Page 87 of The Laudanum Ladies' Society

Miriam opened then closed her mouth. Gwen nodded in satisfaction. She folded her arms and gave Miriam a piercing look.

‘I owed it to him to tell the truth, even if he rejects me forever as wholeheartedly as you have rejected Jenny.’

Jenny looked away, shocked at Gwen’s boldness. Miriam sat back.

‘That’s true, I did,’ Miriam said. She turned to Jenny, her expression remorseful. Jenny’s chest tightened. ‘But it is conceivable that Mr Parry may learn to forgive you, as I am learning to forgive Jenny.’

‘Do you mean that?’ Jenny asked. She stifled a sob, not wanting Miriam to see how greatly this possibility affected her.

Miriam looked at her affectionately. ‘Yes, I do. Only a woman with a heart of stone would remain aloof at your sincere efforts to make amends,’ she said gently.

Jenny reached for Miriam’s hand, but Miriam shook her head.

‘We need to talk properly, because we have a lot to say to each other.’

‘I understand.’ Jenny withdrew her hand. She was not yet forgiven completely, and even if she were, there was no guarantee that Miriam would want to begin their relationship again.

She looked over at Gwen, who was watching with a look of faint embarrassment on her face.

Mr Parry returned and announced he had engaged a hansom cab to drive them. He and Gwen sat awkwardly on one seat, looking away from each other and out of their own windows. Jenny and Miriam sat opposite; Jenny, nervous about what they were about to do but filled with hope and elation that Miriam was forgiving her. She longed to lean against Miriam’s shoulder or put an arm about her waist, but their conversation had to come first, and before that, the rescue.

It was growing near to half past eleven when they arrived at The Rook and Wren. Mr Parry sensibly instructed the cab to wait around the corner, ready in case they might need to flee quickly. They sat in the cab for a further ten minutes, watching the coffeeshop. It was closed but the barber’s front door was open. No customers had entered either of the premises thus far and Jenny judged it was safe for them all to alight.

Mr Parry and Gwen walked over to the bakery and began looking in the window. Jenny caught him glancing at Gwen when her back was turned, and the way his expression softened made her smile to herself. She didn’t think his forgiveness would be too grudgingly given.

She and Miriam walked along the road towards The Rook and Wren. Miriam looked tense. She took a cheap, gaudily patterned shawl from her bag and draped it around the collar of her coat.

‘You don’t have to do this,’ Jenny muttered.

‘Yes, I do.’ Miriam gave her a nervous smile and pushed her bonnet to one side coquettishly. ‘But I am glad you’ll be with me.’

They embraced each other tightly, then Miriam went up to the door of The Rook and Wren, swaying her hips beguilingly as she walked. Jenny watched her go, captivated by her movements. Miriam rapped on the door sharply and did not stop until Madam Annie opened it.

‘What do you want?’

Miriam put her hands on her hips and tossed her head. ‘I’m here to see Mr Craig. He told me to come at any time and he’d be here waiting for me.’

‘Did he now?’ Madam Annie folded her arms.

Miriam tossed her head again and giggled, and in a high-pitched, foolish-sounding way, said, ‘He told me I had the makings of an actress, and that he could put me in the way of a few men with connections, if you know what I mean.’

She giggled again.

Madam Annie’s smile grew softer, though her eyes remained hard. ‘Well. Let’s have a proper look at you, dearie.’ She took Miriam by the shoulders and stood back.

‘Oh, yes, very pretty. Lovely curls you’ve got. Quite a beauty, aren’t you? And you want to be an actress, you say?’

‘’Course I do! All those admirers waiting with flowers at the stage door.’ Miriam gave another giggle and leant in. ‘I don’t mind if they want to have a closer look before they put me on the stage. I’m sure I can make myself agreeable.’

Madam Annie’s smile widened again. Any further and her face would split. ‘Well then, my dear. Why don’t you come in? I’m afraid Mr Craig– that’s my husband– is out on business, but I’m sure I will be able to help you.’

‘Oh, he’s a cheeky one, isn’t he? Didn’t tell me he was married. You lucky thing, he’s quite the looker? I fair got carried away, so I did.’

Jenny bit her lip. Miriam was carrying on in such a manner that Mrs Craig was sure to become suspicious. If Miriam was really aiming for the stage, it would only be in melodrama, Jenny thought, a little disloyally. Still, Madam Annie looked to be taking in the story.

‘There is another friend of ours who I’m sure would be delighted to meet you, too.’

‘One of the acting gentlemen?’