Escaping Notice by Amy Corwin Read Free Book Online Page A

your nose. It is not all that
terrible, after all. You’re perfectly safe with me, and we shall
find where you belong soon enough.” She studied Ned, but was none
the wiser after her perusal.
    Then sudden inspiration made her smile.
    Uncle John often had occasion to hire an inquiry agent. It would
be a simple matter to employ one to determine who Ned Brown was and
where he lived.
    She squeezed his shoulder and smiled encouragingly. “Never mind.
Perhaps you’ll remember after a good night’s sleep. Or maybe a
glimpse of London will bring your memories back.”
    “Perhaps,” Ned replied. He sounded doubtful and sullen.
    Helen’s heart went out to him. It must be frightening to be only
eleven years old and alone. Ned was being such a brave little
soldier, trying to carry on without any help.
    At least he did not have to be alone any more.
    She would do everything she could to help him and still find the
Peckham Necklace. There was plenty of time to be a true
adventuress, she thought as she chewed another fingernail down to
the quick.

Chapter Nine
    “ Avoid
as much as possible going out in the evening ….” — The Complete
Servant
    They got a very late start the next day, so when Helen and Ned
Brown arrived in London, it was already dusk. The carriage bumped
over the roads, jarring every bone in their weary bodies.
    Helen’s maid yawned broadly and glanced through the window,
squinting at the deep shadows streaming from every narrow
alley.
    “We’re almost to your sister’s house, Miss Helen,” she said.
    Studying Ned, Helen made a sudden decision. Her cousin had
married a private inquiry agent. Perhaps he could assist her and
locate Mr. Brown’s family. If she lost her courage or couldn’t
return to Ormsby, she might ask him to retrieve the necklace, as
well. “We shall stop to let you out, Sally. Please inform my sister
that I’ve gone on with Mr. Brown and will return shortly.”
    “You mean you’re going out?”
    “Just a brief errand.” Helen stared at her maid until the woman
dropped her gaze to her lap, although the tightness of her mouth
revealed her disapproval of Helen’s intentions. At least she only
had a view of Sally’s mulish expression in brief glimpses, as they
passed through bursts of light cast by the streetlamps being lit by
the watch as evening edged into night.
    “Where are you going this time of night?” Sally asked, as they
drew up at the Dacy residence. “Lady Dacy won’t be pleased if you
run off before you even arrive.”
    “My sister won’t mind in the least. Now get down and tell the
coachman to come here so I may speak to him.”
    Sally grumbled but obeyed. When the scraggy gray head of the
coachman popped through the open door, Helen ordered him to drive
on to Second Sons Inquiry Agency.
    “Second Sons? Whereabouts be that?”
    “How should I know?” Helen replied, somewhat testily. Every bone
in her body ached after rattling around in the coach all day, like
a dried pea in a bottle. “Ask. I’m sure someone can give you
directions.”
    “This time o’night?”
    “Yes, this time of the night. It’s not that late, after all. Now
do as I say.”
    The coachman slammed the door shut and made his way back up to
his perch, while Helen surreptitiously rubbed her suddenly cold
hands. Someone at Second Sons would be able to help poor Ned Brown,
and he would soon be fast asleep in his own cozy bed. She smiled at
him, although in the gloomy recesses of the carriage, she doubted
he could see.
    “Why are we going on?” Ned asked. He rubbed his eyes with his
fist and looked around blearily.
    Helen straightened, startled by the sound of his voice. “I have
an errand to run. In fact, I’m hoping I can help you discover where
you belong.”
    “Where I belong?” he echoed.
    She leaned over and tried to reassure him by patting his hand.
Unfortunately, she only succeeded in slapping his knee. “Don’t
worry. I know you must be frightened to be lost and have no