A Loving Family (15 page)

Perry bared his teeth in a grin. ‘The surest way to a man's heart is a good meal. I'd watch my step if I were you, Kit. I'll warrant there's going to be a sting in the tail.'

‘Won't you take a seat, Mr Perry?' Rosa said, emphasising his title in a way that instantly put him in his place. ‘I'm afraid we eat in the kitchen these days for reasons of economy, but you are welcome to share our food.'

He shook his head. ‘No, ta. I thank you for the offer, miss. But I have a pressing appointment. Kit has primed me as to the suspect in this case and I'll endeavour to squeeze the truth out of him. Imagine a lemon, miss,' he added, addressing himself to Stella. ‘Squeeze it hard enough and the pips fly out in all directions. I intend to apply a similar method to the gent in question.' He rammed his hat back on his head. ‘I'll say good evening to all. You'll be hearing from me.' He walked backwards, bowing all the time until he bumped into the door jamb. He left them staring after him.

Spike jumped up from his rug, blinking sleepily at them. ‘Who was that? Was he after me?'

Stella laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘No, Spike. It was a man who is going to help me find my family. At least, I hope he is.' She turned to Kit with eyebrows raised. ‘What did that strange fellow mean? Was he talking about Ronald?'

‘Best not to ask too many questions.' Kit tapped the side of his nose. ‘Perry has his methods and they're invariably successful. It's best not to interfere.'

‘Well, I hope he squeezes Mr Clifford until his eyes pop out,' Rosa said, tossing her head. ‘He's cheated and swindled his way through the world and goodness knows what sort of hold he had over Uncle Silas.'

‘What's all this?' Kit took a seat at the table. ‘What are you saying, Rosa?'

‘I found something in the cellar when I was searching for a bottle of port,' Stella said before Rosa had a chance to respond. ‘My mother's initials are scratched on one of the wine racks.'

Kit stared at her, frowning. ‘What makes you so certain that they're your mother's initials?'

‘If they aren't then it's a huge coincidence, particularly as Ronald seems to have had some contact with her since I left home to go into service. Even by candlelight I could make out the letters JMB.'

‘And Uncle Silas did have a housekeeper,' Rosa said eagerly. ‘You must have seen her, Kit. What did she look like?'

He scratched his head. ‘It was years ago. I didn't pay much attention to servants in those days.'

‘But you must have noticed something,' Stella insisted. ‘Was she tall or short? Dark or fair? Young or old? Fat or . . .'

‘Spare me. I get the idea.' He was silent for a moment. ‘She was about the same height as you, but she was wearing a mobcap so I couldn't tell you what colour hair she had, although I think she had dark eyes. I only saw her briefly and I really didn't notice anything remarkable.'

‘We servants are a faceless breed.' Stella could not quite keep the bitterness from her voice. She could still remember Lady Langhorne's icy tones when she dismissed her, even though she had a blameless record of service and it was Tommy who had caused the trouble. ‘I doubt if you would have looked at me twice had I been in your employ at Heron Park.'

Spike nudged her elbow. ‘I'm hungry, miss. Do I get supper as well as what I've already ate today? If not I'll go down the bottle and jug and get me gin. That's if you'll give us the money, miss?'

‘What?' Stella stared at him in horror. ‘You want money for gin?'

‘It's what old Clifford gives me every evening at bedtime, miss. Gin and hot water makes me sleep like a baby.' He winked and grinned. ‘Lord knows what he gets up to at night, but whatever it is he didn't want me to find out.'

Kit leapt to his feet. ‘I knew that man was a villain the moment I clapped eyes on him. I hope Perry pulls no punches, so to speak.' He smiled sheepishly. ‘Not that I have any knowledge as to that gentleman's tactics.'

‘There'll be no more gin for you, my boy.' Stella took Spike by the shoulders and guided him to the table. ‘You'll get a proper meal like the rest of us.'

‘And you'll sleep in a proper bed,' Rosa added. ‘After supper I'll take you upstairs and show you your room.'

‘Who said he's to stay here?' Kit demanded angrily. ‘I have no objection to Stella remaining here for as long as she pleases, but am I to take in every waif and stray?'

Stella glanced anxiously at Rosa, but she need not have worried. Rosa turned on her brother like a fury. ‘I suppose you'd throw the child out and let the wolves get him, would you? You know very well what happens out there and the horrors that homeless people have to endure. You see it in the courts and alleys and it's here on our very own doorstep. Would you sentence the poor boy to a life of shame and degradation?'

Kit was visibly taken aback, and Stella hid a smile, imagining a lion being attacked by a kitten. ‘No,' he said, shaking his head. ‘But be reasonable, Rosa. We can't afford to feed ourselves properly, let alone a growing boy.'

Stella decided that it was time to serve the meal. Kit would be much more approachable when his belly was filled with good food. She placed a plateful of beef collops surrounded with port wine sauce and boiled potatoes on the table in front of him. ‘While we're on the subject, Kit, I have a favour to ask as well.'

The next day Stella hired a carter to move Aunt Maud and Timmy to Fleur-de-Lis Street. Whether it had been the goodness of his heart or the persuasive effect of a tasty meal, Kit had eventually agreed to allow Maud Clifford to come and stay but only as a temporary measure. Spike and Rosa helped to carry Maud's few possessions to the waiting cart, and Cyril volunteered his services too. In the end it was he who carried Maud down the two flights of stairs, cradling her in his arms as if she were a featherweight. Rosa hesitated when she saw the cat hissing and spitting inside a wicker basket hired for the morning to transport him safely. ‘I don't think Kit will want an animal in the house,' she murmured, eyeing Timmy as though he were a Bengal tiger about to spring. ‘He'll have to be fed.'

‘Timmy will keep the population of rats and mice down. And the rest of the time he'll spend with Aunt Maud, so Kit will hardly know he's there.'

Rosa did not look convinced. ‘I suppose you're right.'

Stella put the basket in with the rest of Maud's possessions. She gave the cat a stern look. ‘If you know what's good for you, Timmy, you'll keep quiet and behave yourself. Otherwise you might find yourself joining your brothers and sisters prowling the streets day and night.'

‘Are we all present and correct?' the driver demanded impatiently. ‘I got other jobs to do after this 'un.'

‘We're ready.' Stella climbed into the vehicle and sat down next to Maud, taking her hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze. ‘We're off now, Aunt. We're taking you home and I'll look after you.'

The driver flicked his whip and the odd procession made its way along Artillery Street with Spike ambling on ahead like a chief mourner. He came to a halt outside his old place of work and stared in through the window. ‘Crikey. Look at that.'

The old nag shambled to a halt, causing Maud to slide into the well of the cart, and it took the combined efforts of Stella and Rosa to get her back on the seat. Stella peered over the driver's shoulder. ‘What is it, Spike?'

He pointed at the open shop door as Perry emerged from the office, pausing to ram his hat back on his head and dust down his trousers, the knees of which were covered in sawdust. Ronald staggered onto the street, shaking his fist at the figure in black. ‘I'll have you arrested for assault,' he yelled, dragging a handkerchief from his pocket to staunch a bleeding nose. ‘You won't get away with this.'

‘Just doing me duty, guv,' Perry muttered as he hurried off. ‘I'm in with the johndarms so you'd be wasting their time.' He quickened his pace and disappeared into the next street.

‘Drive on,' Rosa said urgently. ‘Carry on to Fleur-de-Lis Street, please.'

Maud clutched Stella's hand. ‘Was that Ronald, Jacinta dear? My eyesight isn't what it was.'

‘It's nothing to worry about, Aunt Maud.' Stella placed her arm around her aunt's shoulders, giving them an affectionate squeeze. ‘We'll get you home and give you a nice hot cup of tea and some toast. How does that sound?'

‘Cake would be better, dear. I long for something sweet. I'm so tired of living on bread and butter or toasted muffins.'

‘I'll see what I can do.' Stella pulled the rug over Maud's knees. The sun was shining but there was a fresh breeze and she did not want her aunt to catch a chill on her first outing in what must have been a very long time.

‘We'll be there soon, Mrs Clifford,' Rosa said with an encouraging smile. ‘I've made up a bed in the front parlour for you so that you won't have to climb the stairs, and there's a fire lit so you'll be nice and cosy.'

Maud nodded her head but her eyes were closed and her head lolled against Stella's shoulder.

‘I hope Perry has learned something that will help me discover the truth,' Stella whispered. ‘No doubt it was he who gave Ronald the bloody nose.'

‘If I were a man I'd have done the same,' Rosa said, fisting her small hands. ‘Men have the best of it all round. I've even thought of joining the National Society for Women's Suffrage, but Kit wouldn't approve.'

‘Are you afraid of him, Rosa?'

‘Heavens, no. Not afraid exactly, but what choice have I? I can't earn enough money to keep myself, and unless I find someone to marry I'll be dependent on my brother for the rest of my life.'

‘You're a talented person,' Stella said angrily. ‘Surely there's something you could do that would give you independence.'

‘I could marry a rich man and get Archangel Perry to murder him,' Rosa said, giggling. ‘Then I'd be a wealthy widow and I could do exactly as I pleased.'

Stella chuckled, almost dislodging Maud from her shoulder, but the conversation ended as the driver pulled up outside number six. Perry was leaning against the door, smoking a cheroot and making growling noises at the group of small ragged children who had surrounded him. They ran off when Spike approached them with his fists raised, and Rosa climbed down from the cart to unlock the door.

It took some time to unload Maud and her belongings but eventually the driver was paid and Maud was settled in her own chair in the parlour, toasting her toes in front of a blazing fire. They had to shut Timmy in the room with her as he seemed intent on escaping, but a saucer of milk and a fish head helped to calm him down. Stella could only hope that he would settle and not try to get back to his old hunting ground at the butcher's shop.

She had more important things on her mind, and the result of Perry's investigations on her behalf were uppermost. She closed the parlour door and hurried to the kitchen where she found him seated at the table, drinking a large glass of port. He looked up as she entered the room and grinned, revealing a missing front tooth. ‘Got something to report to you, miss. Something of note.'

Rosa clapped her hands. ‘I've been waiting for you to finish making Maud comfortable. I'm as excited as if it's my own mother we're talking about.'

Stella's palms were damp and her heart was racing as she took a seat opposite Perry. ‘Well?' she said, controlling her breathing with difficulty. ‘I'm listening.'

‘After a bit of persuading the gent in question, I mention no names, was compelled to admit that he knew the lady, and that he had introduced her to his friend Silas Norville who was in need of a housekeeper.'

‘I knew she'd been here,' Stella said eagerly. ‘They were her initials carved in the wine rack.'

‘But what was she doing down there?' Rosa subsided onto a chair. ‘And why would she do such a thing. Unless . . .' She paused, gazing at Stella wide-eyed.

‘Unless she had been locked up for some reason,' Stella said slowly. She fixed Perry with a hard stare. ‘What else did he say? Did they mistreat her? Was she kept prisoner in this house?'

Perry shook his head. ‘That I couldn't say. Short of breaking every bone in the person's body I couldn't elicit any more information from him at this stage. However, he did mutter something about a man called Gervase who might be able to tell me more, and with what knowledge I have already I suspect this might be Mr Rivenhall of Heron Park.'

Rosa's cheeks paled. ‘His dealings with Silas were purely business as far as I know.'

‘It seems there's more to it than that, Miss Rosa.' Perry scratched his bald pate. ‘I'll make enquiries.'

‘Uncle Gervase is not a pleasant man, but it's madness to think that he had anything to do with Mrs Barry's disappearance.'

‘And what about my brother and sister?' Stella said slowly. ‘Ma wouldn't have left them to fend for themselves.'

Perry took a dog-eared notebook from his breast pocket and a stub of a pencil. ‘How old would these siblings be now, miss?'

‘Freddie must be nearly eighteen and Belinda is a year younger. I haven't seen them for almost eleven years and I could probably pass them in the street without knowing.' Stella's voice broke on a sob. ‘Something dreadful must have happened for Ma to be separated from them.'

‘There's something rum going on here.' Perry made another note. ‘I'll have a word with Kit before I go digging into your family secrets, but it seems to me that Mr Gervase might know a thing or two.'

‘What about Freddie and Belinda?' Stella could hardly bring herself to ask the question. ‘Anything might have happened to them and I wouldn't know.'

‘Have you any relations other than the old lady?'

‘My grandparents died in the Crimean War. My mother's grandfather would have nothing to do with her.'