Page 33 of Murder in Blackfriars

Mrs. Bywater switched her gaze to Tess, as though wanting to find fault, but as Tess had begun working industriously, Mrs. Bywater returned her attention to me.

“Off you go, then. Mind you are not late in returning.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I bobbed a little curtsy, relieved when she only nodded and drifted out of the kitchen again.

Tess turned, shooting me a commiserating glance. I finished buttoning my coat, quickly pinned my hat in place, and sped out of the house with a rushed farewell to Tess and Elsie.

I tried to settle my thoughts as I caught an omnibus in Oxford Street and rode as far as Holborn. There I descended andwalked along Farringdon Street and under the Holborn Viaduct to Ludgate Hill, then around St. Paul’s to Cheapside. I scarcely felt any ache in my feet, because Grace waited at the end of my journey.

Grace greeted me with enthusiasm that always did my heart good. After we hugged as though we hadn’t seen each other in months, we settled into the parlor with Joanna and her girls.

Grace at once asked when I’d begin baking for my stall, she ready for me to set it up straightaway.

“I will need some time to think on it,” I said in protest. “What will be best to make and how many of each. Also, I will have to purchase my own ingredients and then get the finished goods to Portobello Road without Mrs. Bywater poking and prying.”

“You can use my kitchen, of course,” Joanna said without hesitation. “Bring your things here, and bake away. I’m certain our Mrs. Mason will be happy of a few hours free.”

On the other hand, Mrs. Mason, Joanna’s cook, might be annoyed I’d invaded her demesne. “I could only do so until the end of this month,” I reminded her.

Joanna looked startled, then downcast. “Oh, yes. I forgot, in the excitement of your new venture.”

“I will find a way to manage. Thank you, Joanna.”

While the move would bring sorrow to me and mixed feelings to Joanna and Grace, Jane and Mabel were quite eager to go. They took up the topic with delight.

Daniel arrived around one o’clock, to my relief. If not, I’d have had to either send word to Mr. Fielding that I could not come, or venture to Victoria Park myself.

Joanna’s oldest daughter, Jane, was excitedly pouring forth about the garden in the new house—Sam had described it toher after a preliminary visit to the house and his new offices—and how she longed to walk among the flowers.

Joanna joked that she’d change her mind after a few days pulling out weeds, but Jane was undeterred.

Daniel walked in among this merriment, his smile widening. I liked watching his cares lift when he entered the welcoming home.

Once Daniel had enjoyed a cup of tea and some time out of today’s colder wind, I asked him to walk outside to speak to me. Grace and Joanna stared curiously after us, Joanna with a knowing smile.

“Joanna believes I brought you out here for some spooning,” I said when the front door shut and I pulled my coat closer around my shoulders.

Daniel’s eyes sparkled. “That sounds like a fine way to pass the time.”

“Only, you won’t wish to, when I tell you what I have to say.” I cleared my throat.

“Such a dire beginning.” Daniel’s voice remained light, but his eyes held wariness, as though he feared I’d changed my mind about our engagement. “James said you were impatient to speak to me. I would hope only for the pleasure of my company, but I know you are more practical than that.”

“I’ve made an appointment to meet Mr. Fielding,” I said in a rush. “In Victoria Park.”

Daniel’s amusement abruptly vanished. “Kat—”

“I know I have overstepped,” I hurried on. “I told Mr. Fielding nothing but that I was looking for a woman connected to a case, which is more or less the truth. I simply didn’t mention that the case had nothing to do with a police investigation. That we know of, anyway. He did find her, though—well, probably found her. We will know when we speak with him today.”

Daniel listened to this speech with a stony stare. When I finished, out of breath, he abruptly turned and walked a few paces from me, halting to gaze down the lane toward Cheapside.

I knew he focused on nothing. His tight back conveyed that he was tamping down on anger, trying to keep from shouting at me.

That he did so reminded me anew why I’d fallen in love with him. My erstwhile husband, Joe Bristow—it was the name I best knew him by—would have simply exploded at me for disobeying him. He’d not have stopped himself from using his fists, either.

When Daniel finally turned back, his face was stiff but calm. “I know you wish to help, Kat, but—”

“Yes, yes, I know. It is extremely dangerous. So is finding incendiary devices and preventing them from going off. And yet, we did that. Together. I asked Mr. Fielding, because he can traverse the East End without impediment, and I feared what would happen if you went there yourself—”