he asked.
Cynthia answered for him. “A talented artist with amazing discretion.”
“I lived for years among artists in Paris, gentlemen and ladies alike,” Miss Townsend said, gesturing for us to resume our seats. “Little shocks me.”
Mr. Fielding only looked her up and down again before he sank back to his chair.
I wondered at Miss Townsend’s interest in the problem—was it simple human compassion for those mistreated and threatened, or something more?
Cynthia accepted a mug of coffee Mr. Thanos handed her. There was tea for me, which I waved him from and poured myself.
“I could not speak of this yesterday,” Cynthia said. “My apologies, Mrs. Holloway, but it was too much on my mind. I couldn’t close my eyes but see the poor souls shoved into the same clothes, made to sit in silence. Not natural.”
“Yes, it was quite moving.” Mr. Thanos seated himself in front of a desk covered with papers. He slid his spectacles from his pocket and looped them on before he sorted through sheets of foolscap. “I tried to write notes, but I made little progress.”
“Begin with names,” Daniel suggested. “Who showed the most interest in the children?”
Mr. Thanos skimmed his pages as though he’d find the answer there. Cynthia sank back in her chair and took a long sip of coffee.
“It is not that simple,” she said. “Thanos and I joined a long queue of those winding through the Foundling Hospital. A chatty bunch, we found them. Many had come simply to see the place to which they’d donated money—to assure themselves the children were well-fed and cared for, and that it wasn’t a doss-house. Others were curious—ladies and gents wondering what it was like to be poor. Others . . .” She faltered.
“Go on,” Daniel said. He alone did not sit but stood by a window, looking out. I noted he kept himself to one side of the window, so those below would not see him. “No need to tell us all if it upsets you, Lady Cynthia. Did you discover anything significant?”
Mr. Thanos cleared his throat. “Yes, two parties we met showed much interest in the children, looking them over as though choosing items from a shop.”
Mr. Fielding leaned his face on one hand, the picture of weariness. “Names.”
“Give him a moment,” Daniel growled. “And keep in mind they might have nothing to do with this.”
Mr. Fielding lifted his head and gave Daniel a baleful stare. “You know bloody well that most people have no good on their minds. Anyone who would cross London to gaze upon a building full of unfortunate children is already suspect.”
“Including Lady Cynthia and me?” Mr. Thanos asked, brows rising.
“Exactly. You were there for ulterior purposes. Why not the rest? Anyway, get on with it.”
I broke in. “Perhaps, Mr. Fielding, you should not know the names. If you charge around, half-cocked, and bully them, you could undo everything. We are speaking of the safety of three children. Do not let Nurse Betts’s death have been in vain.”
For a moment I thought Mr. Fielding would leap at me across the delicate table between us, and I abruptly understood why Daniel called him a dangerous man.
In the next instant, Mr. Fielding calmed himself. I watched him deliberately suppress anything violent and give me a forced smile.
“Never fear, Mrs. Holloway. If I hunt up these people, I will be the unctuous vicar, oozing charm. They’ll tell me everything I want to know. Possibly many things I don’t want to know as well.”
“I am sorry to say my brother has a point,” Daniel said. “A clergyman can gather information where others would find difficulty.”
“Only too easily.” Mr. Fielding cast a disparaging gaze at Daniel. “I’m surprised you didn’t think of that yourself.”
Daniel’s flush was slight, but I and Mr. Fielding caught it. Mr. Fielding laughed, a brittle sound. “Oh, so you have discovered the convenience of donning a collar and drinking whatever foul liquids are served you to draw out confidences. Only, I went to university and became the real thing, old boy.”
“I prefer setting aside my disguises at the end of the day,” Daniel said quietly. “I agree you are well placed to help solve this. But you won’t be visiting these people alone. You’ll take a committee with you—Lady Cynthia, Mr. Thanos, and Miss Townsend.”
All of us watched Mr. Fielding, waiting for his reaction.
The flash of wildness I’d seen became even more suppressed. “Yes, I believe you are right. Did you not want to include Mrs. Holloway in our number? To round