Joshua, like most boys his age, didn’t like talking about feelings. He shrugged off King’s comment. “Is there anything to eat?”
“No time to eat. You and I have a mission.”
He made a face. “You said we’d have to wait until after midnight to fire the Black Bear.”
“That’s still the plan, but we need to go see a friend of mine first.”
“Who?”
“The head of the Bow Street Runners.”
“What?” Joshua took a step back. “You want to gotothe Runners?”
King smiled. He understood the boy’s resistance. In his world, the Runners and the constables were the enemy as much as men like Ferryman. “We need them. Burning Ferryman’s headquarters won’t rid us of him. The only way to do that is to have him charged with a crime and put in prison or transported.”
“You think the Runners don’t know he’s a criminal? They’re as afraid of him as anyone in Seven Dials.”
“At the height of his power and with his gang behind him, the Runners wouldn’t risk taking him. But if we could put a chink in his armor, give them an opportunity to step in when he’s at his weakest, then I think they might act.”
“You think? Ferryman already wants us dead. If we send the Runners after him and they fail, he’ll not only kill us, he’ll feed our dead bodies to the dogs.”
“That’s a lovely image.” King put it out of his mind. “I suppose I’d better make a convincing case, then.” He went to his pile of clothing and tried to pick the cleaner and less wrinkled of his coats to change into. One had blood on it now, which hesupposed had come from Peggy. He chose the other and changed into a clean shirt and the coat.
“Write your sister a note so she won’t worry if she wakes up and we’re not here.”
“Aww!” Joshua stomped off, and King tied his neckcloth. When he was ready, he found Joshua at the bar, slumped over an ink-stained sheet of parchment, pen in hand. He peered over the boy’s shoulder.
Deer Vi
King mayd me go to the Runerz with him
Yu keep slipping.
“Slipping?” King asked.
“No, that’ssleeping.”
“After we deal with Ferryman, we’d better deal with your education,” he said, taking the pen. It badly needed sharpening and a new nib, but he made do and added a line that they would return soon, and to be ready to go at midnight. He signed his name and gave the pen back to Joshua, so the lad might sign his. But after the boy took the pen awkwardly in his hand, King told him to just put a J and to run up and slide the parchment under the door to the flat.
Then the two of them crept out the back door to the tavern, locking it behind them. King insisted they sweep the area, but they didn’t find any of Ferryman’s gang creeping in the shadows.
Still feeling uneasy, King motioned for the boy to follow him. The Runners’ headquarters was far enough away that they’d need to flag a hackney. King just hoped he still had enough influence to make the trip worth it.
*
Violet woke alone.The flat was dark and cold. She was still naked, but the bedclothes had been thrown over her. She figured she could thank King for that. She might have called out to him or Joshua, but the door to her closet was open, and she could see the flat was empty.
She rose, pulled on her shift, and went to the door of the flat, thinking to yell down to the back room. Instead, she stepped on the piece of paper, lifted it, and then had to light a candle to read it.
She wasn’t certain what time it was at the moment, but she washed quickly and dressed in a pair of trousers she had found for Joshua, but which had been just a little too big on him. They fit over her hips and bottom perfectly. She’d only worn them a handful of times—when she’d wanted to move heavy casks without the encumbrance of her skirts. She’d always felt immodest and exposed in them, but she’d been inside her own tavern and alone. Now she was preparing to wear them out. But how was she to run and climb—if it came to that—in skirts? She put on an old shirt of her father’s—too big, but that was easily remedied with a waistcoat cinched tight. Thus, in boots, trousers, shirt, and waistcoat, she blew out the candle and stood at the dark window, looking out.
She heard the church bells toll half past eleven when she spotted Joshua and King coming down the street. Joshua was looking from side to side, and King had a hand on his shoulder and kept glancing behind them. They were being careful, and King was clearly keeping Joshua close. Violet stared at them and put a hand to her belly. It felt as though it were full of fluttering moths. She was afraid if she allowed them to escape, they would migrate to her chest, and then her heart would beat fast for King.
Who was she fooling? It was already beating fast for him. For the first time, she allowed herself to believe he really might protect them from Ferryman.
At that moment, King looked up and saw her in the window. He tipped his hat and made a gesture indicating he would go around to the back.
She met them at the door, not even waiting for them to come fully inside before she asked, “How did it go with the Runners?”
