Page 66 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
Beth made a sound of dismay. “Oh, no. How many places could that be?”
“Quite a few.” Niall sounded grim.
He began to question Ivy, looking for any further helpful information. Kara, though, was stepping away on silent feet. The rising despair and anxiety was not helping her nausea. She slipped out thedoor while the others were caught up in their conversation and barely made it to the neighbor’s potted tree in time. She bent over it, retching violently even though her stomach was largely empty. Her body was racked, heaving helplessly—until, suddenly, it was over. The retching stopped. Her nausea eased.
Straightening, she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and marveled at how she abruptly felt utterly normal—and hungry.
Behind her, the door was yanked open. “Kara?” Niall came to her, looking concerned.
“I just needed a bit of air. I’m fine now.”
Behind him, Beth was lingering in the doorway, speaking quietly to Ivy. “She knew nothing else helpful?”
“No.”
Kara heard his frustration. “I have an idea.” She stepped over as Beth moved to join them. “Beth, your friend, the volunteer at the Waif’s Wardrobe, the one who is an artist?”
“Yes?”
“Has he, perhaps, made a sketch of Royston?”
Beth’s eyes widened. “Surely he must have. Oh, I hope so!”
Kara nodded. “We need to find out. That would help speed up the search through Blackfriars.”
They were nearly to the road where Rob and Gyda waited with the carriage when Beth grimaced. “But what of Detective Frye?” She glanced around at the gloom of the advancing evening. “Is he still there at the Waif’s Wardrobe, do you think?”
Niall nodded. “He might be, depending on whether they’ve found Royston. If they haven’t, he might have left a man or two behind there, in wait for him.” Kara felt Niall’s glance fall on her. “It would probably be better if we did not show our faces.”
Gyda was watching for them. Rob was leaning against the back of the carriage, but he straightened when they emerged. “Did you find her?”
Beth shook her head, and Niall shared what they had learned. “Blackfriars it is, then. We’ll go door to door, if necessary.”
“Let me take Beth to the charity,” Rob offered. “It’s completely natural for her to spend her evenings there. She can see if she can get a sketch of the man, while you two scout the area and find likely courts located near the river in the area. We’ll meet you there, and we can all start searching.”
“That’s a good idea. Thank you, Rob.” Kara leaned against Niall for a moment, then looked up at him. “We can drop them off, then continue to Blackfriars.” She pointed a finger at Gyda. “But the windows stay open.”
*
Niall was surprisedwhen Gyda opted to disembark at Bedford Street with Rob and Beth.
“Lake Nemi isn’t far. I’ll go and check in to see if Jeanette is back or if she’s sent word back. Maybe one of Lily’s friends has shared something.” She looked at Niall, then at Rob, and back again. “What do you think? Meet again in ninety minutes? At the bridge?”
They all agreed. Niall climbed out to have a word with the driver as the others scattered. He hopped back inside to find Kara tucked into a corner with her head lolling back against the seat. “Leave the windows open,” she said preemptively.
“I’m growing concerned about you,” he said, sitting across from her. “It’s not even that smelly in here.”
“It most definitelyis.” Suddenly a loud rumble of a gurgle erupted from her stomach. Her eyes widened in surprise and Niall laughed.
“That’s it. We are going to stop along the way and feed you.”
“We cannot go to Maisie’s,” she objected. “Not if we are in a hurry. We’ll hurt her feelings if we do not stay to visit.”
“I’ve already asked the driver to stop at the Eagle.”
“We don’t have much time—” she began.
He held up a hand. “You don’t even need to go in. I’ll just go straight to the kitchen and ask Bruce to make you a packet of bread and cheese, perhaps some cold meat, if they have it.”
