Page 20 of The Trick of the Treasure
“Nothing, except you are good for him,” Constance said. “And I would be glad someone other than my mother was keeping an eye on him.”
Janey waved that aside. “It’s not about Lenny or the Lloyds. It’s about Bibby Barton.”
Constance blinked. “Who’s Bibby Barton?”
“Working girl, on the game over by Haymarket. Told you about her the other day ’cause I don’t think she should be on the streets. Too young and too soft to last many winters.”
Constance rubbed her forehead with consternation. “You did tell me. I’m sorry, I can’t have taken in her name. I’ve had a lot on my mind. What about her? Is she ill?”
“Only in spirit. All she has in the world is the locket her ma gave her when she left her in the orphanage as a baby. It ain’t worth anything, trashy thing really, but she loves that locket and she’s gone and lost it. Devastated, she is. I was helping her look around for it, then I thought I’d better dash back here in case you or Mr. Grey showed up. I didn’t leave the office until five,” Janey added defensively.
“You are more than conscientious, Janey,” Constance said.
Janey grinned. “I know I am. Thing is, I told Bibby I’d speak to you about the locket. About finding it.”
Constance blinked. “How are we to do that? Did someone take it?”
“Might have done. Can’t trust men. She had it when she went out but not when she came home. We searched her lodgings and the place she waits for business, but saw no sign.”
“You didn’t give her hope, did you?” Constance said uneasily. “We both know she’ll never see it again. A child might have picked it up off the street, one of the women might have found it and kept it, or it might just have been lost in the rubbish…”
Janey’s face fell.
“I’ll go and see her,” Constance said. “But the best I can do for her is take her back to the establishment—and I will if you’re vouching for her.”
“I am,” Janey said, with a quick smile, but even in the gloom of the carriage, Constance could see she was still troubled.
Constance took a deep breath. “Look, I think it’s a lost cause and a waste of time. But I could be wrong, so if you think there’s a chance of finding this locket, you can spend half your day doing so. You know what to do—speak to the girls who were close by, speak to her customers, find out if anyone saw anything, and who passed by at the time. See if anyone wished her ill for any reason, who fought with her.”
“No one fights with Bibby—she ain’t that kind of girl. But I’ll do all the rest. Thanks, Mrs. S.”
“Ask Lenny to help, if you like,” Constance offered recklessly. She was already lending out a paid employee of the firm for no return, and now she would have to pay Lenny too.
Janey looked horrified. “God no, I couldn’t do that! He might find out—” She broke off, turning her head away.
“Your past?” Constance said calmly. “If he is ever to be a real friend, he will have to know. Besides, he’s the sort of man who understands about desperation and poverty. He’ll be proud of what you’re doing now. Which reminds me, I have news, too.”
Janey turned back to face her. “Really?” she asked eagerly. “What?”
“I’m going to be married.” It didn’t seem to get easier to say, and the reactions were never quite what Constance expected, either.
Janey stared at her, jaw dropping. “Who to?”
“Mr. Grey,” Constance said frostily.
Janey’s hunched shoulders relaxed. She even grinned. “Oh! Well, that’s all right, then. I like him. He’s a good man, if there is such a thing. In fact, wouldn’t mind—” She broke off hastily. “No wonder your mind’s wandering! Bloody good excuse for a party, though—I’d love to dance atyourwedding!” She frowned. “Mind you, he won’t want the likes of us there…” Her eyes suddenly widened. “Wait, though, what about Silver and Grey?”
“It will still be there,” Constance said. “In fact, when I tell everyone at home, I’m relying on you to help reassure everyone that there will no changes to the establishment.”
Janey’s eyes widened. “Likes of him wouldn’t come and live with us there!”
“No, of course not. But even if I am there less, Iwillbe there and I will be in charge.”
“And he doesn’t mind that?”
He must do. He has always minded… “He knows what and who comes along with me.” Constance noticed she had crossed her fingers and hastily uncrossed them.
*
