Lady Lightfingers by Janet Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

met them.’
    His eyes lit up with amusement. ‘You mean that you expect me to attend your tea party in an effort to further my social interaction?’
    â€˜Damn it, James, yes, I most certainly do,’ Thomas growled. ‘You must be obliged to mix with all classes of people in your legal profession, so I’m sure you’ll carry it off admirably. In fact, I’d be interested in what you make of them. If nothing else it might encourage you to appreciate your own circumstances and opportunities a little better. Besides . . . I thought the family might be a suitable study for the paper I must present to the Anglican Philanthropic Society I belong to.’
    â€˜Ah . . . so that’s it. Perhaps I’ll be able to keep an eye on the teaspoons for you if I join you then. Have you told Mrs Packer that you’re expecting beggars as guests tomorrow?’
    â€˜I’ve told her I’m expecting guests for tea, and to light a fire in the drawing room. That’s all she needs to know. I’ve asked her to buy some muffins from the vendor in the morning, and she has promised to bake a madeira cake.’
    James’ laughter rang out. ‘It’ll be worth coming to your tea party just to see her face when she sets eyes on them.’

Four
    The walk to Bedford Square tired Alice Laws more than she cared to admit. Celia strode on ahead, her sister carried warmly under her cape. Lottie rode astride Celia’s hip, small and thin.
    â€˜Celia, wait.’ She stopped to catch her breath and was overtaken by an irrepressible urge to cough. Her handkerchief displayed tiny flecks of red afterwards. Alice knew what that usually signified, though she’d avoided thinking about it so far. She’d just turned thirty-eight, yet she felt like an old woman. It occurred to her now that she must make arrangements for the welfare of her children. She had no doubt that Celia would manage without her, but it was how her daughter would manage that worried her.
    An offer had been made recently that her daughter didn’t know about. Celia possessed a certain quality that had attracted the notice of a gentleman. Innocence! Through a broker he’d offered a great deal of money for the girl, trying to tempt Alice to hand her over.
    Alice had turned the offer down, but she suspected that she was simply postponing the inevitable. It wouldn’t take much to snatch Celia from the street. Children of all ages disappeared every day, some turning up on the Thames river mud a few days later, their bodies broken.
    Alice always worried when Celia went out, just going about her business and looking for work to help them provide for their daily needs. Her daughter was lovely and drew the eye.
    Concern in her eyes, Celia came back to where she stood. ‘Are you all right, Ma?’
    Alice nodded, her breath a harsh rasp. She felt the cold, deep down inside her bones. ‘Yes, my love. I just need to catch my breath. It’s years since I walked this far, and you’re hard to keep up with.’
    â€˜I should have walked slower. It’s not much further, just around the corner.’
    When Alice’s breathing quieted Celia took hold of her hand and placed it on her shoulder. ‘Lean on me.’
    â€˜Celia,’ Alice said urgently. ‘If anything happens to me I want you to take Lottie and go and ask my sisters for help. Beg if you have to. I don’t want you and Lottie to be forced on to the streets.’
    â€˜I know better than that.’
    â€˜You might not be given a choice, so be vigilant. A gentleman noticed you and his agent approached me. I don’t want you to live that sort of life.’
    Celia looked shocked for a moment, then placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. ‘Neither do I, Ma, so don’t worry so much. I’ll be careful.’
    â€˜I don’t know why I agreed to have tea with your friend. You can’t trust any man and we could be