Unfortunately, I imagine Mr. Barchester probably has, too. Still, I have to talk to him.
What about Moreland? Deirdre asked. Are you going to question him?
I doubt he would even talk to me. He lives in a grand house, with a footman. Im sure some unknown woman would not get past the door.
Ive known you to lurk about until someone you want to interview comes outside and then accost him as hes getting into his carriage, Deirdre reminded her, her eyes twinkling.
Megan grinned, a dimple deepening in her cheek and her eyes glowing with mischief as she agreed, Tis true Im not shy about throwing myself in his path. But for the moment, at least, I think its better not to do so. Hell not admit that he killed a man. I need to use subterfuge here. I have to get inside his house and spy on him. If he took something from Dennis, as Da suspects, its most likely that he has it in that house. If I can track it down, it will give me proofand will be something I can use as leverage. If Im lucky, Ill trick it out of him in some way.
How?
Megan shrugged. A number of men are talkative when theyre in their cups. I remember one fellow at Tammany Hall who let out quite a few secrets. He was a regular drinker at OReillys Tavern, and I was able to get hired on as a tavern maid.
Deirdre shook her head in rueful admiration. I remember the fit Da threw when he found out how youd gotten that story.
Youd think I had taken up walking the streets, the way he carried on. I did nothing but serve drinksand I showed no more bosom than many an evening gown Ive seen on an elegant lady.
I dont know how you have the nerve. Id have died of embarrassmentnot to mention being too scared to go in the door. Werent the men forward? Even, well, forceful?
Megan shrugged. Nothing I couldnt handle. It helped having been around newspapermen for several years.
Megan had had to fight for respect in her fieldindeed, she had had to fight for everything she had gotten in her profession, from her first chance to write a story to her present job. She had known from the first that she could never reveal any weakness or others would seize upon it as proof that women were not competent to be reporters.
She had never told Deirdre about many of her experiences, knowing that they would have frightened her delicate sisterenough that Deirdre might even tell their father about them. And while Frank Mulcahey had been proud of her and ready to fight any man who dared suggest that his girl wasnt as good a reporter as anyone, he had also bombarded her with constant worries and warnings about her safety. If he had heard about some of her more dangerous exploits, she wouldnt have put it past him to come storming down to the newspaper to have it out with the editor for putting her in harms way.
But that sort of thing wont work this time, Megan told her sister now. I have no idea what tavern Theo Moreland frequentsif he even goes to any place so plebeian. He probably drinks at some gentlemans club, with no women allowed inside. What I really need is to get inside the house. So Im going to apply for a position as a servant there.
Deirdre dropped the potato she had been peeling and stared at her sister, then burst into a merry peal of laughter.
Whats so funny? Megan asked indignantly. Its a perfectly good idea.
You? As a maid? Or maybe a cook? Deirdre said after a moment, when she finally paused in her laughter and wiped away the tears her laughter had brought. I should like to see that.
You think I couldnt clean or cook? Megan asked, putting her fists on her hips. Its not as if I havent done such things. I cooked and cleaned enough when you were growing up.
Deirdre tried, not entirely successfully, to compress her lips into a straight line. Perhapswhen Mary Margaret was cracking the whip. But that has been years.
I havent forgotten how. Im sitting here paring potatoes, arent I?
Yes. But look at the pile of peelings in front of you. Deirdre gestured toward the newspaper spread on the table between them. In front of Megan, there was a handful of peelings. Across the table, before Deirdre, lay a mound three times that size.
You started before I did, Megan pointed out. At her sisters look, she went on, Oh, all right, Im not as fast as you. But they wont know that.
Youd be fired in two days. For answering back, if nothing else. I know you, Megan Mulcahey, and taking orders wont sit well with you.
Youre right about that. But I will simply have to accept it. I dont see any other way to get into the house. Cleaning rooms will give me a perfect opportunity to look for something that Moreland might have stolen from Dennis. She paused and looked at her sister a little tentatively. Umm, I wonderabout those things that Dennis, uh, was looking for
Deirdre sighed. No, I dont know anything more about them. I havent heard or seen anything from Dennis since that night. I have no idea what he wants back so badly. She paused, then went on, I know you dont really believe that Dennis came to me.
I dont think youre fibbing, Megan assured her hastily. I know you believe Dennis appeared to youin actuality or a dream or something. I just find itwell, its
I know. Its much too otherworldly for you. You believe in tangible things, and theres nothing wrong with that. You deal in facts, in the practical world. I know that. But, Megan Deirdre leaned forward, her brow wrinkled earnestly. Im not crazy.
Deirdre, I never meant! Megan cried, reaching her hand to her sister.
No, I know you dont think Im insane. But there would be those who did if they knew some of the things Ive seen and heard. But I know what I saw. It was Dennis, and he spoke to mewhether he was right there in the room with me or in a dream, Im not entirely sure. But I know it was he, and I know he was desperate. He wants whatever was taken from him. It means a great deal to him. And he came to us for help.
I dont know what to think, Megan told her honestly. Tis hard for me to believe in such things, but I know you are neither crazy nor a liar, and as long as there is any chance that Dennis did come back from the grave, asking for our help, I shall strive to do what he wants. And Ill take any help you can give me, even if it does come to you in a dream.
I only wish I could help you. Deirdre sighed. I wish this sort of thing was not always so uncertain. Every night when I go to bed, I pray that I will hear from him again. That he will tell us how to help him.
Megan hardly knew how to respond to her sister.
Deirdres unquestioning faith in her visions amazed her and left her feeling, frankly, a little envious. It must be comforting, she thought, to be without doubt or questions. It was not a state, she feared, that she would ever be in. Her entire life was built upon questions, it seemed.
They continued to talk as they finished peeling the potatoes, and afterward Deirdre put the potatoes on to boil and checked the roast in the oven as she continued to put the evening meal together. Megan went upstairs to wash up before supper, then sat down to record her notes about Broughton House in a small notebook.
It was her custom on any story to keep notes this way. It helped her to plan her actions, she found, as well as think about the story in depth, and it also kept her quotes as accurate as possible. Over the course of the years, it had become an ingrained habit.