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Chapter Twenty-Three
Ariadne didn’t see Edward for the next two days. Worry niggled at the back of her mind at his obvious absence, but she had far more pressing things to take care of. She had finished dismantling Jack’s watch but as she looked down at the various pieces, she almost felt stupid. What did he want from these? It obviously had no value in the market anymore. It almost felt as if he was making a farce out of her.
And yet he showed up, late evening just as he promised he would. “Are you done?”
Ariadne nodded and handed the handkerchief that contained the various pieces of the watch to him. He examined each screw carefully and then gave her a satisfied smile. “Here, catch,” he said, tossing a pouch of coins to her. It sounded quite heavy as it jiggled in her hand.
Curiosity got the better of her even though she knew she should be discreet. “Can you tell me what does all of this even mean?”
“I migh' as well 'ell you,” he said, holding up a screw. “This is made of silver and this—” It was a stub that held the two dials of the watch together. “—is made of diamond.”
Ariadne couldn’t help but gasp. “You’re a smuggler.”
Jack gave her a Cheshire cat smile. “I knew you were a smar' one. I almos' 'hough' you would hoodwink me an' keep i' 'o yourself once you figured ou' my plan.”
Ariadne huffed. “Even if I had, I would never take it for myself. I already told you. I’m not a snitch.” His implication of otherwise really annoyed her.
“Of course you ain’t,” he said. “You're differen' than mos'. I’ll be back later for more work for you. Until then remember you always have a friend in me.”
Ariadne was hesitant. She didn’t know if she really wanted to be involved with the likes of him considering she could easily fall into trouble if she wasn’t careful. She was walking on a thin line here already and the law wasn’t on her side either. But at this point, she was kind of tired of societal expectations. They wanted her to play by their rules while she got nothing in return.
“And how might this friend help me?” Ariadne asked curiously.
He put his hand to his ear again. “Thief’s ear, remember? I can find out any and all kinds of information for you and around you. Would help to keep someone around in case you or your sister fall into trouble.”
“But why do you want to help me?” Ariadne asked. No one had openly offered her help before so this seemed almost suspicious to her.
“I was like you once before. I wish someone had helped me,” he said quietly.
Before he could turn around and walk away Ariadne said, “There is one way you can help me.”
“Now you’re talking,” he said.
“I think there is someone following me, leaving threatening letters at my door. I need to figure out who it is,” she explained.
Jack seemed to ponder over it for a while and she almost expected him to tell her no. “Alrigh', I’ll see if I can find some'hin. Farewell nah.” After Jack left, she locked up the studio and went to the market to buy some bread, milk, eggs, and more. When she came back, she could hear a commotion from above her. It sounded like it was coming from her house. Ariadne quickly hurried upstairs.
To her shock, Mrs. Tula stood at the door arguing with Leda. “And you tell that sister of yours—” she stopped when she caught sight of Ariadne, “and there comes the other brat.”
“What do you want?” Ariadne said coldly. Why couldn’t this woman leave them alone? She was too greedy for her own good. Leda and Emma stood huddled at the threshold to their door.
“I was just asking Leda here to hand me the key to your studio,” Mrs. Tula said.
Dread climbed up her spine which was then replaced by fierce anger. “And pray why would I do that? You’ve no claim on that piece of land.”
“I would beg to differ. My husband loaned you the money with which your father could manage to buy the plot in the first place and I can’t imagine he ever got the money back.”
“So you will exhort it from us now?” Ariadne fought to keep her temper in check. “Let me tell you something, my father never kept anybody’s loan. He must have paid your husband in full. You need to get your information correct.”
“Girl, you stay under my roof and you have the audacity to speak to me like this?” Mrs. Tula asked. She was fuming and her cheap powder was slowly trickling down in a trail of sweat down her neck. She almost looked comical in her bearings.
“I pay my rent. I have the right to be here. Your husband isn’t even cold in the grave yet and you’re here to squeeze out as much money as you can from us.”
“How dare you?” she bellowed. At her loud shouting, some of the doors down the hall had opened and the renters peeked out to watch the commotion. Under their gazes, Mrs. Tula grew more self-conscious and she cleared her throat. “I’m telling you, girl, one of these days you’re going to regret everything you did to me.” With that, she stormed off.
“Oh Ariadne,” Leda said, stepping forward to hug her sister. “I’m so glad you came back on time. She was forcing me to hand over the extra key to the studio to her.”
“You didn’t, did you?” Ariadne asked with some concern. Mrs. Tula was targeting Leda because she knew she wouldn’t be able to stand up for herself as much Ariadne could. “We can’t let her bully us. We have every right to be here.”
