Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Gwen was red-eyed when she met Jenny and Miriam at a coffee house halfway between Islington and Finsbury. It was half past nine in the morning, and while the establishment was already busy, they found a table in the window and ordered toast and a pot of coffee.
Jenny looked around as the waiter departed. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go into a coffee house now without wondering if it is the cover for a brothel,’ she whispered. Miriam grinned, but Gwen looked solemn.
‘One thing I think I’ve realised, is that nobody is who they seem to be. Selina appears very respectable yet she prostitutes herself, while we are manufacturers of opium,’ she said.
She reached across the table and took Jenny by the hand. ‘Have you spoken to your uncle about your investments? I think you should, as soon as possible.’
There was an urgency in her voice that took Jenny aback.
‘I haven’t really had the time,’ she admitted.
‘I think Selina’s warning is something we should take heed of. Finding somewhere to hide or start again will be important,’ Gwen said.
She paused as the waiter returned with the coffee and toast, then cleared her throat as if she was about to continue, only to stop as a man walked up to their table and greeted her.
This must be the enigmatic Mr Parry, Jenny thought.
He wasn’t the most handsome man, and he was balding, but he had kind eyes.
Gwen performed introductions. Mr Parry shook Jenny and Miriam’s hands then drew up a chair beside Gwen. He accepted a cup of coffee and looked in better humour as he sipped it. Jenny could see why Gwen was fond of him.
‘I will go and speak to Uncle Conrad later about the documents,’ she said aside to Gwen, and was interested to note that Mr Parry’s eyes became keen.
‘Which documents would those be?’ he asked, leaning forward with interest.
Jenny wrinkled her nose. ‘Do you know I’m not entirely sure, but I’m sure whatever he provides will be useful. They’re not related to this matter.’
‘Miss Rosewood is trying to trace the investment of her legacy,’ Gwen explained. ‘I haven’t liked to ask, but I know you have some experience, being a solicitor…’
She looked at him with an unspoken question in her eyes and he answered it, also unspoken. Jenny looked at them with a stab of envy as comprehension passed between them and she understood why Gwen flushed when she mentioned him.
‘Probate and inheritance is the area in which I am indeed an expert. Perhaps once this is over, you and I can talk and I can give you some advice,’ Mr Parry said kindly.
‘Perhaps. Thank you,’ Jenny said, her eyes sliding to Gwen, who nodded subtly.
Gwen put down her half-eaten slice of toast. ‘Let’s begin. We need to strike before the day gets too late and busy,’ she said decisively. ‘We all know what role we are taking, don’t we?’
They each murmured their agreement. Thinking of what faced them, butterflies swirled in Jenny’s stomach. When Mr Parry left to find a hansom cab, Gwen’s eyes lingered before she turned back to Jenny and Miriam, her eyes sparkling with tears.
‘I should tell you, that once we have found the missing girls I do not intend to stay in London. I have told Archibald that I will not be returning to the house. Or to him.’
‘Will you return to Wales with Mr Parry?’ Jenny asked, unable to find it in her to mourn the end of the Walters’ marriage.
‘What makes you ask that?’ Gwen asked. She twisted her fingers together, the telltale sign that she was uncomfortable.
‘Mr Parry makes your heart sing, I can tell. Your eyes glow when you speak of him,’ Jenny said. She wanted to add, and they dull when you talk of your husband, but that was too intrusive by far.
Gwen shook her head. ‘I have told Danny the part I played in this matter. You must have seen how uncomfortable he is in my presence. He is not happy.’ Gwen dropped her eyes. ‘I don’t blame him.’
‘Why did you tell him?’ Miriam breathed.
Gwen tilted her head towards her and raised her brows. ‘You don’t think I should have? Wouldn’t you have wanted to know what we were involved in? Or would you have preferred the bliss of ignorance?’
Miriam opened then closed her mouth. Gwen nodded in satisfaction. She folded her arms and gave Miriam a piercing look.
‘I owed it to him to tell the truth, even if he rejects me forever as wholeheartedly as you have rejected Jenny.’
Jenny looked away, shocked at Gwen’s boldness. Miriam sat back.
‘That’s true, I did,’ Miriam said. She turned to Jenny, her expression remorseful. Jenny’s chest tightened. ‘But it is conceivable that Mr Parry may learn to forgive you, as I am learning to forgive Jenny.’
‘Do you mean that?’ Jenny asked. She stifled a sob, not wanting Miriam to see how greatly this possibility affected her.
Miriam looked at her affectionately. ‘Yes, I do. Only a woman with a heart of stone would remain aloof at your sincere efforts to make amends,’ she said gently.
Jenny reached for Miriam’s hand, but Miriam shook her head.
‘We need to talk properly, because we have a lot to say to each other.’
‘I understand.’ Jenny withdrew her hand. She was not yet forgiven completely, and even if she were, there was no guarantee that Miriam would want to begin their relationship again.
She looked over at Gwen, who was watching with a look of faint embarrassment on her face.
Mr Parry returned and announced he had engaged a hansom cab to drive them.
He and Gwen sat awkwardly on one seat, looking away from each other and out of their own windows.
Jenny and Miriam sat opposite; Jenny, nervous about what they were about to do but filled with hope and elation that Miriam was forgiving her.
She longed to lean against Miriam’s shoulder or put an arm about her waist, but their conversation had to come first, and before that, the rescue.
It was growing near to half past eleven when they arrived at The Rook and Wren.
Mr Parry sensibly instructed the cab to wait around the corner, ready in case they might need to flee quickly.
They sat in the cab for a further ten minutes, watching the coffee shop.
It was closed but the barber’s front door was open.
No customers had entered either of the premises thus far and Jenny judged it was safe for them all to alight.
Mr Parry and Gwen walked over to the bakery and began looking in the window. Jenny caught him glancing at Gwen when her back was turned, and the way his expression softened made her smile to herself. She didn’t think his forgiveness would be too grudgingly given.
She and Miriam walked along the road towards The Rook and Wren. Miriam looked tense. She took a cheap, gaudily patterned shawl from her bag and draped it around the collar of her coat.
‘You don’t have to do this,’ Jenny muttered.
‘Yes, I do.’ Miriam gave her a nervous smile and pushed her bonnet to one side coquettishly. ‘But I am glad you’ll be with me.’
They embraced each other tightly, then Miriam went up to the door of The Rook and Wren, swaying her hips beguilingly as she walked. Jenny watched her go, captivated by her movements. Miriam rapped on the door sharply and did not stop until Madam Annie opened it.
‘What do you want?’
Miriam put her hands on her hips and tossed her head. ‘I’m here to see Mr Craig. He told me to come at any time and he’d be here waiting for me.’
‘Did he now?’ Madam Annie folded her arms.
Miriam tossed her head again and giggled, and in a high-pitched, foolish-sounding way, said, ‘He told me I had the makings of an actress, and that he could put me in the way of a few men with connections, if you know what I mean.’
She giggled again.
Madam Annie’s smile grew softer, though her eyes remained hard. ‘Well. Let’s have a proper look at you, dearie.’ She took Miriam by the shoulders and stood back.
‘Oh, yes, very pretty. Lovely curls you’ve got. Quite a beauty, aren’t you? And you want to be an actress, you say?’
‘’Course I do! All those admirers waiting with flowers at the stage door.’ Miriam gave another giggle and leant in. ‘I don’t mind if they want to have a closer look before they put me on the stage. I’m sure I can make myself agreeable.’
Madam Annie’s smile widened again. Any further and her face would split. ‘Well then, my dear. Why don’t you come in? I’m afraid Mr Craig – that’s my husband – is out on business, but I’m sure I will be able to help you.’
‘Oh, he’s a cheeky one, isn’t he? Didn’t tell me he was married. You lucky thing, he’s quite the looker? I fair got carried away, so I did.’
Jenny bit her lip. Miriam was carrying on in such a manner that Mrs Craig was sure to become suspicious. If Miriam was really aiming for the stage, it would only be in melodrama, Jenny thought, a little disloyally. Still, Madam Annie looked to be taking in the story.
‘There is another friend of ours who I’m sure would be delighted to meet you, too.’
‘One of the acting gentlemen?’
‘Someone who would like to audition you, I’m sure.’
She stood back and let Miriam pass inside.
Jenny tensed. If Madam Annie bolted the door, then Miriam would be trapped and have to rely on her own ingenuity.
Fortunately she followed directly behind.
Jenny waited for a few minutes then strolled along the street trying to look unsuspicious and went inside The Rook and Wren, drawing the bolt across the door before shutting it so that it didn’t fully close.