when victoria came down the stairs a half hour after receiving the note from alvisi , two stakes in her hair and another one affixed to the garter under her skirt , salted holy water in her reticule and in a small vessel attached to her other garter , along with a sheathed dagger , and a large crucifix tucked deep down betwixt her br**sts where it would not be seen unless she wished it to , she interrupted a fierce , whispered conversation between verbena and oliver in the front parlor .