Page 43 of Murder in Blackfriars

Mr. Davis almost softened into his usual self. “Do not grovel, Mrs. Holloway. It does not become you.”

“I never would, Mr. Davis. I will tell you why I’ve been purchasing the extra supplies, but I must beg you to keep quiet about it. Tess knows, but—”

Mr. Davis held up a hand. “I do not want to know. It is your business, a fact that Mrs. Bywater should respect. As long as you don’t disappear from the kitchen before next June, I will cease troubling you about your impending departure.”

“I have no intention of disappearing at all,” I said.

“Good.”

Mr. Davis and I exchanged a long look, which I hoped meant we were heading toward an understanding.

He gave me a nod, turned smartly, and glided out.

For some reason, my eyes grew misty as Mr. Davis departed. I hadn’t realized how much he valued our friendship. As much, I decided, as I did.

I continued my work in both relief and a tinge of sadness. When I left here, I’d miss him too.

* * *

I’d thought to send Elsie to the greengrocer with instructions to indeed send the damsons to Clover Lane, but when I peeked into the laundry, she was madly cranking the wringer at the sink, with piles of clothes, wet and dry, around her.

Leaving her be, I removed my apron, donned my coat, took up my basket, and went myself. Sending Elsie would put her behind, and Mrs. Bywater might turn the scolding she’d been curtailed from giving me onto her.

A fine rain, more a mist, coated me as I walked swiftly northward toward Oxford Street. It was Sunday, but I knew our greengrocer would be puttering around his store, making everything ready for when he opened on Monday. I wasn’t certain whether his wife scolded him for spending his one day off in the shop, or whether she encouraged it to get him out from underfoot.

On the far side of Grosvenor Square, a man in a drab woolen coat and cap fell into step with me and reached out in offer to take my basket.

“What on earth did you say to Mr. Davis?” I asked Daniel without either slowing or relinquishing my light burden. “I hope you did not threaten him in any way.”

Daniel regarded me in surprise. “Of course I did not threaten him. He’s not the sort to be intimidated by threats, in any case. No, I told him a bit more about myself. I think it was the fact that I lease an entire house in Kensington, for me and James alone, that brought him around.”

“Hmm. I never thought Mr. Davis would be impressed by a show of wealth. I hope he did not think you stole the money to obtain it.”

“I think it is the fact that leasing agents would not let a house on that street to a mere laborer is more what overcame his reservations. I must be more respectable than I appear, I could see him thinking, for the genteel families in that area to let me move in. I am careful not to tie up my delivery wagon in front of the house for the night.”

Daniel’s eyes twinkled. I knew full well the van was kept in a livery stable, along with the horses he hired to pull it. It was true that the few times I’d been to the house in Kensington, Daniel had stayed carefully out of sight or worn broadcloth coats and trousers instead of homespun breeches tucked into boots.

“About your house in Kensington,” I said slowly.

“Do you want me to change it?” Daniel asked quickly. “I thought you partial to it. I can look for a larger one, if you’d prefer. Though, I warn you, while I do have money put by, I only have so much.”

“Now who will not let the other speak?” I admonished him. “I like your house exceedingly well. I grow happy every time I think of living in it. What I wanted to ask was whether I could use your kitchen.”

Daniel blinked. “Where else would you cook supper? Not that I expect you to serve me a feast every night,” he added hastily.

“I meant now. To bake. Or rather, soon. At the moment, I will be using Joanna’s kitchen, but that is not a solution forever.”

I swallowed. Just when I thought I had accepted Grace’s leaving, the realization would rush up at me, and the hurt would resume.

Daniel linked his arm through mine and gave me a squeeze. “We will bring her home as soon as we are able.”

“I know.” I blinked until the street ceased blurring. “For now, I need a place to bake for my market stall. I will be starting tomorrow afternoon.”

“So soon? I think that is excellent.” Daniel squeezed my arm again. “Take your mind off things.”

“I hope to turn it into a business, not simply something to keep me occupied,” I said sternly. “Unless you wish me to give it up to cook your meals and sweep your floors when we are married.”

Daniel was quick to shake his head. “My dear Kat, I hope I am not as selfish as that. As I’ve told you, I will not stand in the way of your ambitions. You’ve drudged for others long enough.”