Seven Dials Page 0,52

his plate. You'd-"

"Yer'd best keep a still tongue in yer 'ead, my girl, or yer'll 'ave the misery o' the world on your plate, an' all!" Mrs. Culpepper warned her. "Yer might be an 'andsome piece, as speaks like a lady, but yer'll be out in the street in 'alf a trice, wi' yer bags in yer 'and an' no character if the master catches yer talkin' about Mr. Stephen ter strangers, an' that's a fact!" There was a note of urgency in her voice, and her black eyes were sharp. Gracie was sure it was not anger or dislike but affection which prompted her.

Bella sat down on the other kitchen chair, her skirts swirling around her, her white lace apron clean and starched stiff. "It's not fair!" she said fiercely. "What that man put up with is more than a soul should take. And if they've put him out..."

" 'Course they haven't put him out, yer daft a'p'orth!" a young footman said as he came in. His hair grew up in a quiff on his forehead; his breeches were still a fraction too large for him. Gracie guessed that he had only just graduated from bootboy within the last few weeks.

Bella rounded on him. "And how come you know so much, Clarence Smith?"

" 'Cos I see things what you don't!" he retorted. "There's nobody but Martin can do anything with him when he gets one of his black miseries. And nobody else even tries, when he flies into one of his rages. I wouldn't try for all the tea in China. Even Mr. Lyman's scared of him... and Mrs. Somerton. And I didn't think as Mrs. Somerton was scared of nothing. I'd have put a shilling on her against the dragon, never mind St. George, an' all."

"You get about your business, Clarence, afore I report you ter Mr. Lyman fer lip!" Mrs. Culpepper said tartly. "Yer'll be eatin' yer supper out in the scullery, an' lucky ter get bread and drippin', if 'e catches yer."

"It's true!" Clarence said indignantly.

"True in't got nothin' ter do with it, yer stupid article!" she retorted. "Sometimes I think yer in't got the wits yer was born with. Get on and carry them coals through fer Bella. On with yer."

"Yes, Mrs. Culpepper," he said obediently, perhaps recognizing in her voice anxiety rather than criticism.

Gracie thought for a moment that perhaps it would be fun to work in a large house, just for a week or two. But of course it was not nearly as important as what she was doing. She watched as Clarence went out to perform his task. She picked up her tea and finished it.

"Sorry, luv, but we can't 'elp yer," Mrs. Culpepper said to her, shaking her head and pouring out the batter into the tin at last. "Gotta get on wit the cakes fer tea. Ne'er know 'oo'll be callin'. Dottie! Dottie... come an' see ter 'em vegetables."

Gracie stood up to leave, carrying her empty cup over to the board beside the sink. "Thank yer," she said sincerely. "I'll just 'ave ter keep tryin', although I dunno where else ter go."

Dottie came back from the scullery, wiping her hands on the corner of her apron. "Well 'e were visitin' a Mr. Sandeman someplace down the east end," she said hopefully. "Mebbe 'e'd know summink?"

Gracie put the cup down carefully, feeling it wobble as her hands shook. "Sandeman?" she repeated. " 'Oo's 'e? D'yer know?"

Dottie looked crestfallen. "Sorry, I in't got no idea."

Gracie swallowed her disappointment. "Never mind, mebbe somebody will. Thank yer, Mrs. Culpepper."

Mrs. Culpepper shook her head. "I'm real sorry. Poor thing. Mebbe she'll get better, yer ne'er know."

"Yeah," Gracie agreed, not feeling she was lying because her thoughts were with Martin, not Tilda. "Keep 'opin', eh!"

Dottie took her to the back door, and a moment later Gracie was out on the pavement hurrying as fast as her feet could carry her towards Keppel Street.

OF COURSE SHE TOLD Charlotte all that she had learned as soon as she was back at Keppel Street, but to repeat it to Tellman was much more difficult. To begin with she had to find him, and there was nowhere to begin except the Bow Street police station, or the lodging house where he lived. It was always possible that he would go straight from whatever task he was on back to his rooms for the night, and that could be at any hour. Added to which, she had no wish to embarrass