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“But it might also link half the husbands in Edinburgh?” I say. “Regardless of social class?”
“Yes.”
“Which would leave the connection, not with the men themselves, but with the poison. Three poisoners, all procuring a rare substance from the same provider. That would make it a poisoning ring.”
McCreadie sneaks a look at Isla. “I’m afraid so.”
The gin and pudding are both poisoned. Again, while Isla can’t specifically test for thallium, she can tell that they contain one of a limited setof heavy metals, which is not arsenic. Thallium is a fair bet, given the symptoms and the fact that neither man complained of tasting poison. Young drank a quarter of the bottle and Burns only thought the pudding was upsetting his stomach because it was rich.
Once the testing is complete and we’ve eaten dinner, Isla and I are off to talk to Jack. Gray and McCreadie aren’t pleased with this plan, mostly just because we don’t invite them. They have other avenues to pursue, and also, Isla and I want to do this ourselves. That concerns them because we’re going into the Old Town in the evening chasing a young woman who has already betrayed us. After a brief argument, though, they back down. They have registered their concerns, and that is enough. Or I think it’s enough, until we’re heading out the back door and find Simon waiting.
“Good evening, ladies,” he says. “I have been asked to follow you on your excursion. As I know you spotted me the last time, Mallory, I decided perhaps I ought to ask whether you would prefer I escorted you openly.”
Isla curses under her breath.
I look at her. “As frustrating as it is, Dr. Gray does have a point this time. We’re going into a dangerous area, and I was already attacked there once.”
“Twice,” Simon says. “Not that we are keeping track.”
“Fine. Twice. Yes, it is dangerous, and yes, if you want to tag along, I agree to it.”
Isla gives a slow nod. “I understand that my brother has placed you in an awkward position, Simon, but that is an issue to bring up with him, and I will not put you in the middle by insisting we go alone.”
“Thank you,” Simon says.
I understand what Gray is doing by telling Simon to shadow us. He’s avoiding confrontation with his older sister. Avoiding making her feel that he doesn’t think she can take care of herself, whenheclearly ventures into the Old Town alone at night. Yet it is not the same thing, and he needs to trust that Isla can rise above her annoyance to realize that.
Also, if I’m being honest, I don’t think Islacantake care of herself in the Old Town at night. That’s no reflection on her; it’s purely her upbringing. She was raised in an open-minded family, who did their best to encourage her to lead as full a life as her brothers. That meant an education, a career in chemistry, the freedom to choose her own husband and such. Itdid not mean teaching her how to handle herself in a rough neighborhood at night, because why on earth would she need to do such a thing?
I’m sure no one taught Gray how to handle himself either. He learned to fight defending himself against bigots in school, and that—plus his sex and size—lets him venture confidently across the Mound. Even then, he might overestimate his safety, but as someone who tends to do the same, I can’t really blame him.
Isla must learn to defend herself. She must also understand that we are targets in a way her brother is not, as much as it chafes. Gray is doing the right thing. He just needs to do it openly and have this discussion rather than secretly send a bodyguard, which is patronizing as hell.
As we walk, I tell Simon what happened last night—how we were followed and Gray paid our pursuer to “guard” us. That makes him laugh.
“Dr. Gray is a very clever man,” he says.
Isla makes a noise at that.
I continue the story. When I reach the end, he says, “So this apparent young man was, as you suspected, a young woman.”
“Yes.”
“I do not know her, in case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t going to ask,” I say. “It’s not the same thing, and even if it was, I wouldn’t presume you’d know her. In Jack’s case, she may be assuming a male persona to allow her to pass more easily through the city. It would also allow her to more easily pursue her occupation, which I presume is at least tangentially criminal in nature. Presenting as male would protect her. Or, she maypreferto present as male, which is her choice.”
“That is an interesting perspective from someone who preferred not to discuss that part of my past.”
“I have changed, and I am sorry if I ever suggested it made me uncomfortable.”
He shrugs. “It was, as you say, a persona, one I found quite fun. It may be the same for this Jack or, as you say, she may prefer it, which also happens. Either way, while I do not know her, I do have contacts that might.”
“Thank you. With any luck, we’ll find her tonight. We were told to ask at Halton House.”
“Halton House?” He looks over sharply as we cross into the Old Town.
“Is that a problem?” I ask.
