“If we went to the murder display that mother refuses to take me to, then we wouldn’t get wet.”
“What is this fixation with murder and ghoulish things you have, Edward?” Liberty said, looking around her for no other reason, than she felt she should constantly be on alert now when out walking in London.
First, there was having no wish to bump into Tobias again, and second, she needed to look at all drivers of carts, of which there were plenty.
“I am not fixated. I am intrigued. Please note the difference, Liberty,” Edward said in a pompous tone.
She elbowed him in the ribs, making him wheeze.
“You have the pointiest elbows,” he rasped. “Good lord.”
“What?”
“I’m sure that was Cecil Todd driving that cart,” Edward said, pointing. “And considering what his brother told me, I think it must be.”
“Really? Come along. Let’s see where he is going then.” Liberty grabbed her brother’s arm and started walking faster.
“Why?”
“I’m not sure, Edward, and this stays between us.”
He sighed. “Is this one of those brother-sister promises that if I break you will make me suffer for months?”
“Exactly that.”
They walked until the cart turned into the exact street Helen’s brother had turned into. Standing on the corner, she watched the same men walk out of the building, and then they were unloading barrels.
“What do you think is in those?” Edward asked.
She told him then of the things that she’d learned, and about Helen’s brother Sydney.
“Well, that’s all a bit odd.”
“Extremely,” Liberty agreed. “But there is little we can do about it. Come along, let us get that present.”
“And then we will visit the murder display.”
“That depends on how much you annoy me,” Liberty said.
“If that is the requirement, then I would not take you anywhere were our positions reversed,” Edward added.
They found a shop that had pipes, walking sticks, and other things their father liked. Selections made, they headed for the park, in the opposite direction from the murder display.
“I will get there, you know,” Edward said.
“Oh, I know,” Liberty said. “Take Helen with you. She has a delight in ghoulish things also.”
“Really? Capital, I’ll do that.”
“There is a chess competition on in the park. I thought you mightlike to see that,” Liberty said.
“I would, because after all, what is not to like about two people moving pieces around a board? Excessively exciting.”
“I’m not sure when you went from being my lovely little brother to this sarcastic version, Edward.”
“I think it started about a year ago. If I must endure you watching chess as it is your favorite hobby, then first you must feed me. Pies, I think,” he said, tugging her to the right.
“What do you suggest, sir?” Edward asked the vendor.
