Page 63 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“Could you spare one of your messengers?” asked Niall. “I know you must have several trusted men or boys around. I should send a message to Kara.”
“I’ll send a man in,” Wooten said. He paused in the doorway. Looking back, he gave a nod that included them both. “Thank you.”
Niall helped himself to a bit of paper and ink from the desk. “Let’s have the others meet us at Lake Nemi. Do you think Jeanette might know any of Lily’s hiding spots?”
Beth brightened. “She might.”
Niall sanded and folded the note. “Let’s turn this over to a messenger and go, then.”
They found a hack near Charing Cross, and it didn’t take long for them to reach Lake Nemi.
Emelia stepped out of the main parlor when she heard them arrive. “Beth, there you are, at last. You have a caller.”
“What?” Beth looked confused. “Who?”
Instead of answering, Emelia merely swept open the door.
Beth moved to the threshold, then stopped in her tracks.
Curious, Niall stepped up behind her. Over her shoulder, he caught sight of Rob McRae getting to his feet, a curiously humble look on his face and a bunch of daisies in his hand.
With a sound that was nearly a sob, Beth started moving. “Oh, Rob!” She threw herself in his arms and started to cry.
Niall’s friend bent over her, murmuring reassurances, while Niall exchanged glances with Emelia.
He leaned down to whisper, “Kara is going to be so annoyed that she missed this.”
*
“Set us ashoreat the stairs near the Waterloo Bridge,” Stayme told the wherryman. He glanced back at Kara and Gyda. “I’ll need to look in my files to see if I can dig up anything about Royston or the mills where he was previously employed.”
“We should go to Bedford Street,” Kara said. “Mr. Chambers might be able to tell us where Royston is staying.”
“You promised the duchess that you would be circumspect,” Gyda reminded her. “We should take Beth along. She’s good cover, and we won’t look like we are searching out Chambers.” Her tone darkened. “Or hunting Royston.”
“You are right. We’ll drop Stayme off in Mayfair, then head to Lake Nemi and on to the charity.” Kara looked west toward Whitehall and Scotland Yard. “I wonder where Niall is now?”
She got her answer a while later, when they walked into Lake Nemi. Kara and Gyda both drew to a halt when a glance into the parlor showed Beth standing in a corner, holding hands with Rob McRae, while Niall and Jeanette stood over a table, consulting over the papers spread in front of them.
“Niall! What are you doing here?” Kara moved into his embrace, then darted her eyes toward the corner and widened them into a silent question.
“I know,” he whispered. “He was here waiting when we arrived.” Raising his voice, he squeezed her again. “There’s so much to tell you.”
“We have news, too,” Gyda said, watching Rob through narrowed eyes. “But not the good kind.” She beckoned Beth over. “You go first.”
Kara moved over to take Gyda’s hand as Beth told of her encounter with Lily. They listened silently as Niall told of their visit to Scotland Yard.
“Lily has blonde hair,” Gyda said dully after he finished.
“It’s Royston,” Kara said. “It must be him.”
They shared all they had learned from the women at the mill.
“You cannot go to the charity,” Niall said. “Frye and his men are there. They are after Royston. Let’s attack from the other direction.” He held up a paper from the table where he and Jeanette had been huddled. “Let’s find Lily. Jeanette knows where she and her sister live.”
Kara breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Jeanette. We must find her, and quickly.”
“I’ll write out a quick message for Stayme, catching him up.” Niall bent over the table again.
