Stalking Jack: The Hunt Begins... (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 1) (28 page)

“Hugh, come in. I am so happy to see you all. I will get well all the sooner, now that I have the comfort of seeing your faces,” said Madeline.

“You comforted me when I was ill, and so I will do the same for you. I insist your father, and you stay at my home during your recovery. I will not take no for an answer. The aunts and I have already discussed it. When I am at work, they will come over with their chicken soup and all else of the wonderful dishes they make. They are in walking distance to my home. Your father will have the company of the aunts and play bridge and dominoes. We have all agreed. There is no use in not accepting this offer.”

Not only was she too weak to decline, she felt she would be a fool if she did. “I accept your most gracious offer. When can I leave here? I would rather be in your care than the hospitals.”

“It won’t be long now, you are still not ready, but the doctor has assured me it will be soon. There is a light snow on the ground, and the poinsettias are beginning to bloom. You can watch the snow fall by the fire, and I will obtain reading material for you. You will be the most pampered patient.”

She started to cry and clenched his hands in hers, “I am so grateful…I am so grateful,” she repeated.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Christmas in London

The police had come to question her about the stabbing, but with her unable to give them much of a description, and the Ripper murders continuing to be at the forefront of everything; they did not follow up and only came once after that. Hugh said that when he visited Patrick Rooney to tell him what had happened to her, everyone was speaking more about Harry and Rocks then the Ripper. It had been discovered, through all the talk, that Harry did not have long to live, and that his ongoing battle with syphilis was almost at an end. Rocks did not have many friends, but still she was a character that everyone knew. People would come just to watch her butchering a pig. She did it with such theatrics and coarse language; she was considered to be the marketplace entertainment. Although it was a surprise, most people were not shocked that it could have occurred. These two deaths caused little commotion outside of Whitechapel, and there had been little coverage in the news. Every newspaper’s lead story still pertained to the Ripper. Madeline was content to read the stories now, knowing there would be no more of them. She wanted to inform Scotland Yard that they could stop looking for Jack now, but that was impossible. They would probably either lock her up in prison for her part in it, or she would be the ridicule of London and deemed off her nut. When she found herself alone with Anna and Helen, she told them the entire story about how she came to be at their doorstep that night. They had a secret now between them that would bind them together, and that they all knew must remain untold, even after all of their lives had passed.

When Hugh returned, the aunts had prepared a meal of beef stew and dumplings. It was cooking on the stove producing a delightful bouquet that scented the room.  Her father was putting on a pot of tea when Hugh arrived home from work.

“It smells wonderful in here. I’m beginning to think it is not I who is taking care of you, but you taking care of me. I have never known the aroma of a delicious meal waiting on the stove for me, and company to enjoy afternoon tea with. It is a lovely picture,” said Hugh.

“You have spoiled me so that I think I will heal even slower just to be able to stay here. I look forward to the card games with you and father, and our conversations about England and America. There have been no further incidents in Whitechapel and Christmas is upon us; I think that life is getting better.”

It was nearly Christmas; London was like a picture from a book. A few times, she ventured out for a carriage ride, Hugh and father on either side of her with a blanket thrown over them, all marveling at the Christmas décor and the wintry view. She was, as well as she could be. Her recovery from addiction she knew would take some time, but her knife wound was healing, and she could get around without too much pain although her side continued to torment her. There was little point in leaving Hugh’s home before Christmas, and they all were getting on so well that everyone had agreed they would remain till then.

Father had insisted on booking the trip home on New Year’s Day, as there would not be another ship going to America for at least two more months after that. His practice could sustain itself for perhaps a month maybe, with the help of his associate, but he did not believe he could be away too much longer. As there had been no further developments of any note about Jack, Jonathan’s editors were sending him home on the same ship. She rejoiced in that, to leave them all at once without one of her friends company; she felt would put her in such a depression that she could not endure.

“Hugh, will you go with me to cut the Christmas tree and gather greens for the garland?” asked Father.

The aunts were arriving, and shaking the snow from their coats, they added, “Oh, yes, please, so that we may all sit and tie the garland with holly berries and string it through your house,” said Anna.

“When Phillip arrives home, he will not recognize the place. What a pleasant surprise it will be! The place is really not suitable for a gathering, but we will have to make do. My uncle will be here with his wife and children also. His wife and he will roast the goose and bring it along to us.”

“We will make the pies and potatoes and all the other lovely dishes. You need not worry about that,” said Helen.

“What can I do?” asked Father.

“Perhaps you can be in charge of the fire, have the wood cut, and bring the things from the market,” said Hugh.

“What about me?” asked Madeline.

“You may sit by the fire and assist with decorations, but that is all. We are strong and healthy and quite able to allow you to rest. Soon you will have a voyage ahead of you that will rock your body about.  During winter days, residing on the ocean can prove quite unpleasant,” said Anna.

“All right, I give in, and accept your gracious hospitality, and I love you all the more for it. I wish there were something I could do.”

When she was alone with father, she said, “Father, could you take this money that I have saved and purchased Christmas gifts. You have come to know the ladies; perhaps you can help me with ideas of what to give them.”

“Yes, and I will add my money to it as I cannot remember when I have felt so welcomed. Your friends have done so much for us. We can, at least, do that.”

“Thank you, I feel better now. Such kindness cannot go unrewarded.”

The next day brought them all together, for it was the eve of Christmas. All enjoyed the smell and sight of the evergreen tree, including Jonathan, who had come with a fruit basket and other assorted packages. “I see I have come in time to assist with the tree.”

“I will bring the tea for us all. The cold gives us recompense in how lovely a good cup of hot tea feels being drunk by the fire,” said Sophie.

“There is one thing I can do, I can begin reading
A Christmas Carol
,” said Madeline.

“Yes, do. We will take turns as we did on the ship,” said Jonathan.

The ladies sought father’s attention, as if they were all young again, flirting and carrying on like in their youth. It was a pleasant thing to see, and she couldn’t remember when she had heard father laugh so much and speak of things other than medicine and politics.

Jonathan and Hugh fussed over her like a newborn kitten, constantly fluffing her pillow and stoking the fire to be sure she was warm enough. The evening ended with smiles, hugs and all looking forward to Christmas Day.

The aroma of food cooking on the stove woke her early; the aunts had come over to start preparing, and Hugh had offered his services, donning an apron and singing Christmas songs. She hobbled into the dining area to try to set the table, but was of little use; finding she was even too weak for that. She thought this business of addiction could snuff a life out quicker than any knife wound, and the worse of it was that you pointed the knife at yourself. She did not know if the aunts surmised her condition, but she was fairly certain that Hugh had discovered the truth, as he wiped her brow from time to time. She hoped she had not lost favor with him because of it, but if she did, she knew it would be a price she had to pay for her actions.

As the noon hour approached, there was a key struggling with the front door lock, when she looked up Phillip was entering the room. Her joy at seeing him overwhelmed her as she called, “Phillip, my dear boy, how are you? It is so good to see you.”

Phillip looked surprised not only to see her there but the entire house full of people and activity.

“This cannot be my home. Have I been so long away that life has been this altered? Mrs. Donovan, I never expected to see you here. And you are unwell. Tell me, what is all this?”

“Phillip, when you have settled in, come sit by me, and I will tell you everything. I am the only one who is unable to assist with the Christmas dinner, so I will be your orator for the events you now see before you. It has been a busy time since we saw you.”

He warmed his hands by the fire; Hugh made him a hot rum punch that he sipped with pleasure while listening to Madeline as she recounted the events of the last few months.

“I can certainly see this is not the place I left, where two bachelors lived and that looked more like a barracks than a home. I do not recall ever having the aromas of rosemary and thyme drifting in the air, yet alone a succulent goose upon the table. We have never had need of a larger place, but today we would have been the better for it and what a happy occurrence,” said Phillip.

“Yes, you will have a full house of guests. I believe there will be fourteen of us at dinner.”

“That will be a feat for such a small place as this, but it will be a joy. Returning home has never felt lovelier than today. I am so happy that you were able to forge a friendship with Hugh.”

“As am I. We will be returning with you on New Year’s Day to America. My father, Jonathan and I will be in sore need of your company, for we will miss the people we have met and grown to love while in your city. Despite the occurrences in Whitechapel, London holds a mystery and beauty that seeps into you and makes you long for the sight of the rain and the fog rolling in—that ambiance that she declares to the entire world that knows her. She has claimed it as her own, and therein brings a distinctive artist view into the mind when one hears her name.”

“The seas will be rough, but you will have your father this time near you. We will all watch over you.”

“And I you, Phillip—if it weren’t for you, I would not have met Hugh, and that would never do,” she said laughing.

Dr. Scott had come with his wife and their two children; the five ladies were there from the ship, Jonathan, Hugh, Phillip and her. It was to her as good as any Dickens table, filled with cheer and a holiday feast.

“A toast to Madeline,” said Hugh, “Whose compassion for life and kindness has brought all of us together in friendship and in love.”

“Here, here,” said Phillip.

She blushed and responded, standing erect and saying, “And to all my new friends, may we forever be in each other’s hearts and minds as we are today. May we all be fortunate enough to enjoy together more than this one Christmas, but will someday find us all in union again.”

She could have gone on about her gratitude and all the loving thoughts she had, but it wasn’t a speech, but a toast, so she kept her other thoughts to herself. With their help, she had spent Christmas without great torment in her heart, which she didn’t think was possible. She knew she would probably break down and cry sometime during the night; that was inevitable, but they had made her return to life.

“Now to the presents,” said Father.

Father passed the presents he had bought for her, furry snow white hats for Sophie, Grace, and Felicia, new lace shawls for Anna and Helen and a leather case for Jonathan’s writing materials. She had more difficulty deciding what to get for Hugh, but finally chose a copy of Renoir’s
Luncheon of the Boating Party
painting. She hoped it would remind him of the camaraderie they had all experienced, and it would also add some color to the main room, where only existed variances of brown and beige. For Phillip, she purchased a boatswain whistle, which he had once mentioned to her aboard the ship that he had desired.

She received flowers, a new blanket with roses embroidered on it from the ladies. Jonathan had given her a lovely new hat of dark blue velvet and Hugh, a silver bracelet adorned with hearts. She took mental pictures of everything, trying to preserve it in her memory exactly as she saw it now.

The next day found her feeling so much better, that she decided to tackle her one last mission before returning to the George with her father.

“Father, I need you to walk me into Whitechapel. I’m afraid I won’t make it on my own.”

“Whitechapel, I thought that you were finished with that place for good.”

“There is something I must do before returning to America. It is a private matter, but I promise that someday I will tell you all.”

“You are my daughter, and I will always worry about you, but if that is what you wish, I will go with you.”

“There is someone I must see. I don’t know if he will be at the Ten Bells, but if not, I will need to venture on to the other pubs. That is if my body can endure it.”

“Can I help you with your search?”

“This is something I must do on my own, Father. If you wait outside, I will return as soon as I am able.”

“Patrick, I am so glad you are here. I will not be returning to this place. I am leaving for America, and I wanted to tell you farewell and wish you all the happiness in the world. You are a survivor. You should run for office of some kind and leave this pub; you have all the wisdom and honesty that it requires.”

“Now, there’s a thought. I am sorry to see you go but glad that you will be safe and free of the ills of this place. So you have given up you search for Jack, that is good.”

“I feel it is time to go, after my incident, but I am confident that Jack is gone. There have been no murders for these many weeks now. Jack has gone into the river and drowned himself out of sheer overwhelming guilt,” she said sarcastically.