Chapter Ten
Inspector Liam Ashton
The chirping of a canary sounded as the door to Mrs. Tucker’s flat swung open. Mrs. Worth returned the key to the elderly woman but made no move to enter. I walked inside and set the package on a table.
Mrs. Worth waited until I left the flat before she guided Mrs. Tucker inside. “I will send one of the girls down with your supper.”
“You are a good girl.” Mrs. Tucker shut the door.
“I haven’t seen Mrs. Tucker since my promotion.” Since the hallway was narrow, I was close enough to see the dewy texture of Mrs. Worth’s skin. As a mere constable, I had been familiar with most of the neighborhoods inhabitants. Since my promotion, I rarely mingled with them like I used to, which was rather disappointing given my social nature. “I will ask my mother to check in on Mrs. Tucker. She often visits the elderly.”
“That is very kind of you.” Mrs. Worth turned on her heel and took the stairs to the next floor. I followed, not wishing to end our time together.
Something savory drifted in the air, causing my stomach to growl. I had forgone my supper with my family to see her home. “It sounds like you help her out. Youarea good woman.”
Once on the landing, I shifted from foot to foot. Manners said to bid her good night and be on my way. I stood rooted to the spot. She made me nervous, and I was unsure why.
“I try to be.” She smiled up at me. “Thank you for your escort tonight.”
I curled my hand into a fist, resisting the mad urge to brush her cheek with my knuckle. “It is my pleasure. I—”
A muffled shriek came from the other side of the door, followed by more screaming. Mrs. Worth paled, her hand moving to the doorknob. “My sisters are here alone.”
“Stand back.” I motioned for her to remain where she was and opened the door to more screams. My heart racing in anticipation of trouble, I stepped inside the long, narrow flat. Three young girls of variable ages crouched together on a sofa. The fourth, an older girl, was bent low and running toward the door, with a soup ladle in her hand. A tabby cat shot past me, dangling a mouse from its mouth. The girl halted mid-stride at the sight of me, her eyes widening.
I looked over my shoulder at Mrs. Worth in time to see the cat stop and drop the mouse at her feet.
Mrs. Worth visibly shuddered as the cat began to rub itself along her leg. The mouse took the opportunity to escape, the cat in hot pursuit.
Screams continued from inside, the girls pointing at me and huddling together, extremely frightened to see a strange man barge into their home. The eldest girl was now standing before her sisters, the ladle lifted like a weapon.
“It’s all right, girls.” Mrs. Worth moved past me and rushed into the room. She held her hand out to the girl with the ladle. “Violet, this is Inspector Ashton. He is Mr. Moran’sfriend.”
Eight pairs of eyes, all similar to Mrs. Worth’s, locked on me. Now that the drama of the mouse was over, curiosity replacedtheir terror. Violet angled her head, her ginger curls bouncing. “Then you are not investigating him?” Violet asked.
“Violet,” Mrs. Worth admonished, the flush she’d worn since we’d begun our outing deepening.
I was far from offended. In hindsight, I had given that impression on purpose as a way to harass Moran, not to fool Mrs. Worth into thinking something was wrong. “No, Miss Violet, I am not,” I said.
Mrs. Worth snapped her head around and rolled her eyes at my reminder. “You must admit, it was suspect.”
“I will admit you have a very active imagination.” I couldn’t stop smiling at the chastisement in her regard. Without a doubt, she was comely, and I liked her sharp wit. She’d vacillated between friendly and on guard during our carriage ride. What secrets did she keep? Although manners said I should bow out and leave, I stood my ground. I wasn’t ready to leave her company. “Something smells wonderful.”
Violet beamed at me. While her younger siblings hadn’t said a word, the girl wasn’t shy. She glanced sideways at her older sister before saying, “I was getting ready to serve supper when Tabby nearly tipped over the pot in pursuit of that pesky mouse. Won’t you join us? We have plenty.”
“I am sure Inspector Ashton has somewhere he needs to be.” Mrs. Worth removed her hat to expose honey-brown hair.
