Page 65 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
It took a moment, but the woman relented. She held open the door and waved them in.
The place was small, only one room with a hearth and a sofa, and a bedroom with a curtain hung for privacy. The fabric hung half pulled open, and Kara spotted just one bed and a narrow chest of drawers. There was no decor, no bric-a-brac. A teapot rested on a grate in the cold hearth and a chest sat next to it, perhaps holding a crust of bread. There was nothing else.
Beth smiled at the young woman as she closed the door. “I’m Beth Williams. I’m a friend of Lily’s. Are you her sister?”
The woman nodded.
“I’m Kara.” She gave the girl a nod. “This is my husband, Niall.”
“I’m Ivy,” the woman said, shifting nervously.
“Do you know where Lily is?” asked Beth.
“No. Not exactly.”
A step sounded from the floor above. Niall looked up. “Is anyone else here with you?”
“No. This is it, the extant of our rental.” Ivy gestured. “The upstairs rooms are blocked off. They are connected to the house next door, now.” She grew suddenly impatient. “Lily is not here and I am getting ready to go out for the evening. Why are you looking for my sister? Has she done something? Is she in trouble?”
“Not that kind of trouble,” Kara answered. “But she might be in danger. We fear she is missing.”
Ivy tossed her head. “She’s not missing. She’s just gone off with… her beau.”
“With the man who gave her that new smock? Do you know who he is?”
“Some gentry cove that works with that charity?” Ivy shook her head. “I don’t know why she was so excited over that thing, in any case. Even if it does have a matching jacket, it’s a child’s dress. It’s not suited to her. Not anymore. If he wanted to win her over, he should have got her a proper gown, or a trinket. A bit of jewelry, perhaps.” She sighed. “But Lily has always had her own ideas.”
“Turning from flowers to prostitution is not her idea, though, is it?” Niall asked flatly. “She has been trying her best to avoid it, hasn’t she?”
Ivy flushed. “Indeed she has.” She placed her hands on her hips. “And while she delays, do you know what she brings home at the end of the day?”
Niall shook his head. “No, I’m—”
“After buying flowers, splitting them into bunches, plus the rush to tie them with, paper to wrap them in, the spare ribbon, and other sundries? Sixpence a day! That is generally her total earnings. Now, it’s a bit more when oranges is in. Maybe ninepence a day then, but that’s not much over a month in the year, is it?” She gave him a scathing look. “Do you think you could live on sixpence a day? Three shillings and six a week? Our rent is near on to seven shillings a week, as it is.”
“No, I—”
But Ivy was on a tear, her eyes wild with anger and fear. “This place is bare, I know, but it’s safe. The door bolts. There’s no pimps nor gangs ranging in the streets. I can bring my customers here, if I must, and I got a deal with the landlady’s son. He listens to make sure I don’t yell for help, and after thirty minutes he comes and ushers them out, if they are wont to stay too long. Do you think I can get that sort of arrangement anywhere else? If I lose this place, me and Lily will end up in one of the rookeries, and what do you think will happen to us both there?”
Kara knew. They all knew. The rookeries were crowded, filthy, disease-ridden areas, where even the police feared to tread.
“Listen,” Ivy said, “Lily is not going to be able to pass for a little girl for much longer. A girl can charge a fortune for her first time. She might as well make something off it, rather than have it stolen by some blighter who traps her in the street.”
Kara swallowed heavily. “Unfortunately, Ivy, we think the man who gave Lily that smock is a… bad man. Someone who has hurt young girls like Lily before.”
“What? No! She said he was sweet on her!”
“She wouldn’t be the first to believe so,” Kara said gently.
“But she said he had courtly manners, and brought her treats. He took her on a picnic in the park, once, like she was a real lady. She came home that evening and didn’t want her tea.” Ivy stared blankly, clearly remembering. “She said she was full up. Not hungry a bit.” The girl blinked at Kara. “Can you imagine? I cannot remember the last time I wasn’t hungry.” After a moment, she shook her head. “Wait. You said he hurt other girls? Do you mean… hurt? Or—”
“He’s killed before,” Niall said starkly. “Which is why we need to find her as quickly as we can.”
With a moan, Ivy sank down onto the sofa. “Oh, saints alive. Itismy fault, isn’t it? I should have known.” Her head dropped into her hands. “He said he was going to set her up as his mistress—but in Blackfriars? What kind of man sets his fancy piece up there?”
“Blackfriars?” Niall repeated sharply. “Do you know where?”
“No.” Ivy looked up. “Wait. It’s in a court, like this one. Enclosed. I was so mad when Lily mentioned it, because as she spoke, I realized it meant her man knew where we lived. But it must be near the river, because Lily said she could still smell the stink of it there.”
