Page 67 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
Kara’s stomach growled again, and they both laughed. “Thank you, Niall.” She raised a hand to beckon him over, and he slid onto the bench next to her.
He tucked her in under his arm, and she might have dozed for the few minutes it took to reach the tavern, but she was wide awake and appeared recovered as they set off again, heading east. She split one of Bruce’s buns, filled it with cheese, and took a huge bite. “So, Rob and Beth!” she said, once she’d swallowed. “What happened? Tell me everything!”
Niall gave a helpless laugh. “I hardly know! Beth and I arrived at Lake Nemi after we left Scotland Yard. Rob was waiting in the parlor with his hair slicked back and a fist full of daisies. She took one look, launched herself at him, and they’ve scarcely stopped touching or looking at each other since.”
Kara stopped chewing. “Sometimes it hits you out of the blue, just like that. I seem to recall launching myself at you, once.”
“Our first kiss,” Niall said fondly. “Did you think I’d forget it?” He sighed. “Unfortunately, I was a bigger fool than Rob. From the besotted look on his face, I’d say they will quickly be betrothed.”
“To be fair, he doesn’t have the same sort of tangled web of secrets and family ties to deal with.”
“No, he can marry to please himself without worry, and I know his family will love Beth.” He grinned. “No doubt we will be heading to Scotland for a wedding soon enough, and then you will see what a true Scots party can be.”
She smiled. “I cannot wait.”
Niall took a piece of cold ham for himself, thinking as he chewed. “I hope it’s true and they sort themselves out, but we have to concentrate on finding Lily. And Kara, you heard what her sister had to say.We cannot leave them in such straits.”
“No,” she agreed. “Something must be done. Ivy, perhaps, might be happy to take a position in service, much in the same way as Jeanette.” Her face screwed up. “But Lily? I cannot see it.”
“Nor can I, but I was thinking…”
Kara raised her brows at him and waited.
“Perhaps she might do working for Stayme? She’s quick. She thinks beyond the usual straight lines. She knows how to handle herself in the streets. You know he trains up certain men and women to be his eyes and ears.”
“Oh, yes,” Kara breathed. “That’s a perfect idea, Niall.She sees things—that’s how Beth described her once. We have to find her!”
“Yes,” Niall said, grim determination feeling like a lead balloon in his gut. “And here’s the bridge. Let me speak with the jarvey. We’ll start a couple of blocks to the west, stick to within a few blocks north, then head east, making a list of possible enclosed courts.”
Kara nodded. “Let’s go, then.”
They had identified four likely spots by the time they met up with the others at the bridge. Beth had indeed found a sketch, but Jeanette had told Gyda that none of the girls she knew had seen or heard anything from Lily.
“We’ll start at the easternmost court, I think,” Niall told them. “We’ll leave Wardrobe Place for last, because it is farthest from the river, and it’s also likely too nice a spot for Royston’s intended purpose.”
“How do we mean to go about this?” asked Rob.
“I suppose we should approach anyone we encounter in the right area, show them Beth’s sketch, and tell them we are looking for a man who has recently rented rooms, and might perhaps have lately had a young woman join him.”
“It’s dark,” Kara said. “We wouldn’t be able to see the sketch ourselves if not for the carriage lanterns.”
“We’ll take one of the lanterns along.” Niall shrugged. “And if all else fails, or there is no one to ask, we’ll just start knocking on doors.”
“With five of us knocking, we should get through each enclosed court pretty quickly,” Gyda said.
“What do we do if we knock and Royston answers?” asked Beth.
Niall considered. “Trip him. Knock him down. Sit on him and start yelling. Rob and I will come running.”
“Can you manage that?” Rob asked her solicitously.
Beth shot him a hard look. “Lily needs us to manage.”
“True enough.” Rob gave way at once.
They squeezed into the carriage and Niall directed them to the first spot, just off Water Street. The houses here were smart, but uniform. They encountered a gentleman on his stoop, locking his door behind him. He glanced at the sketch and shook his head before hurrying on his way. They went door to door, but had no better luck.
“Do not get discouraged,” Niall cautioned. “We eliminated that one quickly. On to the next.”
