“Mr.Monaghan, I believe I told you not to come anywhere near my daughter.”
“I waited until you’d seen her home,” Monaghan said, as though his behavior was entirely reasonable. “I will speak to you.”
NotI would like toorplease, may I?Monaghan was so used to commanding people he did not know how to cease.
“I must return to Mayfair, or I will be late.” I started to move around him, but he caught my arm in a surprisingly strong grip and jerked me back.
I considered screaming and flailing, shouting at passersby that I was being robbed. The mob could quickly be stirred against a miscreant.
Monaghan did not hold me roughly, but his grasp was firm. I kept my silence only because I feared he’d retaliate against Daniel if I was uncooperative. Or he might simply haul me to the nearest police station and request they lock me in.
“If it is that important you must walk along with me,” I said, pretending I wasn’t rattled. “I really must reach my kitchen soon or be out of a job. Then Iwillgo to Scotland Yard and blame you. Inspector McGregor will take my complaint.”
Monaghan’s lips thinned. I had no idea if Inspector McGregor, who disliked Monaghan intensely, could have any effect on the man’s employment, but Monaghan was not happy that I’d mentioned his name.
“Let us walk, then.” He released me but stayed close beside me, his longer stride propelling me along.
I said nothing, waiting for him to begin. I’d learned at an early age to never let the police know more than they needed. Even an honest woman could find herself arrested on the merest pretense if she said the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Not until we’d passed through St. Paul’s Churchyard and emerged into Ludgate Hill did he speak. I’d steered us in that direction, not wishing to take the northerly route from Cheapside, which would pass too near Newgate Prison for my comfort.
“Stay away from Belgrave Square,” Monaghan stated. “If you go near it again, I will have you arrested.”
My mouth went dry. “You’ve been following me about?” I tried to make my voice light. “A free subject like myself? I believe Ishalllodge that complaint at Scotland Yard.”
“The house is watched. Anyone who passes it is reported to me. You stay away. Tell the boy to as well.”
James was hardly a boy any longer, but I knew whom he meant. I waited for Monaghan to mention Hannah, but he did not, to my relief. His watchers must believe she truly was a maid and nothing more.
“You have placed Daniel into grave danger, haven’t you?” I asked. “No, he did not explain his mission, but I know that any assignment from you is fraught with peril. It is only natural that I am concerned.”
“Your concern could kill him.” Monaghan’s lips were flat. “I will drop you into the deepest hole I can find and close the grate if my men see you walk past Belgrave Square again. With or without your little girl.”
Any mention of Grace banished fears for myself and awoke my anger. “If you touch her, Mr.Monaghan, you will understand what a mother’s wrath can be.”
His expression did not change. “Keep her home and safe, and you should have no worry for her.”
While he was right about that, damn the man, I knew that Monaghan could have Joanna and Sam and their entire family, including Grace, arrested on a false charge to make me behave. I hated that such a person had this kind of power.
“She will go nowhere near the entire area of Belgravia again,” I promised. “In fact, I will not let her past Regent Street until the case is concluded and Mr.McAdam is safely home.”
Monaghan did not comment on the fact that I hadn’t included myself in this restriction from Belgravia, but his eyes flickered, and his voice grew icier than ever.
“It might take some time. Months, or longer. McAdam will stay put and do my bidding until I say otherwise. These are dangerous people, and I will have them.”
I halted to face him. We were in Fleet Street, the bastion ofthe newspapers, and curious journalists could be swirling about us even now.
“Mr.McAdam has done enough for you. You keep at him and at him and will until he is dead, won’t you? I am sorry your friend was killed in that incident years ago, but Mr.McAdam was not the only one involved in the catastrophe. I believeyouwere there as well. Blame yourself, Mr.Monaghan, for your own shortcomings, and leave the rest of us be.”
I heard myself say far too much, but the words wouldn’t cease once they welled up inside me.
Hot rage sparked in the man’s eyes, for once breaking his cold barrier.
“I have blamed myself, believe me,” he said in a hard voice. “Many times. I used to be a very dangerous man, until I turned to the side of the law. And because of that, a man who was truly good died. Yes, McAdam will pay for it. He’ll pay for every ounce of pain, just as I have paid for it. If McAdam is killed in that house, then justice will have been done.”
7
The ice-cold fear that washed through me at his words paralyzed me a moment. He’d sent Daniel to an almost-certain death, he meant, and he didn’t care.
