“You didn’t see that house.” I envisioned all the precious vases and silver in the sitting room. “I’ll snatch a few things and?—”
“No!” He stopped eating, which said something. “You aren’t going to trick a good man who’s giving you a second chance. You’ll do right by him.”
The basket with the bread floated up in the air.
I blinked and rubbed my face. The basket was on the table. “Did you see that?”
“What?” He ate another slice.
“The basket?—”
“Don’t change the subject. You aren’t going to trick that man.”
“Are you telling me you didn’t see the basket floating?”
He didn’t even glance at the darn basket. “You hit your head hard. You’re seeing things. Now, I think you should behave and take the job.”
“But…” I scratched my forehead. He might be right about me seeing things. The day had been strange from start to finish, and my head ached. “It’s not by being good that I’ll pay the debt I owe to Riley. He won’t hesitate to slit your throat for good measure if I don’t pay him.” I scoffed, annoyed.
One of the most dangerous thugs with a reputation for enjoying torturing people was breathing down my neck, and Darius wanted me to be good. Good my arse. Goodness was too expensive. Riley wouldn’t be the head of a ruthless gang if he were good. Extortion, protection money, assault, gambling, usury—Riley was a versatile criminal.
“With your salary, we’ll manage.” Darius straightened. “I’ll help. I owe you. When you took me in, you saved my life, Alex.”
I’d found him half dead, soaked with rain as he’d been begging for a shilling on a street corner. He’d been so weak he hadn’t been able to stand on his feet. I’d shared my food with him and told him to join me. I’d almost carried him to my flat so fatigued he’d been. His permanence in my flat had started as a temporary arrangement, but his good heart had won me over.
“That’s an exaggeration, especially since you’re now one of Riley’s targets because of me.”
“If you hadn’t fed me that night when you found me in the rain, I would be dead,” he said in a solemn tone. “I owe you my allegiance.”
Allegiance? I picked up a wooden spoon and dubbed his shoulders. “Sir Darius Strange, I therefore declare thee a knight of the Order of the Bastards. Rise a knight.”
He laughed, sounding strong and healthy.
I touched the basket to make sure it wasn’t floating. Tricks of a starving mind. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I do.” Darius patted my shoulder. “I’ll find a job at the docks. They’ll give me a few shillings for helping load a cargo ship.”
I didn’t want to be mean, but…I was. “You? Working at the docks? You’ll collapse.”
He tightened the scarf around his neck, half-covering his smirk. “I’ll be careful not to, then.”
I didn’t understand people as of late. Miss Harlowe’s generosity made no sense. Viscount Mansel giving me a job had no rhyme or reason. And Darius, who looked like someone about to kick the bucket from consumption, wanted to pick up one of the most physically exhausting jobs in London.
I was the last sane person in town, which said something about the state of humanity.
Darius took another slice of bread. “Keep the job. It’s safer than stealing.”
That was true. I almost got caught today. And then there was Miss Harlowe. She was the first kind person I’d met in a while. I wouldn’t mind repaying her generosity.
“Fine. I’ll be good.”
4
GLASS CLEANING
Irene
Before seven in the morning, I was already up and about, staring out of the window while sipping my tea in the warm dining room among white lilies and freshly baked scones.
