Pip lowered his voice.“What’s all this about my father?Or was that just a trick to get me here?”
The man looked away.Whatever he had to tell him about his father, it wasn’t something he expected would please Pip, so it wasn’t a sham.In Pip’s experience, the worst things turned out to be true.
“No trick,” said the Cockney.“Man to man, I can’t promise you’ll like it.But there’s something at the other end of it.A new start.No more obligation, no more charity.But first, it costs something to get what you want.It costs all of us something.You don’t get anything for nothing in this life.”
“I know that.So what’s the cost?”Pip asked.
The Cockney snorted.“Oh, I think you know, Philip.You’re not slow, not a bit.Our Harold could see that, straightaway.There’s a young man in Ormdale, he told me,and he’s a bright spark.”
Pip looked around them to see if anyone was listening.
“It’s the relic,” Pip whispered.“That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“It’s funny, you know.You keep asking whatwewant.“ The Cockney leaned forward.“I tell you what.I’ll tell you about your dad—right now, today, no strings attached.Get it out of the way.But before I do, what I want to know is, what doyouwant?”
A merry-go-round of desire wheeled through Pip’s mind, slowing to one object.
“No one’s judging you here, my lad,” the Cockney said.“Spit it out.”
He suddenly felt the shame of his situation.This was so far from the life he craved.But the other choice was to go back to bed tonight just as ignorant, dependant, and poor as he had awoken that morning.
Or was there another option?Could he earn favour with the abbey family by reporting back about this meeting with one of their enemies?But that was no good.They’d know—they’d see in his eyes that he’d almost betrayed them.Sir George would be grieved.Violet would look right through him.And Una wouldn’t look at him so trustingly every again.
Pip might even lose the fresco commission.And before he knew it he’d be working at the kilns, and that would be the end of everything.
“Money,” Pip managed, and the word tasted vile.“And then I want to get out of England.”
The man’s slow grin showed his teeth.“Is that all?”he said, leaning back in his chair.“Well, youarein luck, lad.”
Chapter forty-six
London
AsPennypulledonher gloves by the front door, Crispin appeared unexpectedly from the sitting room.
“Going out?”he said hopefully.
“Why aren’t you at the office?”Penny demanded.
“They’re repainting it.”
Penny stared at him.He rolled his eyes.
Heavens, dideverythingset off his asthma?“Oh.Well.I suppose youcouldcome along with me.If you don’t have anything better to do.”
“If I go with you, we can takemyumbrella,“ Crispin said brightly, getting it out of the stand with a little flourish.
“I was going to do that already,” she said.She narrowed her eyes.“You haven’t even asked where I’m going.”
“Does it matter?You’re the fearless female investigator.It’s sure to be a romp.”
“I’m going back to Limehouse, as a matter of fact.”
“To tell your Miss Wu that you’re all right?”
Penny nodded.“And to see what I can find out about that Brotherhood.”
Crispin polished his glasses.“I just thought…perhaps we could have another adventure.”
