The Queen of Diamonds Read online

  "Mrs. Spadros," Pearson said, "are you well?"

  "Find out where this letter came from."

  Amelia was in the midst of doing my hair when Pearson returned. "The boy said he got it from a warehouse in Spadros, mum — a food distribution center on 17th and Broadway. It was in a letter-basket he picks up every morning for an extra fee."

  Right near Vig's bar. "Thank you, Pearson."

  He bowed and turned to go.

  "Wait. Who owns that warehouse?"

  "I don't know, mum. Would you like me to find out for you?"

  "Yes, but quietly."

  Marja either worked at this warehouse or close by. She overheard someone planning to kill the stable-man and my Ma.

  Did she stumble upon Frank Pagliacci and his crew?

  I could see them wanting to kill the stable-man. He could identify them. But why target my Ma?

  I remembered the rage in Jack Diamond's eyes as he knelt by his friend's corpse ten years ago. Did Jack think he could get at my father through Ma?

  It was absurd. Ma didn't love Peedro Sluff, and he had never once spoken of her. But Jack didn't know that.

  And there was another possibility.

  Morton, David, and I cowered behind the boxes as Frank Pagliacci boasted. "I have you; when they come for you, I'll kill them, one by one."

  But that didn't work: we defeated him and his men. Was this another ploy to capture me?

  Frank Pagliacci might have fooled me once, luring me to Jack Diamond's factory, but it wouldn't happen again. Roy said if I went to the Spadros Pot he would kill Ma and everyone in the Cathedral. Perhaps Frank didn't know that.

  How did he know about Ma?

  It didn't matter. I had to get Ma out of Bridges altogether, somewhere safe from both Frank and Jack.

  ***

  Morton still slept a great deal, but was able to come down the stairs for breakfast, with help. "This sausage is quite good," he said. "My compliments to your chef."

  "Monsieur will be pleased," I said. "I favor it as well."

  Tony laughed. "We might have to buy a whole extra hog just for breakfasts, should —" He stopped, his face stricken.

  Should I come with child.

  Tony's eyes met mine. "Forgive me."

  Morton glanced between us. "Is something wrong?"

  "Nothing," I said to Tony. "Think nothing of it."

  I gazed at the gardens through the large windows around us. I still took my special morning tea ... and Tony obviously thought my "inability" to bear children distressed me.

  I felt a sudden hatred of my life: forced to lie in every area in order to have an existence other than what the Spadros Family dictated for me. But could it ever be any different?

  I turned to Morton. "How are you feeling, sir?"

  "Weak still, but improving." He paused for several moments, then straightened in his chair, his demeanor relaxed, contented. "It's good to be here. I never imagined the Spadros Family to have such pleasant circumstances, or such congenial company."

  Tony smiled. "I do imagine our fearsome reputation."

  Morton appeared flustered. "I meant no offense, sir."

  "None taken. I'm not my father, Master Rainbow. One day he'll be gone, and I mean to have good and loyal men by my side when that happens. I hope you'll consider my offer."

  Morton stared at his plate, hands in his lap. "I'll consider it."

  I saw why Tony thought Morton wasn't who he said he was. For a moment there, the true Blaze Rainbow showed through, a man who evidently juggled conflicting alliances.

  Why did Morton hesitate? Was this a ploy to see what else we might offer? What did his employer give that we did not?

  ***

  That afternoon, Tony and I left Morton asleep in his bed and went to visit the Kerrs. A young girl of perhaps eighteen ushered us into their parlor. There we waited for some time until the maid wheeled Joe in.

  The large bandage on Joe's head still remained. The cuts and scratches on his face and arms were healing, and he smiled that beautiful smile as he entered the room. He had a bandaged calf, a metal brace on his thigh (with much plaster) and steel going into the leg itself. This was supported on a metal platform which emerged from his brass and wooden wheeled chair. Josie and their grandfather Polansky Kerr IV came in behind him.

  "Hello!" Mr. Kerr said. "So good to see you!"

  "I'm so happy you could come," Josie said.

  We rose to greet them. Tony appeared shocked at Joe's condition. "I hope you're well?"

  Joe nodded. "Much improved, sir. Forgive me for not rising to greet you."

  This took Tony off guard. "Well — of course!" He moved to shake Joe's and Mr. Kerr's hands and kiss Josie's.

  We all sat. Joe peered at me, his face somber.

  Mr. Kerr said, "I hope you and your family are well?" A gentleman of eighty and seven, he was well-dressed, well-groomed, and appeared in perfect health.

  "Indeed," Tony said. "We're quite well, thank you."

  "Would you like some tea?" Josie said.

  "Certainly," I said.

  "Daisy, fetch Mr and Mrs Spadros some tea, please."

  The maid curtsied and left, returning with a tea-tray so quickly I wondered if she had it sitting outside the room. She began to pour for us, mine first.

  "What news of the outside world?" Mr. Kerr said. "I hear your Family does quite a bit of shipping from your quadrant."

  Tony chuckled. "My father's in charge of that. I hear little other than what is in the Bridges Daily."

  "Do you not travel?" Josie said.

  Tony shook his head. "Being the Family Heir, I'm allowed little travel, except of course, in our quadrant. I suppose I'm too highly valued to risk in a zeppelin."

  "A pity," Mr. Kerr said, and the way he said made me feel this was the truest thing anyone had said so far today. "I find travel opens new viewpoints and opportunities seldom found at home."

  Tony smiled and took my hand. "Perhaps someday Mrs. Spadros and I will travel." He turned to me, gazing in my eyes. "Would you like that?"

  To leave Bridges was my fondest wish. "Very much so." I glanced up to find all three of the Kerrs watching me. I forced myself to laugh. "Surely it's not so uncommon as all that."

  "It's quite expensive, I hear," Josie said. "Only the aristocrats seem to do much traveling these days. Although we do get our fair share of well-to-do tourists here in Hart for the races."

  "You know," Tony said, "I have never been."

  Joe's face brightened. "Oh you would love it," he said. "Quite diverting. And the food is magnificent."

  "Perhaps I might persuade Mr. Hart to extend you an invitation," Mr. Kerr said.

  Tony turned to me. "Our fourth anniversary is soon. Perhaps we might go then, to celebrate."

  A spasm of anger crossed Joe's face.

  Tony, focused on me as he was, didn't see it. He turned to Mr. Kerr. "And perhaps you would like to visit the casinos? We're in the midst of renovation, but even so there are many games open."

  Josie turned to her grandfather. "Oh could we go? Please?"

  Mr. Kerr smiled. "It's difficult to deny my grandchildren anything, it seems. Very well, we shall set a date." His voice remained light, but I could see the pain in his eyes. "After the celebration, perhaps?"

  Tony regarded him for a long moment, then nodded. "We've imposed upon your hospitality long enough." He rose, and went to Joe, so I did as well. "Best wishes for your recovery, sir." He turned to me. "Come, Jacqui, we must be off."

  I wasn't sure what was going on, so I said nothing. Once the carriage was in motion, Tony said, "I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but I got a — a terrible feeling. And I had a thought: my ancestor destroyed his." He hesitated. "If our positions were reversed, and I had the heir of the man who destroyed my family in my home ... I feared taking tea with them."

  "Tony!" The idea was monstrous. "These are friends I've known my entire life. They had us for luncheon New Year's Day. If they wished to poison us, wou
ldn't they have done it then?"

  "You know Master Kerr and Miss Kerr. But your friend is gravely hurt — and what do you know about the grandfather?"

  I recalled the fear in Joe's face. My grandfather is a monster.

  Tony shook his head. "I just — I felt something was terribly wrong. You're welcome to visit as you like, but I — I don't think I'll go there again."

  The Blackmail

  Nothing during the visit seemed wrong to me. Could Tony's lack of sleep and worry about the issue with Gardena — whatever it was — be making him paranoid?

  I turned to Tony, hoping he might speak further on what troubled him about the visit, but he stared out of the window.

  Tony's brother was poisoned by an assassin. Perhaps this made Tony wary of anyone who had cause to hate him.

  We approached the bridge to Market Center and crossed it. After a while, my thoughts drifted to how I might get Ma out of the city.

  If I had money for a zeppelin ticket, the matter would be simple. But I didn't, so the alternative was smuggling her out. And the only way to smuggle someone out would be to appeal to the Clubbs, who would want to know why I wanted a Pot rag smuggled out of the city.

  Gardena seemed to like Lance, and the Clubbs seemed to want to be our allies. That didn't mean I would automatically trust them with my mother's life.

  Whatever I did, it had to be something that Roy never learned of. He had never expressly forbidden me from contacting Ma, but I had never dared to before. I always feared he would kill us both.

  Why did I not go to Tony? My mother wasn't at my wedding because Roy led Tony to believe Peedro Sluff was my only family. To reveal she was alive would mean I had lied to Tony for the past ten years. What else might I have lied about? He would begin asking questions about a great many things. He'd at least want to know why I lied, and I couldn't tell him his father had threatened me every step of the way to the altar. Roy made it very clear he would kill me if I did so. Could Tony really protect me from Roy?

  I couldn't take that chance. Tony must never learn that Roy blackmailed me into marrying him until I was somewhere Roy could never find me.

  ***

  The next day, I went to luncheon with Gardena, uneasy about what she might have to say. I wished that she and Tony had never had their conversation, or rather, had taken it out of my presence.

  We passed through the side bridge to Diamond at once; evidently, she had sent word in advance.

  Light gray cobblestones paved the streets and the curbs were painted white. Many of the buildings were either black brick mortared in gray, painted white, or of silver wood with silver fittings. The lamp posts were delicately spiraled wrought iron painted white with faceted crystal lamp covers which I imagined looked lovely when lit.

  Thousands of gentlemen and ladies, many as dark as the Diamond Family, pushed prams, promenaded, or entered shops. The Diamond quadrant ladies seemed to prefer bright colors; the streets looked festive just from their clothes.

  The streets teemed with traffic. The Diamond Family's horses and carriages were white, with silver and white tackle. Our black carriage and horses stood in stark contrast to theirs.

  My carriage stopped in front of the Diamond Women's Club, and my outriders halted beside us as Honor helped me out to the street. An attendant in Diamond livery, white with silver buttons, came up. "Mrs. Spadros, you're expected. Welcome."

  I smiled. "Thank you." I went to the stairs of silver wood with silver banisters and a silver-gray carpet. An attendant opened the silver wood door.

  The entry was carpeted in the same silver-gray. An attendant stood behind a white podium. "Ah, Mrs. Spadros, right this way."

  I didn't expect to be greeted so warmly.

  The luncheon room was large and white, with picture windows covering the far wall. Tables with white tablecloths were set up throughout the room, but the room was empty. Gardena sat at a table in the center of the room, her mother Rachel beside her. Gardena's attendant pulled out her chair as she rose to greet me. Rachel Diamond seemed intent upon the napkin in her lap.

  "Gardena, what is this? Do we have the entire room today?"

  "I thought it would make your men feel more comfortable if the Club were closed for today, rather than being full of people."

  I smiled. "Thank you for thinking of my men."

  "You hold your servants in high regard." She took my hand. "And care for their comfort. It is something I love about you."

  She wore a cream-colored gown trimmed in tan. It made her skin seem even darker than it was, and the shade gave her face a rosy glow.

  "You look gorgeous," I said. "Is this your Spring dress?"

  She blushed. "Thank you. It is."

  "Mine is still being displayed." I laughed. "My dressmaker is quite the entrepreneur."

  "Come, sit." She patted the table next to her.

  An attendant stood by with my chair, so I sat. "It's nice to see you, Mrs. Diamond."

  "So nice," Rachel Diamond said, in a singsong voice. Then she raised her head. "Who are you?"

  "This is Mrs. Spadros, Mama," Gardena said.

  "Oh, yes, how wonderful to meet you."

  We last saw each other not six weeks ago, but Gardena shook her head, so I let the matter drop.

  I took a sip. "I hope your family is well?"

  "Yes, as well as can be expected."

  "Is something wrong?"

  "Jack has taken to his rooms these past few days. Jonathan has felt rather poorly as well; the doctor prescribed a trip to the country, with fresh air, meals on the veranda, and daily walks. So I miss seeing him. My older brothers are all busy with their families, and rarely visit. My father keeps to his study, so the house seems rather empty. But I shall visit Jon this weekend."

  "Gardena, why does Jon take all those vials? What's wrong?"

  "It's nothing; he's always had a delicate constitution, and the city air is often foul." She patted my hand. "Jon will be pleased that you asked after him. I shall send your love when I visit."

  "I wish I could visit, but I doubt Mr. Spadros would allow it."

  Gardena gave a pensive sigh. "All in good time." But then she smiled. "Would you like some wine?"

  "That sounds lovely."

  Rachel Diamond sang, "Lovely."

  Gardena gestured to the waiter, and he brought our wines. Gardena drained her glass.

  I had never seen Gardena drink much before. "Did you have a chance to speak with Lance the night of the dinner?"

  "I did briefly. And he called on me yesterday afternoon."

  "Wonderful! I'm so pleased."

  "It was nice to see him. He's caused controversy amongst my brothers, though. Cheh-zah-ray says the Clubbs are the most dangerous Family in the city, much too dangerous to ally with."

  "Cheh-zah-ray?"

  Gardena blinked. "Yes, my oldest brother. I saw him on the dais before you greeted my parents at the Grand Ball. Have you not been introduced?"

  "No." I remembered the man who glared at Tony that night. "And I've never heard such a name. How is it spelled?"

  "C-E-S-A-R-E. Cesare. It's Italian for Caesar, after my father's grandfather. Did your family not teach you Italian?"

  My cheeks burned. "I was born in the Spadros Pot, Gardena. I said so at our dinner."

  She blushed. "Forgive me. I meant the Spadros Family."

  It seemed I hadn't been taught many things I needed to know. We sat in awkward silence, while Rachel Diamond hummed tunelessly to herself.

  Gardena's manner seemed formal, almost strained. I wondered what she could possibly have to tell me that she was so nervous about. And she hadn't asked at all about Tony, even when I brought his name up. "May I ask a personal question?"

  A blank, terrified stare crossed her eyes for a brief moment, then she said, "Of course."

  What did she have to be afraid of? "Perhaps this isn't a good time to ask. You brought me here for a reason."

  "Can't I bring you to my quadrant because we're frien
ds?"

  "Of course. I'm happy to be here. But you seem upset, and I want to be of service. How can I help you?"

  She looked away. "Don't ask about Anthony. Or why we fought. Or why I struck him. Please." She turned her head toward me, and pressed her closed hand to her lips. "It would break trust, and endanger lives. In any case, it's his story to tell." She took a deep breath. "I would like very much for you to know. I begged him to tell you. But I can't speak of it. Not here. Not now. Please."

  She spoke as if she knew Tony well. But she didn't know such a simple thing: he hated being called Anthony. "Then I will remain silent. It hurts, though, to see you both in such pain and not know why." I pondered whether I should I reveal how much Tony loved her. But I decided against it; whether she saw it or not, my words would only bring grief. "I only want what's best for you both."

  Gardena took a deep breath and let it out. Then she smiled a fake smile. "You're right; I did have something I must share with you. I need advice, and I don't know who else to turn to."

  "If there's any way I can help, I will."

  She didn't speak for several minutes, her head drooping. The waiters stood aside, covered plates in hand.

  Finally, she raised her head.

  "I'm being blackmailed."

  "I don't understand," I said. "What have you done?"

  She took a deep breath, and when she spoke, she sounded small and old and weary.

  "I killed my grandfather."

  The Crisis

  I stared at Gardena in shock. "You did what?"

  She began to laugh. "Oh, if you could see your face!" She signaled for the waiters to bring our food: lamb, spring greens, and new potatoes.

  "Is this a joke? Because if it is, it's in very poor taste."

  Gardena shook her head, contrite. "I wish it were."

  Once the waiters refilled our wine glasses and retreated, Gardena cut her mother's food as she told me her story.

  Hector Diamond was a kind and gentle man, at least to Gardena and her family. He was a younger son who took over the Business late in life. His main passion was mechanism, and he became the Diamond Family's Inventor, the youngest to rise to that rank since the Coup.