Page 22 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“I told him someone would ask that very question,” Lily said triumphantly. “He didn’t recall at first, but when I pressed him, he said it were after dark, but before the chime of midnight—and that’s as close as he could remember.”
“Well done, Lily,” Kara said. “You were right to inquire. Did Sootnotice anything else?”
“Nah.” The girl shook her head. “He turned over and went back to sleep and might never have thought nothing of it, until he heard Glynn was killed that night.”
Kara’s manner grew careful. “Lily, I know that you might not think highly of the Metropolitan Police—”
“They are not so bad,” Lily interrupted. “Some of the constables are protective of the flower girls. They keep bad ’uns from botherin’ us, when they can.”
“That’s a relief to hear,” Kara said. “I have a friend who is an inspector with the police. He is helping to gather information about Glynn’s murder. I think he would like to hear about what Soot told you.”
The girl waved a hand. “Ye’re free to pass it on.”
“The thing is, he might want to hear it from you, or even from Soot himself.”
Niall saw the girl’s sudden loss of color, but Kara had already held up a hand. “You wouldn’t have to go down to the Yard. I would be happy to be there with you when you speak to him. In fact, I would love to take you all to Dobb’s pie shop. You can have a nice, hot meal while you speak with Inspector Wooten.”
Lily blinked at her. “I heard tell that you was close with Maisie and her boy. Is it true that you used to run in these streets, as a girl?”
Niall knew the truth about that was complicated, but Kara merely nodded. “I spent a good amount of time in Covent Garden and the surrounding streets, learning some valuable lessons.”
Lily nodded in return. “I heard a bit about yer troubles.” She shook her head. “None o’ the other lords or ladies understand what life is like here.” She paused. “I’ll talk to yer inspector, then. I’ll see if the promise of a hot pie will tempt Soot, but I make no guarantees for him.”
“Understood. Why don’t you speak to Soot, then send word of when you would like to meet? If you tell Maisie, she’ll see that I getyour message.”
“Aye, then,” the girl agreed.
“Lily, Yardley told us that he was not the one who was harassing Miss Foulger before her death. Did you see any sign of what was happening to her, or who might have done it?” asked Niall.
“I saw the broadsheets. They were nasty. I mean, most are not trying to flatter the poor sod they aim to make fun of, but these were…hateful.”
“And the stalking, the scare tactics used against her—do you think it was Yardley?”
“Well, Glynn thought so. I sometimes wondered how it could be him, since Yardley spent so much time across the river in Bermondsey.” Lily gave a shrug. “I more than once wondered if it were the toff that were doing it.”
Niall froze and exchanged glances with Kara. “Toff?” he asked carefully.
“Aye. A young one, he is.” Lily shivered. “Now, he has a mean look about him, he has.”
“Do you mean it was a gentleman who might have had an acquaintance with Miss Foulger?” Kara asked.
“He did. He must have. I rather thought he might be a customer. Perhaps one of the gentlemen who bought Glynn’s specials.”
“Specials?” asked Niall.
“Oh, aye. Glynn had a knack for it, didn’t she? Arranging a bouquet of flowers up something beyond the ordinary. She could pick just the right mix. And she could sew up a ribbon holder for ’em that spruced it up even further. And she could make these little fabric bees and butterflies to add in.” Lily shook her head. “Some of the gentlemen considered Glynn’s specials to be good luck. They would order them whenever theyspeciallywanted to turn a girl up sweet.”
“And you think this young gentleman might have been a customer who bought one of her specials?” asked Kara.
“I didn’t see him do it, but I couldn’t work out how else he might know her. But he clearly did know her—and he didn’t much like her, by the looks of it.” Lily grimaced. “I noticed him skulking around the Garden, watching her—and with such a sour, twisted face, and a look of hatred in his eyes. He had that look—ye know it, likely. Washed-out red hair, gone too light, and a complexion gone red—most often with temper.” She tilted her head, as if asking if they understood.
Niall nodded. “Did you see this man more than once, Lily?”
“Oh, aye. Several times a week, I would see him, hiding behind a cart here, mixing in with the crowd there. Always watching, always clearly wishing her ill.”
“You don’t know him by name?” asked Kara.
“No. How should I? He never bought from me, that much I know.”
