Secrets at No.6 by Jemma Hatt

Author:Jemma Hatt [Hatt, Jemma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elmside Publishing

13

BACK TO BELGRAVIA

“Where are you heading back to?” asked Reggie, warming his hands in his pockets.

Theo answered with his address.

“Oooh, posh!” cried Reggie. “I might see you one day; I work down that way in the mornings.”

“Reggie’s a delivery boy,” said Flo, gleaming with pride, “for Longfellow’s Grocers.”

With the East End children forming a protective circle around Theo, Alice and Nero, they made their way back to Whitechapel Station without any incidents. The sky was getting dark as they thanked their new friends and went to the platform underground.

Both Alice and Theo were deep in thought during the train ride, pondering the same question. What should they do next?

“We should talk to James,” said Alice. “He might let something slip, especially if we tell him where we’ve been.”

Theo looked up at his friend. “He could just deny it though, and then we should be stuck. He might try to get you into trouble if he thinks you know he framed Jo— I mean, Horace. I can’t get used to calling him that.”

Alice shrugged. “Mabel’s already trying to get me sacked every day anyway, so it makes no odds.”

“We need to catch him out, somehow. He’s still up to something. I wish we knew what he handed over in the pub.”

“We could follow him and try to get a closer look at what he’s doing during his secret meetings?” Alice’s face fell. “You might have to go by yourself though. I’m doing all my work plus most of Nancy’s old job at the moment, and Mabel keeps watching me.”

The pair sat and considered the situation while Nero dozed in Theo’s lap, snoring softly.

Suddenly, Theo jolted in his seat, waking a grumpy Nero. “I know! We could search his room!”

“Mrs Hardcastle already searched it,” said Alice, “but I suppose we could look. Perhaps he brought something back from the pub.”

“When is he out of his room?”

“Pretty much all the time, except when he’s sleeping. I think we’d better do it when the other servants are out of the way too. I won’t be back in time for the servants’ tea, but how about during dinner upstairs? James will be serving at the table, and most of the others will be in the servants’ quarters.”

“Yes, that’s perfect! I can meet you after Mabel brings my tray up.” Theo had been eating all of his meals in the schoolroom since Ivan’s guests had arrived.

“Meet me by the big clock in the hallway,” said Alice. Knowing how small the servants’ rooms were, she hoped it would not take long to perform a search.

Victoria Station was even busier than earlier when they returned above ground. The trio made their way outside, where the dark sky was lit with street lamps.

“When we get back to the house, shall I—” Theo stopped dead on the pavement. “Look!”

Alice followed Theo as he moved around a horse and cart to get a better view.

“What is it?” she said.

“Kitty, my sister! Over there.”

Alice looked towards a group of women walking through the street, wearing sashes that read Votes for Women.

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