She opened the back door with a smile and nodded toward the yard.
“Thank you,” I murmured gratefully and stepped outside. It was very dark now, but the moon was so close to full that it provided a murky sort of glow revealing a substantial hole in the fence surrounding the property.
With a tinge of regret about leaving Mama Leoni to suffer Annie’s wrath—and a much greater share that I wouldn’t get to eat that cake—I slipped through the fence and ran as fast as I could away from there.
They say Five Points is a twenty minute walk from almost anywhere in the city, so I just ran in as straight a course as I could, hoping to eventually come upon something familiar, or at least a cabbie who could be persuaded to take me home to Ma’s without payment up front.
“Opal!” Victor staggered across the lawn, carrying Mrs. Carrouthers. He set the woman down beside the housekeeper and used his braces to restrain Thomas.
“We must call the police!” Opal cried.
“Have you forgotten, I am the police.” Victor stepped over Thomas’s prone body and gathered Opal into his arms. “I will report this as soon as possible, I promise. First of all, are you all right?”
“I’m fine. What about the girls?”
“Caroline got everyone out the front. The house is a total loss, though.”
She snuggled into his chest. “At least everyone’s safe… But what will we do now?”
Victor kissed the top of her head. “We’ll figure that out tomorrow.”
— Garrett Goldthwaite
Old-Fashioned Opal and the House of Ill-Repute
Chapter 25
By the time the sky began to lighten in the east again, I was hopelessly lost. Nothing was at all familiar, anywhere I looked. At least the rising sun allowed me to get my bearings a bit. Five Points was north of Ma’s street. If I kept the rising sun to my left, and put the slum to my back, I would be heading in the right direction, or so I hoped. At least, if I remembered Fred’s teaching correctly.
My poor feet were aching by this time, my clothes were ruined, and I was sure my hair was a disaster. I must look a sight!
I hoped I wouldn’t be arrested for vagrancy before I got home...of course, if I were, then I might be in a better position to contact Kevin Reilly through the police network.
I needed to rest. I was falling asleep on my feet after hours of wandering. But the thought of home—and a nice hot bath—kept me moving forward.
To take my mind off my troubles, I began to speculate about what might have happened at the boarding house in my absence. It had helped the last time...
MEANWHILE...
Alistair Conn was beside himself with worry. Where could Josephine possibly be? She was reckless, sure, but she was never thoughtless. She wouldn’t cause him this much distress unless something was terribly wrong. [Remember, this is what Fred reported to me...with a little embellishment of my own...but just a little, I’m sure...]
He paced the front parlor of the boarding house restlessly. Fred sat on the settee beside Ma, wringing her hands. [Oh, all right, Fred protests this description of herself as ridiculous, but I am the writer, so there!]
“We need to go and look for her,” Alistair declared manfully. “This waiting is killing me.”
“But where will we look?” Fred cried, leaping to her feet. “The city is so large, and we are only two.”
[Fred tells me if I write another word, she’ll never speak to me again. She also told me to promise I’ll never try to publish anything I write, because I’m far too melodramatic. But my fingers were crossed on that one…]
I promised Fred I wouldn’t speculate any further. Suffice it to say that I’m sure they were very worried about me.
I was really missing my reticule, because if I had it I would’ve been able to stop at one of the bakeries and get something to eat—and maybe a hot cup of tea. As it was, I was cold, hungry, and tired to the point where I was beginning to hallucinate...
I looked up, and would’ve sworn I saw Seamus O’Leary across the street. It made me shrink back into the mouth of an alley until the man in question made his way on up the avenue. When he turned away, it was obviously not Seamus—his hair was darker, and he was several inches taller.
I had to get home.
I forced myself to keep moving, even though my lower limbs were beginning to stiffen up. I must—
Wait!
Stopping and taking a closer look at my surroundings, my heart lifted. I might not be close to home, but I did recognize the area. I was quite near to the Ferguson home. Perhaps Sinéad would be able to give me a cup of something warm and help me find a cab. At least it was a destination.
I hobbled faster, pushing past the pain now I had somewhere in mind to sit down at the end of the journey.
Plus, I could check in on Gertie and see how she was doing. The girl was so bright. I wished she could go to school with Ryan and her siblings, but knew it would be pushing things a bit far.
After a bit of searching, I found the worn little house I remembered from our earlier visits. Stumbling a bit, I made my way up the walk and knocked at the front door.
“Yes, may I help you?” asked the neatly dressed maid who opened the door. For a moment, I thought I’d come to the wrong house, and then I realized it was Gertie.
“You look wonderful!” I said without thinking.
For a moment, she was taken aback, and then she looked more closely at me. “Miss Josephine? What’s happened to you? Are you all right?” she squeaked.
“May I come in, Gertie?”
She bit her lip, obviously unsure what to do in this situation. After all, I was benefactor to both her mother and her employer, but I was...not myself at the moment.
“Of course, miss. Please, come inside. Maybe you’d like a cup of tea?” She bobbed a curtsy and led the way to the kitchen.
She fussed around me until I was sitting comfortably at the well-scrubbed kitchen table with a hot cup of tea between my warming hands.
“Here’s a bit o’ cake, miss. I made it myself,” she said proudly, placing a bit of lopsided pastry on the table.
“It looks lovely,” I lied. “Where’s your mistress?”
“She’s gone with Ryan to the convent,” Gertie replied. “She enjoys the bit of fresh air of a morning. It’s good for her to get out and about with the baby coming, and she enjoys chatting with Mother Superior, I think.”
She was so mature for eleven. Was I ever that adult? Was I now?
“How is Ryan taking to the school?” I asked.
Gertie made a face without thinking. “He don’t...doesn’t care a fig for school. I wish I were the one goin’ instead.” Her voice was wistful.
“I know, dear. You would get much more out of it, I’m sure. I’ll send along that copy of Shakespeare I promised as soon as I can get to the book store. Perhaps we can arrange something about schooling later, but for now, how do you like your mistress?”
“She’s kind to me, and she’s teaching me a lot Nessie didn’t know or have time for. Like sewing. I made over this uniform myself.” Her chin lifted proudly, and I recognized the over-sized dress Vanessa had sent along with her. It fit her very nicely now.
“Well done,” I said sincerely.
“Gertie, I’m home!” wafted Sinéad’s voice from the front room. She came through the house to the kitchen, and stopped dead, her hat in her hand. “My stars. Miss Josephine, is that you? You look...terrible.”
I rose to my feet. “Gertie has given me a bit of hospitality, Sinéad. I really needed a place to sit down for a few moments.”
“What on earth happened to you?”
“It’s a very long story.” I filled her in on what had happened as concisely as possible.
“You poor thing!” She turned to the child. “Gertie, go and fetch the nearest cabbie you can find. Bring him back with you, and tell him he’ll get double his fare.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The girl darted out the back door.
&nbs
p; I reached across the table and took Sinéad’s hand. “Thank you. I’ve been at my wit’s end trying to figure out how to get back to the boarding house. I got all turned around in the dark.”
“Dear me,” she commiserated, patting my hand. “You poor sweet girl. Don’t you worry about a thing. We’ll get you home...” She lifted a hand to her nose. “...and bathed.”
“Well, Opal,” said Mrs. Carrouthers, smiling at the girl, despite the bandages covering her hands and arms. “I guess we are both out on our bustles now.”
“What will you do now, ma’am?” asked Opal anxiously.
“I have some savings. I’ll likely start over somewhere—the girls are also going to need a place to live. Or maybe I will just move in with my son for a while.” She winked.
“I never said I’d let you move in, Mother,” drawled a voice from behind Opal.
She turned to see Victor leaning against the door frame of the patient’s hospital room.
Suddenly, the future seemed a little brighter.
— Garrett Goldthwaite
Old-Fashioned Opal and the House of Ill-Repute
Chapter 26
When the cab arrived, I started to climb in, but the cabbie stopped me, and laid a horse blanket across the seat first. He shrugged apologetically.
“Beg pardon, miss, but yer a bit ripe. I’d have complaints from the rest o’ me day’s fares.”
I couldn’t blame the man. Another dress would need burning. At some point, I should seriously consider a trip to a real dressmaker instead of constant hand-me-downs.
I fought not to fall asleep in the cab so I wouldn’t risk negating the poor cabbie’s precautions. My chin nodded forward with the motion of the horse’s hooves on the pavement—and I started awake, heart racing, as I realized that was what happened the last time I was in a cab—and look where that got me.
I shook myself awake, widening my eyes to try and force them to stay open. We would be back to the boarding house at any moment, and I would be able to sleep in my own comfortable bed. The thought was heavenly.
But first, a bath. I couldn’t tolerate myself, and I wouldn’t force it on any one else—not even Priss.
Oh! The kittens... I hadn’t even looked at them in days. Butterscotch would have his eyes open soon, and I wanted to be one of the first things he saw. The others hadn’t even been properly named yet. Although, I suppose, it should be left to whoever their new owners were to name them. Still, I needed something to call them for the moment...
Thinking about the kittens kept me awake until the cab was pulling up to the front stoop of the brownstone. I sighed with relief. At least I had made it home this time. Without being kidnapped again.
I stepped out of the vehicle, telling the cabbie to wait for me while I hurried inside to borrow the fare. I must replace my bag as soon as possible.
I realized, as I entered the house, I might be able to recover my bag from the cab company, even if it hadn’t been returned to me. It was possible at least. I didn’t remember for sure which company it was, but surely there couldn’t be too many in the city. There were items in my bag that I sorely wanted to retrieve.
“Josephine!” cried a most welcome voice, as I was swept up and spun into a one-armed bear hug. “Where have you been? And why do you smell like smoked sewage?” Alistair plunked me back on my feet, wrinkling his nose.
“I was kidnapped, Alistair.”
“Again? Was that blackguard, O’Leary involved? I never should’ve let that man anywhere near you!” He clenched his good fist as if he wished to pound someone, but that would never do.
“Yes,” I sighed wearily, “again. And yes, Seamus was the culprit. We simply have to do something about him! But, for now, I’ve had a most trying time, and all I want is a good long bath and my bed. Could you please go and pay the cabbie outside? He was awfully sweet to bring me without payment. I believe he was promised double his usual fare.”
“Of course. You’re tired. We’ll talk later.” He started for the front door, then paused. “Should I call Fred and Ma?”
I was touched by his thoughtfulness. It was new. And most welcome.
“That would be lovely,” I replied, with a grateful smile. “I don’t really dare sit down anywhere until I bathe.”
He nodded and was gone, leaving a warm feeling in his wake, I assure you.
Perhaps Leonora was right...perhaps his declaration in the hospital hadn’t been merely a drug-induced slip. It’d be nice to think so. I’d been half in love with him since the day we met, but I didn’t think he’d noticed. Lately, that impression seemed to be changing, and I was very pleased.
Ma and Fred came into the hallway where I stood, swaying a little on my feet by now. Their fussing was much more expected.
Ma shooed me into the bath, where the tub had already been set ready in the center of the floor.
“I’ve had three kettles going day and night since you’ve been gone, luv. I had a feelin’ when you came back ya’d need a bath. Stood t’ reason you’d wind up back in that awful Five Points place. Now, get out of those dirty things, and I’ll bring in some hot water to get you started.”
“Tell me everything,” Fred ordered, plopping down on a stool beside the tub and watching me undress. “Was it Seamus again?”
“You certainly don’t think I have two people running around kidnapping me, do you?”
She shook her head with a sigh. “I don’t know what to think about you any more, Josephine Mann. You certainly live a thrilling life, I’ll give you that.”
I thought about Alistair’s greeting. A feeling of warmth flowed through me. “Yes, yes, I do.”
Ma brought in the huge copper wash pot full of freshly drawn water to start the bath, and then three steaming kettles of hot to add to it. “I’ll boil more straight away, so take as long as you like, dear.” Her nose wrinkled most expressively. “I think you need a good long soak.”
I was never going to Five Points again if I could help it once this affair was all straightened out. I had a tinge of regret that I would never be able to find my way back to Annie’s. Dahlia had been kind to me, and I would like to see her out of that place. Mama Leoni, as well. I picked up the cake of soap with a sigh. I supposed there was no way to help everyone I met...
~*~
After I had bathed, eaten, and spoiled the kittens for a bit, I crawled into bed for a nice long nap. Unfortunately, my brain refused to shut down enough for me to do so. At last, I gave up.
I rose again and dressed for a call to the police station. It was time to see what Kevin had discovered with his inquiries abroad—and to ask him again for a gun.
I peeked into Fred’s room across the hall. She was working at her desk. I was a bit touched. Normally, she would be out at the warehouse with the men working on her inventions. The fact she’d remained behind at the boarding house was a testament to our friendship.
“Fred, I’m going to speak to Kevin Reilly. Do you want to come with me?”
She turned in her chair, and the look on her face was all the confirmation I needed that her interest had indeed been piqued by our friendly neighborhood inspector. She cocked her head at my laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, my dear, you don’t want to know.”
“Why’re you going to the police station?”
“Kevin promised to send those inquiries to his counterparts in Ireland, remember? I’m going to see what he found out.”
“I see. Well, I’m not getting a lot done here, so I might as well come with you. Give me a moment to change my frock.”
“You look perfectly fine,” I said archly, fighting to keep from laughing.
A lovely rose blush bloomed on her cheeks, and she couldn’t meet my eye. “I-I spilled some ink and set my sleeve into it. Please, it won’t take but a moment to change.”
I relented. “I’ll be in my room, then. I need to figure out some way to replace my bag.”
She frowned. “Your bag? Jo, th
at was returned to the house ages ago. Did no one tell you?” She picked up my reticule from the shelf beside her door and handed it to me.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, that’s a welcome relief. How did they find out who to return it to?”
“Apparently, your address was on a calling card inside?”
Oh, yes! I’d forgotten that I so admired Leonora’s I’d gotten some of my own. I hadn’t even had an opportunity to use them yet—on purpose at least.
“Well, that’s definitely one less thing to worry about.”
I left her rummaging through her clothing and began to take stock of my own things. My wardrobe was no longer large enough to hold everything, and the trunk Leonora had sent full of clothing several days ago was taking up the slack. Still, it was difficult to keep everything neat.
I dug through the things in my reticule sorting out what was actually needed from extras accumulated in the recent weeks. It was amazing how much was crammed inside. I pulled out the manacles...but, after a moment’s hesitation, I put them back. After all, one never knew about these things.
Still, by the time I finished, there was quite a pile of discards on my writing table, and the bag felt much lighter. As I was tidying up the mess I made, Fred stepped into the room dressed in a frock I’d never seen before. It was a rich blue in a flattering cut, and set off her dark hair and eyes to perfection.
“Don’t you look nice!”
She blushed again. “Is it too much?”
“You look lovely, truly.” I couldn’t help the grin that crept onto my face. “Kevin will be most impressed.”
“Let’s go.”
I could tell from her abrupt reply this was no time to tease further. I nodded, and we hurried out of the brownstone.
No one answered at Aunt Emily’s house, and Alistair and Herbert had taken the new carriage to the warehouse, so we decided to get a cab. Neither of us was interested in another walk down to the precinct. When we were comfortably ensconced, Fred kept fidgeting with her hair, fussing with the way her skirt lay across the seat—she was definitely primping in anticipation of our destination.
The Incredibly Irritating Irishman: Book Three of the Conn-Mann Chronicles Page 15