“I don’t peddle in flesh.”It was worth repeating.“Some of my dancers may take lovers if they choose.But that’s none of my business.”
Her mouth gaped with a small gasp.He took great pleasure in pushing her lower jaw back up with one finger.He couldn’t help but needle her a little just to see that fire flash in her eyes again.“You didn’t strike me as so prudish when you were kissing me in my private room the other night.”He ran his thumb over her lower lip.“If you ever want another taste, come see me.”
She shoved away his hand.“You, sir, are a rogue.”
“I’ve been told that a time or two.”He tipped his hat.“Good day, Miss Harper.”
*
That man wasa rogue, Elizabeth repeated to herself with a huff as she unlocked her front door.A menace.Strangely, she believed him when he said that Mary Beth had just been dancing in his show.And the sense of relief that Mary Beth had, in fact, been following her dream paired with sorrow that her life had been cut short before she could see that dream to fruition.Elizabeth sighed.
She unpinned her damp hat and set it on the console table by the door.Life was unfair.She had learned seven years ago just how cruelly dreams could be shattered.She set her wet umbrella into the brass stand to keep it from dripping on the floors.Because so many of her employees had been friends with Mary Beth or her parents, Elizabeth decided to not put out an edition today, instead giving everyone a day off.
The weather was miserable still.Damp and far too cool for summer.All she wanted to do was curl up in front of the fire in her reception room and cuddle with her son.Where was Robert?Usually, he heard the front door open and came running.Perhaps he was in the kitchen, pestering Mrs.Todd.She made her way to the back of the house and down the stairs to the kitchen.Sure enough, Robert sat at the large oak table, drinking milk and chattering away.
He glanced over when she came into the room.“Mama!”
“Hello, my love.”She bent and kissed his head.“What are you telling Mrs.Todd about?”
“I saw a pair of frogs in the garden today.They were lying around in the muddy corner next to the back gate, where it always makes puddles when it rains.They were so loud!Mrs.Todd says frogs like wet weather.Is that true?”
“Yes, I believe so.I have only ever seen frogs by ponds.They must like to swim.”
Robert giggled.“I think if they are going to live in our back garden, I should name them.Don’t you?Then they can be part of the family.”
Robert had been asking for a pet for months.She’d told him very firmly that she had no time to take care of an animal, and that Mrs.Todd did not need anything more to take care of either.At just under six years old, Robert was far too young to be responsible for a pet.“Well, I suppose you may name them if you see them again, but”—she held up a finger in warning—“they are not allowed in the house.”
“Please, mama?”
“Absolutely not.Frogs are meant to live out of doors.Right, Mrs.Todd?”
The housekeeper nodded.“I would not like mud tracked through my clean floors.”
Robert’s bottom lip jutted out a bit, but he nodded.Elizabeth held out a hand.“Why don’t you come sit with me by the fire?I could use a cuddle after being out in the rain all morning.”
“Yes!I’m a good cuddler.”He smiled and took her hand.
“That is precisely why I asked.”
“Ms.Harper, several notes arrived for you.I left the pile on your desk blotter,” Mrs.Todd said.
“Thank you.”
They headed down the hall and into the cozy front room.She picked up the pile of notes and then settled next to Robert on the sofa.“So, what else did you do today?”she asked.
He snuggled his small body up against her side, sliding an arm across her stomach.“We went for a walk to the park, and I got to splash in puddles.My socks got wet even inside my boots.We came back through the back garden, and when Mrs.Todd went inside to put down the vegetables she bought at the market, that’s when I saw the frogs.I climbed the tree and made it all the way to the third branch before Mrs.Todd came and pulled me down.”
Oh dear.The tree climbing had become quite the skill.The tree branches on the willow in their garden were quite low, but still, she wished he didn’t have such an adventurous spirit when it came to climbing.The other day she had come to his room and found him sitting on top of his wardrobe, all the drawers open serving as steps.She brushed his hair back from his head.“I want you to be careful with climbing the tree.Only when there is a grown-up around.All right?”
“All right, mama.”His voice sleepy, he lay his head on her breast.She wrapped an arm around him and they sat quietly watching the fire.When she was home, he always had something to tell her.She knew that she was gone far too much, but she had a business to run and household bills to pay.She glanced down as his eyes fluttered closed.His rainy-day adventures must have tired him out.
Picking up one of the notes, she broke the seal.It was from one of her best informants, the lady’s maid to the Marchioness of Rollinsford.She raised an eyebrow at the tidbit Mary had written to her about.Very interesting, indeed.The next two notes also contained tips suitable for Friday’s scandal page.She laid them together to give to Nigel tomorrow.
Picking up the next in the pile, she studied the very neat penmanship.It was unusual to see such nice handwriting.Most of her contacts were servants, barmen, coachmen, many who barely knew their letters.The writing was often rife with spelling errors and looked more like chicken scratch.She unfolded the missive.
Mr.Harper,
I enjoyed your article about the recent murders you featured in your newspaper.I have some pertinent information on who might be the culprit.This speculation is a delicate matter and certainly worth a pretty penny.Meet me at the Green Door Tavern in Cheapside at nine o’clock this evening.Leave your name with the bartender, and I will find you.
