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“I ain’t done investigating,” the constable said.

Spindle gave Reina a reassuring glance and turned to the law officer. “Sir,” he said in a low voice, “a word, if I may—” He drew Constable Jex aside, and they whispered back and forth.

Jex glanced at Reina, his brows rising until they’d disappeared beneath the brim of his helmet like a pair of reclusive caterpillars. “Something ain’t right about this,” he said flatly. “What’s it you’ve got there in that book you’re carrying?”

Reina replied with a pleasant smile. “It’s a compilation of account performance data and branch demographics. We’re presenting to a panel tomorrow morning, and I realized I needed to include this information. So I decided to pop over here and retrieve it.”

“Let’s ’ave a look, then,” Jex said, extending a hand for the ledger.

John reacted with genuine outrage. “Let’s have a look?” he repeated incredulously. “That’s unlawful interference with private property, search and seizure without a warrant, and abuse of office.”

“Pembroke,” Reina said in a soothing tone, “the constable only wants a glimpse.”

“A glimpse that would leave him open to accusations of tampering with private financial documents.”

Reina gave Constable Jex an apologetic glance. “I’ll show you the book if you insist, of course,” she said. “But I would hate to expose you to legal jeopardy.”

“No need, miss,” Jex said reluctantly. He sent John a subdued scowl as he continued, “We’ll accompany you out of the bank, now that your business is concluded.”

“We appreciate your courtesy, Officer,” Reina said warmly. She handed the ledger to John, who kept it in a firm grasp.

As they all walked along the hallway, she remarked to the constable, “Do you know, I’ve only been to Lombard Street during the day. Is it always so quiet at night?”

“I couldn’t say, miss,” Jex said stiffly. “I’ve only had this beat for three weeks.”

“Have you? Well, I admire your eye for detail—clearly nothing escapes your attention.”

In response to a few more questions, Jex went on to reveal he’d worked as a lamplighter’s apprentice before joining the City of London force, and no, he didn’t mind all the walking required of a constable on the beat, but the custodian helmet was uncomfortable, as the rough canvas lining had rubbed his forehead raw.

They all went out through the side entrance. The view of the empty street seemed to rekindle Constable Jex’s suspicion. “Might I ask where to’s your carriage, Miss Martin?”

“We came by cab,” she said innocently.

“At night? A lady of your ’igh standing?”

“I’m not a lady,” Reina said. “I’m a businesswoman.”

“You’re both,” John surprised her by saying, as if he couldn’t stand to let the point go uncorrected. “Just not always at the same time.”

Reina smiled faintly. In spite of the situation, in spite of a welter of worry, grief, hurt, and anger, she knew that was a moment she would keep, like a pressed flower in a book.

“Visiting a bank at night in a cab looks more like burglary than business,” the constable grumbled.

It seemed as though John was about to make a scathing comment, but his attention was caught as a carriage turned into the street and drew up outside the bank.

“Oh,” Reina said, trying to conceal her surprise and relief at the sight of Sol and Cielo drawing the carriage, and Maddock sitting up top. “My coachman is here.”

Maddock’s face was inscrutable, his gaze lingering an extra half second on the constable. “Beg pardon for the delay, ma’am,” he said from his position on the box. “The lead rein was twisted up—didn’t want to risk a tangle on the road, so I took a moment to sort it.”

“That’s quite all right, Maddock, thank you.”

How had he known to come fetch them at the bank? From John’s scowl, it was clear he hadn’t told Maddock about their plans for the evening. June must have said something to him.

It touched Reina that Maddock had taken it upon himself to make sure she was all right.

“If a damaged ship is close enough to the coast,” the marine insurer had told her, “a lifeboat crew will row out to rescue survivors. No reward in mind, they just do what they can to help.”

As John stowed the account ledger inside the carriage, Reina turned to the two men on the footpath. “Mr. Spindle, thank you for your kind assistance, as always. Constable Jex—”