Page 44 of Murder in Blackfriars

“I will still drudge,” I pointed out. “But for punters instead of for a master or mistress.”

“And keep all the cash you earn. No waiting for the one day a year or half year for your wages.”

“I will spend much of that cash on expenses.” For some reason I was determined not to grow too exuberant about my new venture yet. “Ingredients. Tess’s help. Fuel for the stove. Pans for baking and bowls for mixing everything up in. I ought to give Joanna a bit for using her coal and kitchen things, though I am certain she will not let me.”

“My kitchen is fairly well stocked,” Daniel said. “If not much used. Please, go in and do whatever you like.”

“I have cooked in your kitchen, and no, it is not well stocked,” I told him. “But these are things we can discuss at another time. I am bursting to know whether you’ve found out anything about Mr. Patterson or more about Mr. Banks. You never took the medal you came to fetch.”

“I ran off, I know. I apologize for that, but my chat with Mr. Davis took all my time, and I was behind. I am curious to seethe medal, but it can wait.” Daniel shrugged, as though finished with the discussion.

“Tell me what you discovered about Mr. Patterson, you maddening man. Even if it was nothing, I don’t wish to stew.”

Daniel’s grin flashed. He enjoyed provoking me. “Mr. Thanos turned up a number of fellows called Graham Patterson and Gordon Patterson living in this country. Only one—a Gordon Patterson—dwelled in London at the requisite time. There is no record of his death, so we are now trying to find his whereabouts.”

I warmed with anticipation. “Excellent. I knew Mr. Thanos would not fail us. When you do find Mr. Patterson to interview him, I want to be present.”

“Somehow, I thought you would. Very well, I will let you know what happens, and set up the meeting. I know that if I try to keep you out of it, you’d simply turn up at the appointment, having found out the information in your own way. By interrogating Thanos, for instance.”

I could not argue with his logic, so I only nodded.

We reached Oxford Street and the grocers. He was indeed in his shop, and answered when I knocked on the door and waved at him. I gave the man the answer about the damsons, then loaded my basket with some of the fruit he was readying for the morning.

When I emerged, I gratefully handed the full basket over to Daniel to tote.

As we strolled congenially along, I told him about how Mrs. Bywater had nearly found out about my market stall and Mr. Davis’s timely intervention.

“Good old Davis,” Daniel said admiringly. “He really is a fine man, if a little snobbish.”

“A great deal snobbish, but I do not disagree.” I heaved a sigh. “I will miss them all.”

Daniel’s shoulder brushed mine as we walked. “You can visit with them anytime you like.”

“Yes, but it will not be the same. There are plenty of things I will not miss, I assure you, but having people around me I rub along with is a pleasant thing. I’ve worked in many houses and been happy to leave most, but Mr. Davis, Tess, Elsie, and Mrs. Redfern have become friends. Not to mention Lady Cynthia.”

I ceased walking. “Will she be all right without me there? Mrs. Bywater does like to push her into directions she does not wish to go. I fear Cynthia will grow despondent, or do something foolish, like run off into remote parts of the world, alone and with no money. She’d be prey for any unscrupulous person she came upon.”

“We’ll look after her,” Daniel said. “We always have, haven’t we?”

“If only she and Mr. Thanos could make a match of it. I wouldn’t worry so much about her then.”

“I would.” Daniel barked a laugh. “They are not the most practical of souls.”

“But they get on well. Perhaps Mr. Thanos has some distant relative who will bestow a fortune upon him. Then he and Cynthia can live happily together and never worry about the butcher’s bills.”

“Idyllic bliss,” Daniel continued in amusement. “I don’t think Thanos has such relations, unfortunately. He has a large family, scattered from here to Anatolia, but they are not wealthy, as far as I know.”

He became wistful again, and I knew he’d taken his mind back to Mr. Banks and his potential information, now lost.

“Mr. Banks’s death might have had nothing to do with you,” I said quietly. “He might have had other enemies who pursued him.”

“None that I could discover.” Daniel neatly quashed this idea. “He was well-liked. A hero of the war—heroic if only for simply surviving and returning. Ramsay seemed to admire him. Ramsay was my first choice of villain, but I think he is genuinely grieving the man. However, I will keep my eye on him.”

“What does Mr. Grimes say about it all?” I asked. “He, at least, spoke to Mr. Banks in the first place.”

“I can’t find Grimes.” Daniel’s tone turned grim. “He’s gone to ground somewhere, and I don’t know where, or why.”

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