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Gossip Column #28

Lady Grey’s friends were not entirely sure whether she was more afraid of being murdered, or of inadvertently hurting someone’s feelings. Regardless, she had gone so white that Kaylah found herself reaching for the vial of smelling salts she kept in her apron pocket. Fainting was a rather frequent occurrence in her tea room.

“No Lillian, of course no one will be offended,” said one of her companions indulgently. “I’m certain everyone would understand. Most of us are nervous these days about roaming about after dark.” 

“Absolutely,” said Sarah Jane firmly. “It makes complete sense on your part to think that a murderer, wanted by the police in a town over 90 miles away, would be likely to leave the anonymity of the Whitechapel slums and venture by train to a place like our little town.

“And once here, since everyone knows everyone and a stranger would be spotted before he or she had taken two steps on the train platform, he’d undoubtedly have quite a good story about what had brought him to this part of England so that no one would become suspicious and raise the alarm.

“Then, when he had left the station unhindered, I imagine that Mr. Ripper would actually quite enjoy spending a day strolling along the Windrush or taking a solitary amble through our countryside. The fresh air and exercise would no doubt fortify him for an evening of murderous brutality. Much more so I should think than the rank atmosphere of Whitechapel.

“I do imagine though that he’d be rather disappointed come nighttime. Our village offers rather slim pickings when it comes to victims. No one travels unattended at night around here. And it seems that Mr. Ripper is in the habit of preying upon, er, ‘unattended’ ladies. Not those traveling in a carriage to a party or walking in a group as the servants are wont to do on their monthly night off.”

Previously: Murder Is Good for Business – Part III

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