The Orphan of Cemetery Hill - Hester Fox Page 0,87

she trailed off.

“Well, we aren’t going to find her standing around here and speculating,” Alice said with an impatient huff.

Mary-Ruth nodded. “She’s right. We need to go to Robert Graham’s house, find out where she might have gone after that.”

As Caleb stepped out onto the street to find a hack, he looked around at the small group. They were an army that was prepared to defend Tabby and do everything they could to keep her safe. Wherever she was, he could only hope that she knew how much so many people cared about her.

A small weight lifted in Caleb’s chest now that they had the beginning of a plan. The hill was not heavily trafficked, but eventually a hack strained its way up the street and he hailed it.

Mr. Cooke was adjusting his hat, moving toward the hack, and Caleb realized he meant to come. “Someone should stay here in case she comes back,” he said.

Scowling, he jabbed a finger at Caleb’s chest. “That’s my girl, and if you think I’m not going to do everything I can to get her back, then you’re thick as they come.”

Caleb opened his mouth, but it was Mary-Ruth who put a gentle hand on Mr. Cooke’s arm. “Mr. Bishop is right,” she said. “This is Tabby’s home and when she comes back, she’ll want her father there. You won’t be helping her by running around the city and putting yourself in harm’s way.”

With obvious reluctance, Mr. Cooke nodded. “All right. I’ll go put some coffee on just in case she’s wanting something warm when she comes back. I’ve been doing the same every day for a month, but maybe today will be the day.”

“You two go to the Graham house,” Mary-Ruth ordered after Mr. Cooke had gone back inside. “There are some places around the city I can look, and some people to talk to who might know something,” she added cryptically.

Caleb didn’t like the idea of letting her go off by herself, even if she did seem to be a woman of unusual boldness. What if she ran afoul of the same men who were after Tabby?

Mary-Ruth must have seen the conflicting emotions on his face, because she scowled and said, “I know this city backward and forward, and if anyone can find Tabby, it’s me.”

There was no use arguing with her; besides, she said this with such conviction that he couldn’t help but trust her.

He nodded and watched her hurry down the hill as he and Alice boarded the hack.

What, exactly, would they do when they found Tabby? The best case was that she was simply out of town, staying safe and far away from Mr. Whitby. But he had a feeling that it would not be the best case. Deep inside, he knew that something was very, very wrong.

30

INTO THE LION’S DEN.

“THEY’LL ARREST YOU, you know,” Alice told him as they took the brick steps up to the front of the Graham house.

“I know.”

“You won’t do Tabby much good with a noose around your neck.”

Caleb swiped an impatient hand through his unwashed hair before replacing his hat. “And what, exactly, do you propose I do?”

Alice didn’t say anything, just pressed her lips together in disapproval as Caleb slammed the brass knocker harder than was strictly necessary.

“What do you know about Mary-Ruth?” Alice asked as they waited.

“Miss O’Reilly?” Caleb frowned. He knew that she guarded Tabby like a precious jewel and that she did not care for him, but that was about all. “She’s a friend of Tabby’s. Does something with corpses, if I’m not mistaken.”

He was about to ask her why she was interested, when the door opened and revealed a clean-shaven man of about forty in a black mourning suit. He raised a brow, no doubt taking in Caleb’s unkempt appearance and Alice’s travel-worn dress. “Yes?”

Time was of the essence, and it seemed silly to cling to manners and convention, but if there was one language that men of his class understood, it was that of etiquette and manners. Caleb pasted on an apologetic expression and gave him his most winning smile. “Excuse me, I’m so sorry to trouble you, but I believe that you employed a young woman about a month ago to watch a Mr. Graham. I am trying to find her as my uncle is not long for this world, and my aunt specifically requested the services of Miss Cooke.”

The man gave him an assessing look, flicked another glance at Alice, and then nodded. “Yes, she