“One of the fellows who caught me saidOrders, weren’t it?” I warmed my hands on my teacup, trying to still the shaking that threatened to overtake me again. “There is someone pulling the strings for reasons they didn’t know or care about. These men weren’t Irish though, I don’t think.”
“Not all the anarchists are,” Daniel said. “Ruffians can be hired by anyone, and many don’t care who they work for as long as they are paid.”
I swallowed a sip of tea. “I hadn’t realized such hard men existed.”
Daniel shrugged. “I’ve known they have for years, which is why I wanted to join the police. To stop them.”
Daniel’s attempt to enter the police hadn’t gone well and had led to him being obligated to and working for Mr.Monaghan.
I set down my teacup and reached for Daniel’s hand, which rested as a fist on the table. “You were trying to do good.”
Daniel met my gaze with a bleak one. “I was also trying to escape my past and at the same time learn more about it. I thought that eventually becoming a detective constable would give me access to knowledge about villains that I could use. I still want the man who ordered the murder of Carter, even after all these years.”
Daniel, and Mr.Fielding too, had been taken in by Mr.Carter, a South London villain who’d been kind to them. Both had been very young, and they’d been devastated by Mr.Carter’s death.
“Youhavedone a lot of good, Daniel,” I told him. “In spite of Monaghan’s ruthlessness.”
“Or because of it.” Daniel let out a breath. “Life never follows the paths one expects. But as I said, I’m finished with allthat, at least, once we’ve thwarted the bombers and learn why Lord Peyton died.”
“He saw something out the window,” I said. “I’m certain of it.”
“So you said. I did ask Fagan about it, and he had no idea. He was emphatic that he was nowhere near the man, and neither was anyone else in that household.”
I gave Daniel’s hand a pat. “You will find out. And when you do, I will arrange a picnic for us, and Grace and James. To celebrate. As a family.”
Daniel’s eyes flickered when I said the wordfamily, but he studied me with amused skepticism. “You sound as though you are going to leave the rest to me.”
“I am.” I carried the empty plates to the scullery and returned to pour more tea. “I learned my lesson today. I will remain here, cooking and baking, and visit Grace on my days out under the watchful eye of Mr.Grimes and his toughs. I want no more excitement.”
Daniel’s brows rose. “You mean it.”
“I do.” I sat down again, lifting my cup. “I came very close to death today. I nearly left Grace alone and unprotected—Sam and Joanna can only do so much. I will not do that to my child. So here I stay.”
“Good.” The word was soft. Daniel reached across the table and smoothed my hair from my forehead. “When I heard what happened to you, it nearly killed me. I’d been closeted with Peyton’s friends and Fagan all day, and only learned of your ordeal when Monaghan finally released me this evening. Grimes found me and told me. That’s when I decided I was done.”
I turned my head and kissed his wrist. “I am sorry I causedyou such worry.” I sent him a smile. “I imagine it is rather like the worry you cause me.”
Daniel laughed. “Oh, Mrs.Holloway, you always know how to strike a blow. Let us both give up excitement and live as plain working people, laboring during the day, nodding at each other over apricot tarts at night.”
I rested my forehead against his. “I’d like nothing more, Mr.McAdam.”
* * *
I meant to keep to my word and not stray a step from the house until Monday, when I’d return to Grace. I sent footmen the next day to shop for produce, and though they bought exactly what I told them, they did not know a good specimen of asparagus from a poor one. But I did not scold them, only accepted the vegetables without fuss.
Tess made another apricot tart, showing me how she’d brushed the crust with preserves before layering in the fruit, with another coating of preserves over that. I began another star bread with garlic and fresh herbs, ready for the evening meal.
Friday morning passed quietly. I’d bade Cynthia to stay home and to tell her friends to do likewise, as there would be danger about. I heard no word from Daniel, so I did not know whether the bombs had been found or prevented. I had to tell Cynthia all, which took some time, the two of us shut in the housekeeper’s parlor for a long while after breakfast.
She was alarmed enough to send notes to Miss Townsend and other friends, and to stress that I should remain indoors as well.
Which I planned to do. Mrs.Bywater would host a large gathering of her charity group on Sunday, and I decided to doa fine tray for it, giving the guests a choice of plain, lemon-scented, and currant scones. Tess and I would make mini apricot tarts and add those to the selection of petits fours.
I had every intention of adhering to my vow to remain home and out of harm’s way, until Adam turned up Friday afternoon, fear in his eyes.
“Something’s amiss with me mum,” he said when I answered the door. “Will you come, missus? I’m that worried.”
27
