It was a strange situation, but one that Grace was grateful for. Her driver, however, seemed to blanch when she told him where she wanted to go.
“Are you sure, my lady? That is not an area I’m sure I should bring you to.”
“I’ve been there a number of times before.”
“Yes, but in the company of Dr. Hall.”
“Unfortunately, Dr. Hall is busy at his office today and I have some pressing matters to attend, so if you will,” she said with a definitive nod to end the conversation.
The driver hesitated a moment before agreeing, as he closed the door to the carriage. Soon, they were rushing down the cold, wet streets of Glasgow. It took some time to get there, as the rain had indeed begun to freeze, causing a slickness on the road that required an alternate route. By the time they reached the street that the factory housing was on, Grace tapped the roof of the carriage, signaling her driver to stop.
“My lady?” he asked as she hopped out of the vehicle, wrapped tightly in her wool cloak.
“Stay here but a moment. I shall return.”
Without waiting to hear his pleas, Grace twisted around and hurried down the street. She didn’t want the carriage visible, as it was rare to see one in this part of the city, and tended to make the locals suspicious.
Within a few minutes, she was pulling open the door to the factory housing building, and to her surprise, ran right into Mrs. Monty.
“Oh gads, now what do you want?” she asked, visibly annoyed. “Come to pester me kids with more questions about pieces of trash?”
Grace tilted her head.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Dr. Hall was here, not two days ago, asking about some silly little piece of toy that he found somewhere in your part of the city. Asked my boy where he found it and who gave it to him.”
Grace was confused. What toy? And why had James come all this way to ask about it? Then, he hadn’t even mentioned it to her. Of course, they had been on the outs, but still, it seemed to be rather important if he came all the way to Gallowgate to inquire about a toy.
“He did?” The woman bobbed her head up and down. “I’m sorry, I haven’t any idea why Dr. Hall would have come. You say it was a toy?”
Mrs. Monty’s shoulders dropped as she sighed, annoyed.
“Charlie! Get out here!”
The redheaded boy who had shown Grace his toy spinner during his first visit, came out of the room behind his mother. Mrs. Monty turned on the child, bent at the waist, and grabbed him by the face.
“Tell this lady where you got that top from, do you hear me? No more shrugging and saying that you don’t know nothing. I’m not having my home invaded with doctors who think they can just show up whenever they bloody like.”
Grace winced as the mother dropped the boy’s chin. He came around his mother and hung his head.
“Sorry, doctor lady,” he said quietly.
Grace knelt down.
“It’s all right. Did Dr. Hall ask you about your top toy?” The boy nodded. “And you told him you didn’t know where it came from?”
“I told him I just found it on the street.”
“Was that the truth?” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell Dr. Hall the truth?”
“Because I didn’t want him to take it away from me.”
“Oh,” Grace said gently. “Well, if you tell me the truth, I promise, I won’t take it from you.”
The boy glanced up. Then, he pointed at the doors at the entrance of the building.
“I got it from them.”
