No More Meatball Soup, I Swear!

On the return trip back to the city, James felt the need to feed his curiosity about Iris' former maid's little girl; she did bare a striking resemblance to the Marquis, it was certainly worth the try in asking.

"Forgive me, Lady Chamberlain, if I become a bit too forward, but my curiosity is just killing me, but I have to know." James rushed to grab her hand. "Please, Mr. Knight, there's no need to be so gruff; that hurt." She pursed her lips. "If I hurt you, I apologize." This time he gently took hold of her hand, and when flipping over her wrist he discovered a fresh bruise running the length of her forearm. "What happened to your arm?" He asked. "You were about to ask me something, and I'm certain it had little to do with my arm." While he was distracted, Iris slipped her from his grasp. "Keep in mind you can always tell me that it isn't any of my concern . . ." Iris was there to steam roll any and all secret ambitions he had in mind. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Knight, it isn't any of your business."

"But I haven't even asked you anything yet!" James said. "You don't have to, I already know what you're thinking, and the answer is no, Emily is not the Marquis' daughter is that what you wanted to know!" Iris turned her violet eyes to him. "How did you know I was going to ask you that?"

"You're a private detective, Mr. Knight, and you always have been a bit of a busybody."

"I realize your stomach is all in knots after being witness to such a gross display of human atrocity, but what care to have a spot of tea with me?" Her silence was brief. "Do you know what I would like to do, Mr. Knight?" James moved closer to her. "Just take me home, please." She pleaded. "You found me out, Lady Chamberlain, keep in mind my intention was not to hurt your feelings, but, I'm sure others have probably already questioned you about this; is your husband the father of that girl, Emily."

"You have some nerve, Mr. Knight, how dare you ask me such a ridiculous question, of course he isn't the father of Clarissa' daughter!"

"Surely, Lady Chamberlain, you've asked you asked yourself that very question; the resemblance is striking." James said. "And I refuse to talk about this with you, Mr. Knight, the sum of it all is that it is none of your concern!" She shouted.

The moment the carriage pulled into the driveway, Lady Chamberlain was quick to make her exit. Leaving behind a stymied James Knight, but he wouldn't need for much longer; the solution would be revealed in no time at all.

As soon as James became aware of the soft tapping at the front door he went to answer it and became no surprise to him who was waiting on the other side of the door. "Lady Chamberlain, I wish I could say I'm surprised to see you." James welcomed her inside by thrusting his hand to the side. "What brings you around this way?" James asked, buttoning up his shirt. "I didn't interrupt anything did I?"

"Have you ever stumbled upon me doing anything indecent."

"Well no, but it helps to be polite, which is exactly why I've come by. I realize I may have been behaving a bit extreme with you, especially this morning, but with all of that said I'd still like to continue helping you with your investigation; and never mind the atrocious way those poor people were murdered, I have enough smelling salts to last an entire afternoon." She shrugged.