Chapter 13
The world seemed to spin faster as Mrs. Bywater glared at me. I struggled for breath, my usual composure deserting me.
I reminded myself that what I got up to on my days out was my own business, but I was certain Mrs. Bywater would object to me cooking anything but for this house.
I cleared my throat. “It is for a friend—”
“This Grace person?” Mrs. Bywater shook the note, as though this was what she’d like to do to Grace.
Her question snapped me out of my confusion. “No,” I said vehemently. I needed to steer her far clear of Grace, even though the woman she supposed Grace was did not exist. “I purchased those things with my own funds and sent them to a friend for—”
“She purchased them for me, madam.”
Mr. Davis had glided into the kitchen with his usual quiet tread. He halted several deferential paces behind Mrs. Bywater, who turned to him in astonishment.
“You, Mr. Davis?”
Mr. Davis made her a bow, while I stared at him, my heart banging.
“I desired to bake something special for my cousin. It is his birthday. Mrs. Holloway agreed to help and purchase the necessary supplies herself. She will bake the treats on her day out, with the assistance of a friend. She was very kind to do so.”
“Oh.” Mrs. Bywater’s righteous indignation rapidly deflated until she stared at Mr. Davis, as though uncertain how to proceed.
Mrs. Bywater had no trouble upbraiding me whenever she pleased, but she’d never learned quite what to make of Mr. Davis. His bearing when near her was one of careful politeness, but he always retained a slight air of condescension. Mrs. Bywater always trod warily around Mr. Davis.
“I see,” Mrs. Bywater said at last. “Well, if that is the case—”
“It is, madam,” Mr. Davis assured her.
Mrs. Bywater swung back to me. I shrugged, trying to look perfectly innocent.
Mrs. Bywater was rigid as could be as she looked me up and down. “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Holloway. Carry on with your duties, please.” She turned to go. “Mr. Davis.”
She sent him an uncomfortable nod and walked out of the kitchen, giving Mr. Davis a wide berth as she went.
She’d taken the dratted message from the greengrocer with her, I realized when we heard the upstairs door slam.
Mr. Davis and I were now alone, awkwardly so.
Elsie was in the laundry, as she helped out with that when there were no immediate dishes to wash.
The footmen, maids, and Mrs. Redfern were upstairs cleaning and polishing, despite it being Sunday.
Mrs. Bywater’s declaration that Grosvenor Chapel was so convenient for us had evidently been forgotten.
“You did not have to do that, Mr. Davis,” I began.
“I feel that I did.” Mr. Davis regarded me steadily.
“I am fond of you, Mrs. Holloway, despite our occasional disagreements. One reason I am not happy that you decided to marry is that I will miss you. McAdam explained that it will be many months before you leave, but if Mrs. Bywater had slung you out this afternoon, I would not have had time to prepare myself to say good-bye. I prefer you to stay a little longer, before I have to face the task of training a new cook.”
I didn’t recall Mr. Davis “training” me at all, but I understood that he was trying to express his regret that I’d be gone.
“Still, it was a kindness,” I said. “Thank you.”
Mr. Davis almost softened into his usual self. “Do not grovel, Mrs. Holloway. It does not become you.”
“I never would, Mr. Davis. I will tell you why I’ve been purchasing the extra supplies, but I must beg you to keep quiet about it. Tess knows, but—”
Mr. Davis held up a hand. “I do not want to know. It is your business, a fact that Mrs. Bywater should respect. As long as you don’t disappear from the kitchen before next June, I will cease troubling you about your impending departure.”
“I have no intention of disappearing at all,” I said.
“Good.”
Mr. Davis and I exchanged a long look, which I hoped meant we were heading toward an understanding.
He gave me a nod, turned smartly, and glided out.
For some reason, my eyes grew misty as Mr. Davis departed. I hadn’t realized how much he valued our friendship. As much, I decided, as I did.
I continued my work in both relief and a tinge of sadness. When I left here, I’d miss him too.
* * *
I’d thought to send Elsie to the greengrocer with instructions to indeed send the damsons to Clover Lane, but when I peeked into the laundry, she was madly cranking the wringer at the sink, with piles of clothes, wet and dry, around her.
Leaving her be, I removed my apron, donned my coat, took up my basket, and went myself. Sending Elsie would put her behind, and Mrs. Bywater might turn the scolding she’d been curtailed from giving me onto her.
A fine rain, more a mist, coated me as I walked swiftly northward toward Oxford Street.
It was Sunday, but I knew our greengrocer would be puttering around his store, making everything ready for when he opened on Monday.
I wasn’t certain whether his wife scolded him for spending his one day off in the shop, or whether she encouraged it to get him out from underfoot.
On the far side of Grosvenor Square, a man in a drab woolen coat and cap fell into step with me and reached out in offer to take my basket.
“What on earth did you say to Mr. Davis?” I asked Daniel without either slowing or relinquishing my light burden. “I hope you did not threaten him in any way.”
Daniel regarded me in surprise. “Of course I did not threaten him. He’s not the sort to be intimidated by threats, in any case. No, I told him a bit more about myself. I think it was the fact that I lease an entire house in Kensington, for me and James alone, that brought him around.”
“Hmm. I never thought Mr. Davis would be impressed by a show of wealth. I hope he did not think you stole the money to obtain it.”
“I think it is the fact that leasing agents would not let a house on that street to a mere laborer is more what overcame his reservations. I must be more respectable than I appear, I could see him thinking, for the genteel families in that area to let me move in. I am careful not to tie up my delivery wagon in front of the house for the night.”
Daniel’s eyes twinkled. I knew full well the van was kept in a livery stable, along with the horses he hired to pull it.
It was true that the few times I’d been to the house in Kensington, Daniel had stayed carefully out of sight or worn broadcloth coats and trousers instead of homespun breeches tucked into boots.
“About your house in Kensington,” I said slowly.
“Do you want me to change it?” Daniel asked quickly. “I thought you partial to it. I can look for a larger one, if you’d prefer. Though, I warn you, while I do have money put by, I only have so much.”
“Now who will not let the other speak?” I admonished him. “I like your house exceedingly well. I grow happy every time I think of living in it. What I wanted to ask was whether I could use your kitchen.”
Daniel blinked. “Where else would you cook supper? Not that I expect you to serve me a feast every night,” he added hastily.
“I meant now. To bake. Or rather, soon. At the moment, I will be using Joanna’s kitchen, but that is not a solution forever.”
I swallowed. Just when I thought I had accepted Grace’s leaving, the realization would rush up at me, and the hurt would resume.
Daniel linked his arm through mine and gave me a squeeze. “We will bring her home as soon as we are able.”
“I know.” I blinked until the street ceased blurring. “For now, I need a place to bake for my market stall. I will be starting tomorrow afternoon.”
“So soon? I think that is excellent.” Daniel squeezed my arm again. “Take your mind off things.”
“I hope to turn it into a business, not simply something to keep me occupied,” I said sternly. “Unless you wish me to give it up to cook your meals and sweep your floors when we are married.”
Daniel was quick to shake his head. “My dear Kat, I hope I am not as selfish as that. As I’ve told you, I will not stand in the way of your ambitions. You’ve drudged for others long enough.”
“I will still drudge,” I pointed out. “But for punters instead of for a master or mistress.”
“And keep all the cash you earn. No waiting for the one day a year or half year for your wages.”
“I will spend much of that cash on expenses.” For some reason I was determined not to grow too exuberant about my new venture yet.
“Ingredients. Tess’s help. Fuel for the stove.
Pans for baking and bowls for mixing everything up in.
I ought to give Joanna a bit for using her coal and kitchen things, though I am certain she will not let me. ”
“My kitchen is fairly well stocked,” Daniel said. “If not much used. Please, go in and do whatever you like.”
“I have cooked in your kitchen, and no, it is not well stocked,” I told him. “But these are things we can discuss at another time. I am bursting to know whether you’ve found out anything about Mr. Patterson or more about Mr. Banks. You never took the medal you came to fetch.”
“I ran off, I know. I apologize for that, but my chat with Mr. Davis took all my time, and I was behind. I am curious to see the medal, but it can wait.” Daniel shrugged, as though finished with the discussion.
“Tell me what you discovered about Mr. Patterson, you maddening man. Even if it was nothing, I don’t wish to stew.”
Daniel’s grin flashed. He enjoyed provoking me.
“Mr. Thanos turned up a number of fellows called Graham Patterson and Gordon Patterson living in this country. Only one—a Gordon Patterson—dwelled in London at the requisite time. There is no record of his death, so we are now trying to find his whereabouts.”
I warmed with anticipation. “Excellent. I knew Mr. Thanos would not fail us. When you do find Mr. Patterson to interview him, I want to be present.”
“Somehow, I thought you would. Very well, I will let you know what happens, and set up the meeting. I know that if I try to keep you out of it, you’d simply turn up at the appointment, having found out the information in your own way. By interrogating Thanos, for instance.”
I could not argue with his logic, so I only nodded.
We reached Oxford Street and the grocers. He was indeed in his shop, and answered when I knocked on the door and waved at him. I gave the man the answer about the damsons, then loaded my basket with some of the fruit he was readying for the morning.
When I emerged, I gratefully handed the full basket over to Daniel to tote.
As we strolled congenially along, I told him about how Mrs. Bywater had nearly found out about my market stall and Mr. Davis’s timely intervention.
“Good old Davis,” Daniel said admiringly. “He really is a fine man, if a little snobbish.”
“A great deal snobbish, but I do not disagree.” I heaved a sigh. “I will miss them all.”
Daniel’s shoulder brushed mine as we walked. “You can visit with them anytime you like.”
“Yes, but it will not be the same. There are plenty of things I will not miss, I assure you, but having people around me I rub along with is a pleasant thing. I’ve worked in many houses and been happy to leave most, but Mr. Davis, Tess, Elsie, and Mrs. Redfern have become friends. Not to mention Lady Cynthia.”
I ceased walking. “Will she be all right without me there? Mrs. Bywater does like to push her into directions she does not wish to go. I fear Cynthia will grow despondent, or do something foolish, like run off into remote parts of the world, alone and with no money. She’d be prey for any unscrupulous person she came upon. ”
“We’ll look after her,” Daniel said. “We always have, haven’t we?”
“If only she and Mr. Thanos could make a match of it. I wouldn’t worry so much about her then.”
“I would.” Daniel barked a laugh. “They are not the most practical of souls.”
“But they get on well. Perhaps Mr. Thanos has some distant relative who will bestow a fortune upon him. Then he and Cynthia can live happily together and never worry about the butcher’s bills.”
“Idyllic bliss,” Daniel continued in amusement. “I don’t think Thanos has such relations, unfortunately. He has a large family, scattered from here to Anatolia, but they are not wealthy, as far as I know.”
He became wistful again, and I knew he’d taken his mind back to Mr. Banks and his potential information, now lost.
“Mr. Banks’s death might have had nothing to do with you,” I said quietly. “He might have had other enemies who pursued him.”
“None that I could discover.” Daniel neatly quashed this idea.
“He was well-liked. A hero of the war—heroic if only for simply surviving and returning. Ramsay seemed to admire him. Ramsay was my first choice of villain, but I think he is genuinely grieving the man. However, I will keep my eye on him.”
“What does Mr. Grimes say about it all?” I asked. “He, at least, spoke to Mr. Banks in the first place.”
“I can’t find Grimes.” Daniel’s tone turned grim. “He’s gone to ground somewhere, and I don’t know where, or why.”