Page 27 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
He’d been alone for so long. Before her death, his mother had been remote and self-absorbed. Everyone in their household had been nervously focused on her whims and moods. Stayme’s visits had been essential, but few and far between. He utterly and completely understood Harold’s longing for acceptance, belonging, and love. His life with Kara and their collected family filled the same empty spaces in him that they did in the boy.
Standing there, his heart and his arms full, Niall drank in the sort of happiness that he’d never thought to possess. He knew that thegreatest honor of his life was the chance to be sure his loved ones never felt that hollow, echoing emptiness ever again.
His eyes were closed and his face pressed into the thickness of Kara’s upswept hair, but he heard the faint sniff behind them and knew what it was. “Come on, then, Turner. Get in here where you belong, man,” he said thickly.
There came a long moment of hesitation, and Niall thought perhaps the butler’s strict sense of propriety would keep him from joining them. But just as Kara’s head lifted, Turner moved in at the side, where he could encompass all of them in the long reach of his arms.
Kara’s head came back down to rest on Niall’s shoulder. She heaved a sigh of relief, joy, and fulfilment—and it was the loveliest sound Niall had ever heard. Right then, he vowed to make her repeat it as regularly as he could possibly contrive.
*
Kara stepped downfrom the carriage into the lively crowd gathered on the Westminster Bridge Road in Lambeth. Crowds were streaming into the Canterbury and gathered outside the music hall as well. It was quite a mix, with gorgeously dressed patrons ascending at the side of workaday Londoners in their Sunday best. Spectators watched the guests flow in. Putting their heads together, they gossiped about who was there, with whom, and what they were wearing. Groups of laughing young men lingered about. Kara peered among them, but didn’t see any young, spotty redheads. Street children zipped through the crowds, seeking to lighten the pockets of the unwary.
Straining to see, Kara saw a vendor selling roasted nuts. “There!” she said, leaning closer to Niall and pointing beyond the man’s cart. “A flower seller.”
“Dark hair,” her husband said with a shake of his head. With his height, he had a better view of the scene. “There’s another near thecorner, but she’s dark too, and quite a bit older. Perhaps Jeanette might have set up inside?”
“Perhaps. Let’s go and see.” They entered the flow of people entering the grandly decorated lobby. Thick carpet, rich wallpaper, and bright chandeliers lent an air of sophistication to the place. A grand staircase led up to the gallery seats. A flower seller held an armful of roses at the base of it.
Kara’s heart sank when she saw the girl’s blonde hair. “Do you see any others?”
“No, but let’s see if this one can give us any information, eh?”
Taking Niall’s arm, Kara let him lead her to where the girl stood, smiling and offering her blooms to the excited theatregoers.
“A pretty blossom for your pretty lady?” she called to Niall.
“By all means,” Niall replied, dropping a coin into her hand.
The girl’s eyes widened. “For that you may have two, my lady,” she said. Her words were directed to Kara, but she simpered at Niall.
“Thank you.” Kara buried her nose in the scarlet roses after Niall bowed and handed them to her. Watching over the soft petals, she noted this girl had made no attempt to hide her age or womanly curves—or her admiration of Niall and his generosity. “We thought we would find Jeanette here tonight,” Kara said, drawing the girl’s attention back to her.
“And so you would, in normal fashion,” the flower seller said. “Jeanette is normally fierce protective of her regular spot here, but the daft widgeon agreed to switch with me. And tonight! The night when Charlie Luster is meant to debut his new set!” The girl’s eyes sparkled. “The crowd is fair excited about it—and it’s left them in a generous mood, I tell you.” Suddenly, her brow furrowed. “Now, don’t tell Jeanette I said so, if you please. I don’t want her reluctant to make the trade again.”
“We won’t say a word,” Niall promised, his hand to his chest. “But where is your regular spot, young lady?”
The girl fluttered her lashes at him. “I’m outside Drury Lane. You may find me there, if you care to attend a more serious performance.” She laughed. “Although I wish Jeanette much luck tonight, as it’s just another production ofThe Queen of Spades.”
“I’ve heard lovely things said of the performances,” Kara said. “Perhaps we will see you there.”
“Come sooner, if you care for dramatics, for the word on the street is that the circus has been invited back,” the girl said confidingly. “Either way, you must be sure to look for me, should you come to a performance.” She waved as they turned to head back outside. “I shall be sure to save the best blossoms for you!”
It took a while for the carriage to cross the river and make its way through London traffic. Catherine Street lay quiet by the time they arrived. Contrary to what one might assume, the theatre faced here, while its back end lay along Drury Lane. Kara took Niall’s hand to descend before the theatre and had no trouble in immediately picking out their quarry.
Jeanette lounged beneath one of the arched entrances, leaning against the pillar, showing off her curves and sharing a smoke with an older man in formal black and white. A couple of large baskets sat at her feet, full of blooms, and her red hair shone in the flickering light of the theatre’s lamps. The gentleman straightened as they approached, then melted into the shadows.
The girl tossed the cigarillo and took up an armful of blossoms. “Good evening to you,” she called out. Her expression turned scolding as they drew closer. “Sir! Surely you must buy your companion a posy, to ease the shame of bringing such a lady as this so late to the performance! Why, you’ve denied all the gentlemen their chance to admire her and wish they was you!”
Kara smiled at her. “Thank you for the compliment.”
“It’s true, though, miss. You look a treat. Ah well. I was just about to move into the lobby, as intermission is nigh. They’ll all get theirchance to see you, then.” The girl extended a lovely white rose. “And truthfully, your gown is just crying out for you to carry this, is it not?”
“The perfect accessory. Thank you.” Kara watched the girl closely. “You are Jeanette, are you not?”
The girl’s practiced smile faded. “Who is asking?”
“I am the Duchess of Sedwick. This is my husband. We’ve come to speak with you about the death of Miss Glynn Foulger.”
