoke again, only a whisper, "So,' she began quietly and leaned in toward Adeline, 'There is nothing . . romantic . . between you and Eli then?'

Adeline was offended by the question, 'God, No, Claudy. What sort of woman would I be to do such a thing? My husband has just died'

'Oh, I'm sorry, Addy,' Claudia apologized, reaching across the table to lay her hand over Adeline's, 'I worry about you, you know- What you might do in your grief. I could understand the need for a man's warmth and affection in difficult times such as these'

'I have enough problems as it is without the burden of a man,' retorted Adeline as she mindlessly clacked her fingernails against her porcelain teacup.

Just then, Brona appeared quietly in the doorway, hands clasped together as she awaited Adeline's attention.

'Yes, Brona?' She acknowledged, returning to her senses.

'Beg' pardon, Mrs. Moore, Marys' asked for a word in the kitchen,' explained the young maid.

Adeline stood from her chair, 'I'll only be a moment, Claudy'

'Take your time, darling,' Claudia simpered.

As Adeline made her way to the back of the house, Brona following behind, she felt amused at her young maid's keenness for discretion, knowing very well that Mary was not at the Moore residence that day.

As Adeline turned into the kitchen she was immediately met by the imposing stature belonging to Mr. Grae.

'Thank you, Brona,' Adeline smiled, 'Perhaps bring Mrs. Doherty some sweets to tide her over.'

Brona dipped her head, 'Ma'am'

As she left the room with a plate of marzipan cups with currant jelly, Adeline turned to the detective, 'Mr. Grae,' she welcomed quietly.

'Mrs. Moore,' he nodded, hands tucked into his coat pockets.

'I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Grae. A friend has come to visit unexpectedly,' Adeline apologized, looking toward the door to the hallway, 'Might I persuade you to wait here for a short while? Brona will fix you anything you like'

Mr. Grae acquiesced, 'Of course Mrs. Moore'

'Thank you, detective. I won't be long,' Adeline whispered gratefully and exited the kitchen. She gave Brona a nod as the pair passed one another in the hallway.

Returning to Claudia, Adeline took her seat.

'Addy, I do hope you can forgive me'

'Hmm?'

'It's just one never knows unless they ask, you see'

'Oh,' said Adeline, having nearly forgotten the conversation prior to Mr. Grae's arrival, 'It's alright, Claudy. You've always been effortlessly honest. I wouldn't dare expect any differently of you now,' she simpered.

Claudia chortled, 'I am rather a hand-full'

'Why, I can't imagine you any other way,' Adeline replied warmly.

The only thing on her mind in that moment was how to, in the kindest way possible, end this visit with her friend so that she and Mr. Grae could examine the Balckthorn letter.

Claudia had other things on her mind.

'So, tell me, Addy, have you sorted Thomas' affairs?'

With all of the turmoil in Adeline's immediate sphere, she had all but forgotten the matter of her husband's dealings, 'Well, To be perfectly frank, I haven't had a thought about it'

Claudia seemed interested, 'No? You've yet to go over the will I take it?'

'I'm afraid not. I've left Eli in charge of Thomas' affairs. Seems I've neglected to inquire on the matter,' confessed Adeline.

Claudia appeared perplexed, 'And hes' not kept you informed? Seems a dab peculiar, no?'

Adeline thought on it for a moment, 'Perhaps not. The poor mans' just lost his wife, afterall. He surely has a good deal on his plate at the moment. Regardless, it is not such a pressing matter'

'Indeed, it certainly was not wealth or title which brought you and Thomas together,' Claudia jested.

Adeline smiled wistfully, 'All I want is my home'

Claudia looked around the room attentively, 'Hm'

It was another hour before Adeline managed to send Claudia on her way so that she may speak with Mr. Grae.

The front door to the home was securely locked and the drapes to the front window pulled shut before the detective was, at last, brought out to the parlor.

'I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Grae,' Adeline grimaced, feeling guilty over forcing the detective to wait for such a long time.

'No bother, Mrs. Moore,' he reassured with a quick smile whilst draping his heavy coat over the chair.

Adeline hastily reached into the folds of her overskirt and retrieved the newest Blackthorn letter, handing it, at last, to Mr. Grae.

'Mind if I smoke?' Queried the detective.

'Not at all'

Adeline fetched the German-made porcelain ashtray she bought for Thomas only a month or so prior to his passing, 'Might you have one to spare?'

Mr. Grae looked slightly taken aback at the request but proceeded to pull an additional hand-rolled cigarette from the box he kept in his coat's pocket.

Adeline leaned in as the detective offered a lit match for her to use to ignite her cigarette and then his own.

The pair sat as smoke billowed in fragile ringlets toward the ceiling.

Mr. Grae rested his elbows on the table and unfolded the letter to read its contents.

Drawing in a mouthful of smoke, the first in a very long while, Adeline covered her mouth with a fist to catch a foggy cough, earning herself an amused glance from the detective.

She was certain her cheeks were red with embarrassment, but Mr. Grae did not seem to take notice.

Adeline, long ago, quite enjoyed smoking a cigarette or two on occasion. She liked that it gave her restless hands something to do, however, early on in the marriage, Thomas made it a point to discourage his wife from smoking. He insisted that women look brash and man-ish when they smoked and so Adeline never touched another cigarette again.

The detective finished reading the letter, placing it down on the table and then leaned back in his chair before speaking, 'Seems we've made them nervous'

'Enough so, apparently, that my life is in jeopardy,' Agreed Adeline, gazing worriedly into Mr. Grae's eyes.

The detective looked down at the letter and tilted his head slightly in contemplation, 'I don't think it is, Mrs. Moore. He's left conflicting threats- One in which he does the same to you as he's done to your husband and the other in which he procures your ruin by set-up,' Mr. Grae propped his cigarette in his mouth to free his hands and picked up the letter, 'He believes he's acted righteously by killing a bad man, so he must think himself a savior, a good and just man. He knows tha' you're innocent of the crimes of your husband- A victim, too, of Mr. Moore's treachery. He wouldn't be a good and just man if he harmed the victim of his enemy, or any victim for tha' matter'

With her fingers, Adeline plucked a small bit of tobacco from her lips, an unfortunate byproduct of a hand rolled cigarette, and flicked it into the ashtray as she spoke, 'Lunatic,' she shook her head, 'I do hope you're right, Mr. Grae.. Blackthorn knows so much about Thomas within these past years. Far more than I was aware. Perhaps my husband wasn't a good man at the end. I'll admit, I did not know who he had become. But he was once a good man, a kind-hearted man. I'm sure of it. I knew him- better than anyone. This Blackthorn, he was close to Thomas near the end, but he did not truly know him'

Mr. Grae tapped the ash from his cigarette into the tray before he replied, 'Hhm,' he agreed, 'I think it's fair to assume Mr. Moore and Blackthorn were well acquain'ed, near the end, as you say'

'Blackthorn would only want the contents of the lockbox if he thought it could trace back to him,' Adeline mused. 'I find, just now, that I am forced to reconsider Mr. Grant's involvement'

The detective observed his employer's sullen expression, 'It's a difficult thing to admi' I imagine'

'Although,' Adeline added, 'Blackthorn demands I leave the lockbox and its contents at the park tonight, yet Eli left London for Birmingham two days ago to meet with Rose's family and is not expected back for another two days'

Mr. Grae thought on it a moment before replying, 'And you're sure he's away?'

'Only on his word, I suppose'

The detective pursed his lips, 'Hm'

'I'll look into it. In the meantime, Mrs. Moore, I must urge you pu' a stop to Mr. Grant's involvement regarding your la'e husband's assets'

'You overheard the conversation with Claudia,' Adeline replied feeling a little embarrassed.

'Apologies. Wasn't my intention to eavesdrop'

Shaking her head, Adeline dismissed the detective's apology, 'This house has always had thin walls. I'll have Thomas's paperwork transferred to another executor upon Mr. Grant's return to the city'

Mr. Grae nodded as he pulled one last puff of smoke from his cigarette and crushed the smoldering tip into the ashtray to snuff it out, 'So, Mrs. Moore, wha' bench is Blackthorn referring to in the letter? He said 'You know the one'

Adeline placed her cigarette in the ashtray before standing from her seat, 'Well I imagine he means the bench where you and I had our second rendezvous. The same bench Thomas and I used to sit on when we strolled through Hyde park. See,' Adeline said as she picked up a sterling silver picture frame from a nearby desk and showed it to the detective.

It was a photograph taken of Adeline and Thomas on that very same bench many years prior.

'Hm, I first met Mr. Grant by that bench,' the detective noted cautiously.

Adeline took her seat once again, 'Yes, but I'm afraid it's not that simple, Mr. Grae. I can think of at least a dozen friends and acquaintances who are familiar with the story. The photograph has been the topic of many conversations over the years'

'Just an observation,' Assured the detective as he pulled up each sleeve of his beige-colored button up shirt and proceeded to cross his arms.

Adeline nodded and leaned back in her chair, 'So, Mr. Grae, what are we to do about Blackthorn's demands?'

'We give him wha' he wants, Mrs. Moore.'