Page 46 of Murder in Blackfriars

The train jerked forward, taking us out of the station into a dark and unnerving tunnel. I preferred looking out of the windows of trains at the passing sights, and moving under the earth was not to my taste.

We moved west, paralleling the river, through Blackfriars, then along to Westminster, Belgravia, and Kensington, looping northward again to Notting Hill, where we descended.

Though I clenched my hands around the basket handle as though it would save me from any dynamite laid by anarchists, we arrived safely in half the time it would have taken to jolt through London in a hansom.

Daniel’s home would be much closer, I decided as Grace and I trudged up the stairs to the teeming street above. However,the camaraderie with and closeness of my daughter as I’d baked today would never be matched.

Hannah awaited us at what was to be my stall.Stallwas a grandiose term for the rather rickety table and old stool behind it, but I could not complain.

“You took your time,” Hannah said. “Others are already sold out and packing up.”

“Baking can’t be rushed,” I said calmly, setting down my basket. “If one wants the pastries to be crisp and brown and not soggy.”

Hannah shook her head. She’d never understood my obsession with perfect baking.

“I’ll help you set things out,” she said.

I had brought a cloth, which we draped over the table, and large platters to contain the pies until they were purchased. Joanna had suggested newspaper for wrapping them and had given me ones Sam had finished reading this morning.

“Smells good, missus.” A man in a cloth cap paused as I finished arranging the meat pasties on one tray. “How much?”

I’d given much thought on what to charge, having studied the prices the other stall holders gave to similar baked goods. One haggled in a market, but there had to be a starting price so both seller and buyer would reach one fair to both.

Also, I had to make certain I priced them high enough to make back what I’d spent, but not so high as to frighten away the customers. Or, this being London, to hear their ridicule.

“Penny for the meat pies,” I said. “Ha’penny for the fruit tarts. You can hold them in your hand and nibble at them.” I gestured at the tarts Grace laid out, while Hannah stood back, letting me make my first sale on my own.

“Penny’s dear,” the man said, hesitating.

“Not for the juiciest meat and crispest pastry, baked fresh not an hour ago,” I declared.

“Still…” The man prevaricated, obviously wanting a bargain.

“One penny,” I said firmly. “But as you’re the first customer of the day, I’ll throw in a fruit tart with it. Two for an extra farthing.”

The man gazed hungrily at the pasties and tarts, which not only were perfectly golden brown, but exuded the warm odors of gravy and plum jam.

“I’ll take all three,” the man said at last. “Penny and a farthing.” He laid down a penny and a ha’penny, and I rummaged in my coin purse to return a farthing as his change.

Grace wrapped the fruit tarts in the newspaper as we’d practiced, and I folded paper around the meat pie, handing all to the man. He peeled paper back from the plum tart and took a small bite.

His face changed. “Cor blimey.” He chewed and swallowed, running a tongue over his lips. “That’s a bit of heaven, that is. You be here tomorrow?”

“Monday afternoon and Thursday,” I answered. “I am pleased you like them. I am Mrs. Holloway, if you wish to tell your friends where to find good pies.”

He grinned around his next bite, plum jam smeared on the corners of his mouth. “Right you are, missus.”

He hurried away, stuffing the rest of the tart he’d begun into his mouth.

Hannah pressed her hands together and danced a little jig. “My, my, you were splendid. Your first punter,andyou persuaded him to spend more than he meant to. You are skilled at this.”

“If I had been more skilled, I’d have had a penny and half without having to give anything away,” I said glumly.

“No, no. It’s give and take, innit? You sweeten it up, and they buy something instead of walking away. You did exactly right.”

I supposed, if I looked at it correctly, I did just make a penny and a quarter when the man had been prepared to buy nothing.

“I think it’s exciting,” Grace said. “Like a game.”