I smiled, Peggy was no actress. I allowed Tan Seng to help me with my coat and went up the stairs to the first landing.

'Robbies in there. Peggy nodded her head to the double doors leading through to the room Id set up as a parlour. 'Hes just gone off, she whispered. 'Poor little lamb was tired out after our walk this morning, but I couldnt get him to settle.

'You took him out! You know what I said about that youre not to take him anywhere without telling me. The words came out too loud.

'Shhh! Youll wake him up again. The bleedin parrots bad enough. Peggy scowled. 'It seemed a crime to keep him inside on such a beautiful morning. Fresh air is good for him and besides hes used to coming around with me everywhere and seeing people. Its not natural being locked up in here all day, just the two of us, mainly. This is a dark house, Kitty. She shook her head. 'And not just on account of the memories. Besides, even if his father came knocking for him we wouldnt have gone far, would we?

I didnt know what to say.

Lucca was right about Peggy. After that encounter at The Gaudy, I didnt want to think that Id put her in any sort of danger, or the baby come to that, but I didnt want to frighten her neither. So, next morning I went round to Risbies and told her that Id had a message from Robbies father. The gist of it, I lied, was that he was coming over soon to collect his kid. I explained that as David Lennox had given his son personally into my care, I felt bad about farming him out and thought Id best take him back to Salmon Lane so that when he came for him he didnt know any different.

I saw the way Peggys face fell as we sat there talking in her little room. I looked around at the dainty things shed put together for her and Danny good china, cushions and that and at the little cot by the window, all fringed with lace, and smelling of soap. She was making a nest here, I thought.

'Look, I said, 'if its the money, Ill see you all right.

'Money! Peggy stood up and went to the window. She kept her back to me as she answered carefully. 'Its not the money, Kitty. Oh, its helpful all right and I wont deny we need it what with Dannys . . . She turned round and looked down into the cot. Robbie was babbling away and sucking on the edge of a blanket.

'I . . . Ive grown fond of him. I know it hasnt been very long, but hes a dear little soul. She knelt to pick his poppet off the rug and tucked it into the cot. 'Youre . . . many fine things, Kitty, but youre not exactly, well, thats to say . . . youre not a natural with little ones, are you?

I sighed. 'No. Im not like you, Peg. But I wont have him for long. David will be coming for him soon.

I wished that was true for lots of reasons.

Then again, what was I supposed to say? There was every likelihood Id put one of my closest friends in danger because I wanted to please a man I barely knew even if he was a man I found myself thinking about more often than was decent. The only way to make sure Peggy was safe was to take Robbie away from her. I watched her tweak his fat brown fingers one by one and heard him gurgle with delight. Thats when it came to me.

'Tell you what, Peg, why dont you come to The Palace each day to look after him for me and perhaps some nights too? Danll be all right about that, wont he?

She grinned and nodded eagerly as I went on, 'Thing is, I dont want you letting on that youre still looking after a kid. If anyone asks, tell them your cousins taken her boy home to Archway. Youre to say youre coming to help me out at The Palace, nothing more. Itll be true enough.

'But why cant I say anything about him? Peggys pretty brown eyes puzzled up.

Over in the cot, Robbie made a burbling noise as he chewed contentedly on the rabbit. I looked down at the rag rug. It was a good question.

'Because . . . because theres enough talk about me going round the halls as it is. If it was to get about that I suddenly had a baby in The Palace, then folkd put their two-penneths together and make a bent sovereign quicker than Dismal Jimmy can down a pint of whisky. You see that, dont you?

I was glad when she nodded.

'And youll get Dan to button it too? I know what hes like for talk. You might as well stick a penny green on his forehead sometimes before you send him out the door to let people know hes got news.

She grinned and nodded again.

'Listen, Ill pay you the same rate more for nights and when David Lennox comes for his son hell find Robbie happy as a sandboy on Ramsgate beach.

I wasnt too happy now.

'How did you get out? I pulled Peggy across the landing and into a little room across the hall I used as an office. I closed the door and gestured for her to sit down on a wooden-ended couch pushed against the wall. It was a dark Chinese affair carved over with dragons and suchlike. It put me in mind of the chair Lady Gingers men had carried her on to the side of Mas grave. It was bleedin uncomfortable, I knew that. I used it whenever Fitzy dropped by to keep our meetings short.

'Open the door, Kit. Peggy perched on the edge of the red-padded seat. 'If he cries we wont hear him. I reached for the handle and pulled the door open a little way.

'What do you mean "how did you get out?" Im not a prisoner here, am I? Peggys large dark eyes were full of confusion. She shifted on the couch. 'This things worse than a park bench.

'No, of course not. I wondered what to say next.

Since Id taken Robbie back to The Palace to live with me two days back Id given orders to Tan Seng and Lok that no one was to come in or go out without my say so, and that meant Peggy too if Robbie was with her. Fact of the matter she was a kind of prisoner, although I wouldnt want her to think it.

I pretended to arrange papers into a neat stack. 'I just . . . well, Tan Seng usually tells me about the comings and goings here trade and that and he didnt mention anything about you two taking a stroll, thats all.

Peggy grinned. 'He was talking to a man at the door when we went. I was down in the kitchen- 'Youve been down there? I was amazed. I always thought of going down to the basement as an incursion into the brothers territory.

Peggy nodded. 'Lok lets me warm milk on the range. Wed gone down to do that, I had Robbie with me. I looked out into the yard and it was such a fine day that I just took it on me that we should go for a walk.

'So you went out across the yard and through the gate at the back?

'Yes. And then up Samuel Street into Catherine Street and along to the churchyard at St Dunstans. We fed the sparrows.

I flicked some imaginary dust off the book on the top of the desk. 'You . . . you must take care, Peggy, you cant . . .

She stood up and covered my hand with hers. 'Dont worry about that, Kit. Robbies been the best medicine possible to bring me back to myself again. Listen hes awake. She rustled out through the door and crossed the hall. I could hear Robbie crying for attention but he stopped almost as soon as Peggy got to him.

I followed and stood at the entrance to the parlour watching them. She scooped Robbie up from his basket into her arms and held him high over her head so that he squealed with pleasure. Then she swung him down and twirled around, holding him close all the while humming a song from the halls. Despite myself I grinned and folded my arms.

'Good thing youre not teaching him the words to that, Peg. David Lennox will wonder what sort of company his little lads been keeping if he comes out with the chorus one day.

Peggy laughed and whirled around again. As I watched, I knew that one day soon shed likely be a mother herself to Dannys children and theyd be lucky to have her, like he was.

There was a sound from the landing behind me. Tan Seng bowed and I went out to join him.

'A man called today, Lady.

I nodded. 'Peggy told me. What did he want?

'You, Lady. He asked if you were here.

I frowned. 'What did you tell him?

'That you were not here. Then he asked if you were with Mr Fratelli.

'Lucca?

Tan Seng nodded. 'I said I did not know.

'Did he leave a message or a card?

He shook his head. 'The man was not from London, Lady. He was not from England. His voice was hard and his skin was pale, like milk. His hair almost white.

'White? Peggy had come out onto the landing to listen. Robbie was balanced on her hip now and chewing the ear of the cloth rabbit with a look of stern concentration.

'Now thats a coincidence.

'What is? I turned from Tan Seng to look at her.

'When we were in the churchyard a man spoke to us. He took quite a shine to you, didnt he? She jiggled Robbie about. 'Didnt he?

I straightened up. Something maybe a sixth sense, if I believed in that kind of thing made me suddenly very alert. 'Why was that a coincidence, Peg?

'The white hair. The man who came to sit with us had long white hair and a foreign accent too. German he was, maybe? Or Polish. I reckon he was a sailor up from the docks. He had bright blue eyes. I thought he was odd-looking at first, but actually, after a bit I thought he was quite a charmer. Thing is, he was getting a bit . . . attentive and I knew Danny wouldnt like it, so we came back.

Bells were going off in my head now like it was shift change at Grand Surrey. 'Did he follow you?

Peggy shook her head. 'Why would he do that? I think he was just out for a bit of company. There were other people in the churchyard too a young couple getting friendly. It made him feel lonely, I reckon. He said he knew a little lad back home wherever that was who looked just like Robbie here. He asked if he was mine.

'What did you say?

Peggy flushed. 'I . . . I told him he was. I didnt mean any harm by it. Its just that sometimes when Im with him I like to imagine what it would be like if he really was mine. Im that fond of him, Kit, it could almost be true.

I felt for the letters in my pocket. 'Peggy you all right to stay over tonight? If I send word to Danny? Ive got to go out.

'Of course. Itll be my pleasure. She turned and swayed back into my parlour room. Robbie watched me over her shoulder, his large brown eyes solemn as a priests at a death bed.

As she closed the door it came to me that her fancy might well have saved them both in that churchyard.

'I will prepare a room, Lady. Tan Seng bowed and moved to the stairs.

'Tan Seng, wait please. He paused and turned back at my call.

'Along with Danny, can you take a message to Lucca, Mr Fratelli, and ask him to come here?

He blinked, folded his hands into his sleeves and inclined his head.

'After I go out tonight, lock the doors and shutter all the windows. No one no one at all is to leave or to be admitted until I return.

'Lady. Tan Seng bowed once more and headed to the stairs.

Chapter Fourteen.

Katharine, I will speak to you. The churchyard. St Georges in the East, nine oclock this evening. Do not be late. Bring these papers.

Lady Gingers sprawling signature curled across most of the bottom half of the sheet. If I brought the paper to my nose I could even smell her on it, her opium at least. The sour-sweet tang of incense laced with tar and vinegar made my hand tremble as I stood there at the end of Pearl Street holding the papers Telferman had given me.

Now they were in my bag. If I opened it the smell of the old cow coiled out like a genie from a bottle. I wasnt scared of her, at least I didnt think I was, but Ill admit it, I was frightened of what shed been. Sometimes late at night before I put on my gown I moved a candle to the dresser and I stared at myself in the mirror. That was when I wondered about the future.

I thought about the past at those times too. There were questions I wanted the answers to.

Rain was splintering down. It fell so hard it sounded like someone was pelting the roof of my umbrella with tin tacks. The fine day had turned into a dismal, blustery evening. I kicked out the bottom of my dress was heavy with water and catching round my boots. I could smell mutton rising from the damp wool of it.

The lamps were coming on along Commercial Road as we went west. It was just after eight, but I wanted to talk things over with Lucca so I suggested a walk.

I was beginning to regret that now. This was no April shower.

'You have written to Joseph? Lucca ducked a little so I could hear him under the canopy.

I nodded. 'The letter went this afternoon. I wrote him everything thats happened about the dark-skinned kids Rosa and poor Adas little one and that business at the station and the man at The Gaudy. I said it was time for Da . . . his friend to make other arrangements.

Point of fact Id been sharp with Joey. He was still playing the old game, wasnt he? Palming off a load of trouble onto the one person he knew he could rely on. He must have thought it was his lucky day when I turned up on his doorstep.

My doorstep.

I tightened my grip on the ivory handle. 'I told him straight said it wasnt right to put others in danger. I told him it had to end.

'Good. Lucca stepped sharply to the right as a shower of dirty water splattered from a broken gutter overhead, soaking into the sleeve of his coat. He brushed his shoulder and turned to look accusingly at the jagged pipe pumping out yellow fluid flecked with bits I didnt like to think about.

'Merda! He turned to look again and his eyes narrowed. He shook his head. 'Then we must hope this David comes soon to take the trouble from our door.

I didnt tell Lucca that Id put a short note in for David Lennox too, telling him his son was well cared for here in London, but that it was best if he came over to fetch him as soon as possible. I wanted to say that if things were to change there would always be a place for a fine ballad singer in my halls. I wrote that three-line note a dozen times in a dozen different ways, but it didnt come out right so I left it simple.

I struggled to keep hold as the umbrella bucked in the wind. 'Ive told Tan Seng not to open up for anyone. Not until Im back.

Lucca nodded. 'The man who called, did he give a name?

'All I know for sure is that he was foreign and from Tan Sengs description he sounded like the man Peggy met in the churchyard later.

Lucca clamped a hand to his crown as the wind caught the brim of his hat. 'What else did Peggy say?

'Nothing. I didnt press it. I didnt want to frighten her.

We walked on in silence for a moment or two before he spoke again. 'If this man was also looking for Robbie, why didnt he do anything in the churchyard?

'Peggy said there were other people close by a young couple. Anyway, she came over all maternal and told him Robbie was hers. I paused, thinking about the question I needed to ask. I wasnt rightly sure how to put it. I wiped my dripping nose with the back of my glove.

'You heard from anyone in Paris, then?

Lucca didnt answer so I piped up again. 'You were very friendly with . . . with that dancer?

'He is a musician, not a dancer. His name is Misha. He turned to look at me. 'And no, I have not heard from him yet. Something guarded in his face made me choose my next words carefully.

'I . . . Im sure its nothing, just coincidence, but Peggy and Tan Seng said the man who called and the one later on in the churchyard had white hair. Peggy said he was a looker. Your Russian friend he had- 'Capelli biondi. Lucca stopped in his tracks. 'As do half of the Baltic sailors who put in at the docks the Swedes, the Danes, the Norwegians and yes, the Russians too. Are you saying that the man I . . . met in Paris is a child killer, Fannella?