Page 48 of Murder in Blackfriars

I’d made four shillings and threepence today. That was almost a crown, all in pennies, ha’pennies, and farthings.

The coins were heavy in my pocket, and I glanced around warily as we exited at Cannon Street, afraid I’d jingle and attract London’s many pickpockets. I’d have to find a way to safely transport and store my earnings.

Joanna rejoiced with me at my success, but I could not stay to celebrate. Back I had to go to Mount Street, after hugging Grace and pressing some of the coins on Joanna to pay for the use of her kitchen.

As predicted, she tried to refuse, but I slammed the pennies onto a table and took myself off.

I was weary from the work, but I returned to Mount Street to assist Tess in getting the supper on. I stored the coins I’d made in the box in my bedroom, where I kept my pocket money.

I’d put much of what had resided there previously into an account in a building society, at Mr. Davis’s advice. I’d have to make regular deposits to it as my market business grew.

If it did. Hannah was correct that I should not let one good afternoon make me too optimistic.

But it felt good to see people eager to sample my wares and be willing to part with a small amount of cash for them.

I told Tess all about it, quietly, as we worked together at our table, and she was ecstatic.

“You’ll have your own shop in no time, Mrs. H.,” she predicted. “Then I can work for you there.”

By that time, she might be married to Caleb, but I only nodded. The thought of having Tess working by my side after I left Mount Street was a good one.

When I went out after supper, as was my usual habit, to take food scraps to beggars, I found James waiting for me.

“Dad didn’t like to disturb you when you was on your first day at the market,” he said. “But he has a message.” He bounced on his toes in youthful exuberance. “He says they ran Mr. Patterson to ground, and would you meet him at Mr. Thanos’s digs on Thursday morning.”

15

Thursday morning after I finished preparing breakfast with Tess, I took myself to Regent Street and to the flat of Mr. Elgin Thanos.

Mr. Thanos himself opened the door to my knock. “Mrs. Holloway,” he exclaimed into the stairway. “How wonderful to see you.”

“Good morning, Mr. Thanos. You are looking well.”

He was indeed, his dark hair neat, his dark eyes shining at me from behind his spectacles. His waistcoat was misbuttoned, but his cravat was straight and his shoes matched. I saw Lady Cynthia’s hand in that.

“I’ve brought you some scones, Mr. Thanos. With currants, as you like them.”

“Ah, excellent.” Mr. Thanos rubbed his hands. “You are kindness itself, Mrs. Holloway.”

“Do stand aside and let her in,” Lady Cynthia drawled from behind him. “You can’t enjoy the scones until you do.”

“Of course, of course.” Mr. Thanos chuckled at himself and opened the door wider so I could scuttle inside past him.

Lady Cynthia wore a frock today. She usually dressed as a lady when visiting Mr. Thanos so as not, she’d told me, to give his landlady apoplexy.

She was not there alone with him. Daniel rose from the desk behind her, where he was looking through papers of some sort.

I hadn’t seen him since Sunday. He’d been keeping himself from the house to give Mr. Davis time to grow used to the idea that Daniel was my fiancé.

Fiancé.

I grew warm at the thought. I’d never actually had a fiancé before. My first husband had simply told me he’d marry me and then took me to the church before I had the chance to think it through. I’d been so enamored of the idea that the strong man, Joe Bristow, would take care of me, that I’d leapt in before realizing what I was doing.

I’d thought him romantic, wishing to rush to the altar with a special license. Now I realized he’d feared that if the banns were read, someone might realize he already had a wife.

How he’d obtained the license, I wasn’t certain, but I knew now that he must have bribed whoever it was, and very likely the vicar of Bow Bells who’d performed the ceremony, with the money he’d stolen.

In spite of whatever license he’d coerced—if he had at all—our marriage had been quite illegal.