They then sat beside each other and watched the rest of the play, and Gray had never enjoyed a performance more. Having her near calmed him when he’d not known he’d needed calming. She cared about him as he did about her, and for now, that was enough.
He looked at his family’s box and saw each of them. Henry and his mother had their eyes on him. He nodded again, and they nodded back.
More than enough, he thought, looking at Ellen.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Ellen walked along Crabbett Close with Leo and Teddy. They were wrapped in coats and scarves as the day was one of those gray ones, and the sun had not shown itself.
The three siblings had been sent to collect a dozen apricotines with Bud’s blessing, as she was busy making their evening meal and had no time to bake anything for their afternoon tea.
The entire family had congregated in the parlor where Mungo had lit the fire. There they’d stayed until they had played a robust game of Snap to see who would leave the house to collect their treats.
“Good day to you all!”
“Constable Plummy,” Leo said by way of reply when they drew level with Mr. Peeky’s house.
The officer was standing outside the door and looked to be holding it open.
“I daren’t ask,” Ellen whispered.
“What are you doing, Constable Plummy?” Teddy said. “The weather is foul. Shouldn’t that door be closed?”
“Well now, I’m aiding a resident of Crabbett Close, Master Theodore. Mr. Peeky’s door is squeaky, and he’s applied something to stop that on the other side. I am then going to open and shut it until the squeak has gone.”
Leo coughed, and Ellen managed to hold her features in their current pleasant expression.
“Plummy, you’re a right flapdoodle.” Mrs. Greedy threw this at the constable as she shuffled past wrapped in an overcoat.
“Very kind of you to say so,” Plummy said with a smile.
“Right then,” Leo choked out. “We’ll be off.”
“Good day to you all, Nightingales!” Plummy called.
“Flapdoodle is not a compliment,” Teddy muttered when they’d moved on.
“I’m not entirely sure if Plummy is very smart or exceedingly dimwitted,” Ellen said. “Insults slide off him.”
“He’s kind to me, Fred, and Matilda. Just the other day, he brought us lemon drops.”
“Did he? Well, I may need to revise my opinion of the man if he brings those,” Leo said.
They trooped on, noting lamps and candles lit in windows to ward off the gray day.
“Oh, Lord Seddon. I wonder if I may take a moment of your time?” Tabitha Varney said from her doorway. “I have an urgent matter that needs attention, and I am not strong enough to fix it.”
Teddy sighed. “Walking anywhere in this street takes a great deal longer than it should.”
“Amen,” Ellen said.
“I just need Lord Seddon.”
“And yet we are here, so will help also,” Ellen said when Leo gripped her fingers tight and squeezed.
“Oh well.” Tabitha looked annoyed. “If you must.”
“They’re hardly likely to want to stand about in this bleeding pea-souper now are they, Miss Varney,” Nancy said from next door. “Here’s a sugarplum to tide you over, Master Teddy.” She walked out with a bowl and held it over her gate.
