Kitty Peck and the Child of Ill-Fortune (19 page)

‘Now, Lucca!’ He crossed himself, cried out and lunged forward. I couldn’t bear it. I closed my eyes . . .

I heard the metal sing as Lucca’s boot made contact with the rung, and a grating, clanging noise as the ladder slid to one side on the rain-lashed roof, plummeting to the stones far below. It scraped the walls of the buildings as it fell, the iron ringing out like a bell.

Lucca collapsed in a heap on top of me and I hugged him tight. I could feel his body tremble through the thick material of his coat.

‘You’re safe. You did it!’ I stroked his hair – his hat had fallen away.

I remembered the time he had talked me down from the cage when the ceiling of The Comet had fallen in and I pulled him closer. It came to me again then most forcible that Lucca Fratelli was more of a brother to me than Joey ever was.

There was a movement over his shoulder. On the roof opposite a dark figure stood outlined against the leaden sky. The man stepped up onto the parapet and paused for a moment, considering whether or not to jump.

I saw him measure the distance and weigh up the likely outcome.

I glanced behind. The jumbled roof on this side ran along the top of a row of connected buildings. The man standing opposite couldn’t see that because of the wide chimney stack blocking his view, but I could. Every so often there was a window set into the tiles, just like the one Lucca and I had climbed out from. I knew then that we were likely safe. We could choose any window in any building to make our exit and disappear into the labyrinth of passages below. I loosened my grip on Lucca and called across the gap.

‘If you’re thinking about coming after us I wouldn’t recommend it.’

The man lowered his head so that the hood covered his face completely.

‘I just want to talk to you, Kitty.’ The voice was low, silky and heavily accented. I watched as he twirled the hawk-headed cane about on the parapet. ‘I need some information, that’s all.’

‘If that’s true why don’t you just make an appointment at The Gaudy?’

He raised a gloved hand, spread his fingers wide and then he pressed his thumb down hard on the tip of the hawk’s beak. Even at this distance I could see something dark well up to stain the leather.

‘Because, when we talk, I want to be sure that you’ll give me what I want.’

I felt cold rain trickle down the neck of my dress and trace a path under my bodice between my breasts as he stepped down. He turned his back on us, the cloak flapping about like the wings of a great black bird, and retraced his steps towards the open window.

Lucca twisted round and moved a little way back along the parapet. He watched the other roof for a moment, his hand pulling at the scarred flesh of his right cheek.

‘He is gone.’

I stared at Lucca and I thought again about Misha Raskalov. He’d been here in London all the time.

‘Who is he, Fannella? What does he want?’ Lucca bent to retrieve one of my boots from the gulley. I gathered up its pair and didn’t answer straight off. I loosened the laces and pushed my wet bare feet down into the leather.

Where is he?

‘I don’t know. Truly I don’t.’ I bit the inside of my lower lip. ‘There’s something I need to tell you, Lucca. You’re not going to like it.’

Lucca didn’t say a word after I told him about Misha. He just stared out of the little steamed-up window of the cab. I tried to catch his hand, only he moved it away.

The streets were running like rivers now. It was the sort of rain that comes at you from all sides. Even if we hadn’t abandoned the umbrella back in Pearmans Yard we would have been soaked to the skin underneath it. There was a low rumble and the cab rocked about as the horse spooked. A second or so later the dim interior flashed up lightning sharp so I could see the scribbles of mud on the floor from our boots and the buttons missing from the leather seats.

Nanny Peck had been right about that cat’s piss sky.

We jerked to a halt at the end of Salmon Lane. I paid the driver and Lucca helped me down to the street. It was past seven.

‘You coming with me, Lucca?’

‘I’ll walk you to the door. It’s not safe.’

We started along the narrow cobbled way together. I caught his sleeve.

‘Listen. I . . . that is, I wish . . .’

‘Don’t. I wish a lot of things, but it doesn’t make them happen.’

We stopped at the foot of the steps. I looked up at the black brick walls of The Palace. It was still hard to think of this place as a home – as my home. The double doors swung open. Tan Seng shuffled out on the step, stood to one side and bowed.

‘Lady.’

I nodded up at him and pulled on Lucca’s arm.

‘At least come in for a while. You can’t go home alone tonight, not after . . .’

‘I need to think, Fannella. If he – Misha – is here in London, as Sam Collins says, that is . . .’ Lucca shrugged and stared down at the rain-slicked stones, ‘. . . understandable. At least I know why he didn’t reply to my letter.’

‘But if he’s here, why didn’t he tell you? Why didn’t he come and find you?’ The words came out too quick and of an instant I regretted them when I caught the look on Lucca’s face. He stepped away from me and flicked up the collar of his coat, burrowing his chin into the folds of the muffler. He didn’t answer my questions. Instead he shrugged, hunched his shoulders against the rain and turned away, walking quickly up the passage towards the street.

‘Kitty!’ Peggy’s voice echoed from the stones.

I looked up to see her hovering behind Tan Seng, Robbie in her arms.

‘Go in!’ I hissed. ‘I told you about bringing him outside.’

‘I thought you were the crow.’ She huddled Robbie against her and scanned the street. ‘Why isn’t he here?’

‘Crow!’ I ran up the steps and pulled the doors to a close behind me. ‘What do you mean? Why do you need a doctor, Peg?’

‘It’s not me, it’s Robbie. That fucking parrot bit him.’ She moved Robbie in her arms so I could see him properly. I brought my hand to my mouth. The pale blanket she’d wrapped him in was covered in blood, great vivid streaks of it glistening in the lamplight.

‘Jesus! What happened?’

‘He wouldn’t go down a couple of hours ago. I fed him the pap, but he kept crying and thrashing around in his basket. You wouldn’t know this, Kitty, but when he gets like that he likes to be on the move. So I took him up and we went for a little stroll about the house. I carried him through to that room you’ve set up as a parlour. Then the parrot went off in the corner, but Robbie started to calm down. He actually likes it.

‘I took him over for a closer look and then on account of nothing, the vicious thing lashes out. It happened so fast. One second I was holding him up to see the bird, next thing it’s clinging to the cage digging its beak into his hand. It wouldn’t let go.’

Peggy pulled at the material wrapped round Robbie’s body and gently freed his hand. It was bound up with a soaked crêpe bandage.

‘Lok helped me with that. The blood’s stopped now, thank God, but you should see this.’ She loosened the bandage and Robbie started to make a little mewing sound.

‘He’s too tired to cry, poor lamb. Here . . .’ She held up his left fist very gently. The brown was mottled purple and his hand and wrist were swollen to twice their normal size. From his elbow to the tips of his fingers, Robbie’s skin looked ripe to burst.

‘It’s not normal. Here’s the bite.’ She smoothed the tips of her fingers over a crusted v-shaped gash across the back of his hand. ‘It wasn’t even that deep. At first the blood wouldn’t stop, but when it did his arm bruised up so badly. I didn’t know what to do.’ She glanced at Tan Seng. ‘None of us did.’

Robbie began to cry properly now. Peggy rocked him back and forth. ‘It hurts – he’s in pain, Kit. That’s why I called the crow. Lok’s gone to fetch him.’

Dr Pardieu didn’t ask too many questions and I was grateful for that. From what little he did say, I guessed he was already something of a regular at The Palace. While he was packing away his bandages and his bottles he glanced warily at me and cleared his throat.

‘The Lady . . . I gather from Mr Lok that she has . . . uh . . . moved on?’

‘That’s right.’ I nodded and watched as he deftly rolled up a skein of fresh white crêpe. He’d tied the rest round Robbie’s arm.

‘And you are . . . Miss Peck, is it?’

I nodded again, but I didn’t give him what he wanted. He took his jacket from the back of the chair and brushed something from the shoulders before putting it on. As he swung the jacket round the smell of naphtha came to me. I realised then who it was Dr Pardieu reminded me of – Telferman. Not to look at, mind, but in his manner. He was careful with me – superior, but servile at the same time. It was an odd combination.

It was difficult to put an age to Dr Pardieu. He had the sort of face that could have seen anywhere between fifty and seventy summers . . . if he ever took it out in daylight, which I doubted. Limp grey hair, cut to one length all the way round in the old style, brushed his dusty collar and two front teeth jutted out over his bottom lip.

Along with Telferman, he also put me in mind of a hare.

‘Change can be a good thing, Miss Peck. I was often called to attend your . . . predecessor. She did not find me wanting. I trust she is in . . . er . . .’

I swear he was about to say ‘good health’ or something similar, but, as we both knew, that would have been a lie.

‘She’s in the country, Dr Pardieu.’

‘Excellent. Fresh air . . . I am sure that will be . . .’ He faltered again. The thought of Lady Ginger taking a country rest cure was as ridiculous as Florence Nightingale taking a box at The Carnival. I nodded at Robbie on Peggy’s lap. His good thumb was stuck in his mouth now and his round brown face glowed in the lamplight.

‘Is he going to be all right, then?’

Dr Pardieu frowned. ‘I’ve done what I can this evening. The tincture of laudanum will ease the pain. Ice should be applied regularly to cool the swelling and the bandage should be kept firm, but not constricting. I’ve applied a salve to the bite. It is not unusual for people to react after contact with such birds. I once treated a woman in Wapping, a captain’s wife, who could not stay in the same room as her husband’s prized companion. She was forced to move him out in the end.’

‘The parrot?’

‘The captain.’ Dr Pardieu didn’t smile. He looked at Robbie who was sound asleep now. ‘This was a very severe case. I would almost describe it as unique. I’ve not seen engorgement quite like it before. I recommend that you keep the bird and the boy apart.’

Peggy stood up, Robbie cradled in her arms. ‘Can I put him to bed now?’

He nodded. ‘That would be the best place for him. Do not hesitate to call on my services again, if there is anything you need.’ I got the distinctive impression he wasn’t talking to Peggy.

I went to the door and found Tan Seng waiting outside.

‘The doctor is leaving now.’ He stood to one side as Peggy walked to the stairs with Robbie. I turned to Dr Pardieu. ‘Thank you. If I need you again I’ll call.’

He bowed his head. ‘The Lady would not be seen by anyone else. I am always most discreet. I can assure you, Miss Peck, that nothing I ever see here will be spoken of beyond these walls.’

When I heard the doors slam below I went over to the window. I watched the rain slide off the top of Dr Pardieu’s umbrella, the drops twinkling in the gaslight as he scurried back towards Salmon Lane. I wondered what those last words meant. What exactly
had
he seen here in the past that called for such discretion?

I rested my head against the glass. The cool eased the throbbing at my temples.

It was all going round and round like the water gushing down the drain in Pearmans Yard, only I felt like the rag caught in the grille. Misha, the letter, Romanov, the man with the cane on the roof, and now Robbie? I wished David Lennox was here right now to take his son away. Tell truth – I wished he was here to take me away too.

‘He’s sleeping sound.’ Peggy pushed open the door and walked over to the fire. ‘That must mean something at least?’

‘It means he’s been given enough laudanum to lay out a chorus line.’ I turned from the window. ‘Thank you for calling the doctor. You did the right thing.’

‘I couldn’t see him suffer, besides it was frightening. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It happened so fast – his hand swelling and that. You can’t be too careful with a little one.’

I nodded. ‘Can you stay here tonight, Peg? I’d count it as a favour if you did.’

She poked at the coals to make the fire burn more brightly and straightened up. ‘I’m happy to. In fact, I’ve already sent a message to Dan. I hope you don’t mind. It’s fine by him. Anyway he’s got a regular appointment on Thursdays.’

‘Is that in the back room at The Lamb, Peggy?’ I noted that she turned away and pretended to busy herself again with the fire.

‘It’s just . . . I don’t think he’s cut out for it. I’ve seen enough in my own family to know what happens when the cards don’t run in your favour. Look at Joey.’

She didn’t answer, so I tried again.

‘Let me help with some of the debt and you can pay me back when you can. It’s got to be better than digging yourself deeper every time you’re dealt a duff hand.’

‘You don’t understand, Kit. It’s his pride. And now – with the baby coming – he’s more determined than ever. I can’t tell him what to do and he won’t take your money, so let’s just leave it, shall we?’

‘
Pretty girl. Pretty girl. Tits like ripe apples
.’
I looked over at the covered cage in the corner, grateful, for once, for Jacobin’s profanity.

‘I don’t think he’s talking about the feeding habits of little garden birds, do you?’

Peggy scowled. ‘It’s got a filthy beak on it. You ought to get rid of that damn parrot. Take it back to your grandmother next time you see her.’

I shrugged. ‘I don’t know when that’ll be. She does the calling, remember?’

‘Maybe you should get Marcus Telferman to parcel it up and send it to her.’ She paused and ran a hand through her dark curls. ‘I forgot – something came for you today. A package. I was down in the hall with Lok when it arrived. It’s on the table.’