'He is gone.

I stared at Lucca and I thought again about Misha Raskalov. Hed been here in London all the time.

'Who is he, Fannella? What does he want? Lucca bent to retrieve one of my boots from the gulley. I gathered up its pair and didnt answer straight off. I loosened the laces and pushed my wet bare feet down into the leather.

Where is he?

'I dont know. Truly I dont. I bit the inside of my lower lip. 'Theres something I need to tell you, Lucca. Youre not going to like it.

Lucca didnt say a word after I told him about Misha. He just stared out of the little steamed-up window of the cab. I tried to catch his hand, only he moved it away.

The streets were running like rivers now. It was the sort of rain that comes at you from all sides. Even if we hadnt abandoned the umbrella back in Pearmans Yard we would have been soaked to the skin underneath it. There was a low rumble and the cab rocked about as the horse spooked. A second or so later the dim interior flashed up lightning sharp so I could see the scribbles of mud on the floor from our boots and the buttons missing from the leather seats.

Nanny Peck had been right about that cats piss sky.

We jerked to a halt at the end of Salmon Lane. I paid the driver and Lucca helped me down to the street. It was past seven.

'You coming with me, Lucca?

'Ill walk you to the door. Its not safe.

We started along the narrow cobbled way together. I caught his sleeve.

'Listen. I . . . that is, I wish . . .

'Dont. I wish a lot of things, but it doesnt make them happen.

We stopped at the foot of the steps. I looked up at the black brick walls of The Palace. It was still hard to think of this place as a home as my home. The double doors swung open. Tan Seng shuffled out on the step, stood to one side and bowed.

'Lady.

I nodded up at him and pulled on Luccas arm.

'At least come in for a while. You cant go home alone tonight, not after . . .

'I need to think, Fannella. If he Misha is here in London, as Sam Collins says, that is . . . Lucca shrugged and stared down at the rain-slicked stones, '. . . understandable. At least I know why he didnt reply to my letter.

'But if hes here, why didnt he tell you? Why didnt he come and find you? The words came out too quick and of an instant I regretted them when I caught the look on Luccas face. He stepped away from me and flicked up the collar of his coat, burrowing his chin into the folds of the muffler. He didnt answer my questions. Instead he shrugged, hunched his shoulders against the rain and turned away, walking quickly up the passage towards the street.

'Kitty! Peggys voice echoed from the stones.

I looked up to see her hovering behind Tan Seng, Robbie in her arms.

'Go in! I hissed. 'I told you about bringing him outside.

'I thought you were the crow. She huddled Robbie against her and scanned the street. 'Why isnt he here?

'Crow! I ran up the steps and pulled the doors to a close behind me. 'What do you mean? Why do you need a doctor, Peg?

'Its not me, its Robbie. That fucking parrot bit him. She moved Robbie in her arms so I could see him properly. I brought my hand to my mouth. The pale blanket shed wrapped him in was covered in blood, great vivid streaks of it glistening in the lamplight.

'Jesus! What happened?

'He wouldnt go down a couple of hours ago. I fed him the pap, but he kept crying and thrashing around in his basket. You wouldnt know this, Kitty, but when he gets like that he likes to be on the move. So I took him up and we went for a little stroll about the house. I carried him through to that room youve set up as a parlour. Then the parrot went off in the corner, but Robbie started to calm down. He actually likes it.

'I took him over for a closer look and then on account of nothing, the vicious thing lashes out. It happened so fast. One second I was holding him up to see the bird, next thing its clinging to the cage digging its beak into his hand. It wouldnt let go.

Peggy pulled at the material wrapped round Robbies body and gently freed his hand. It was bound up with a soaked crpe bandage.

'Lok helped me with that. The bloods stopped now, thank God, but you should see this. She loosened the bandage and Robbie started to make a little mewing sound.

'Hes too tired to cry, poor lamb. Here . . . She held up his left fist very gently. The brown was mottled purple and his hand and wrist were swollen to twice their normal size. From his elbow to the tips of his fingers, Robbies skin looked ripe to burst.

'Its not normal. Heres the bite. She smoothed the tips of her fingers over a crusted v-shaped gash across the back of his hand. 'It wasnt even that deep. At first the blood wouldnt stop, but when it did his arm bruised up so badly. I didnt know what to do. She glanced at Tan Seng. 'None of us did.

Robbie began to cry properly now. Peggy rocked him back and forth. 'It hurts hes in pain, Kit. Thats why I called the crow. Loks gone to fetch him.

Dr Pardieu didnt ask too many questions and I was grateful for that. From what little he did say, I guessed he was already something of a regular at The Palace. While he was packing away his bandages and his bottles he glanced warily at me and cleared his throat.

'The Lady . . . I gather from Mr Lok that she has . . . uh . . . moved on?

'Thats right. I nodded and watched as he deftly rolled up a skein of fresh white crpe. Hed tied the rest round Robbies arm.

'And you are . . . Miss Peck, is it?

I nodded again, but I didnt give him what he wanted. He took his jacket from the back of the chair and brushed something from the shoulders before putting it on. As he swung the jacket round the smell of naphtha came to me. I realised then who it was Dr Pardieu reminded me of Telferman. Not to look at, mind, but in his manner. He was careful with me superior, but servile at the same time. It was an odd combination.

It was difficult to put an age to Dr Pardieu. He had the sort of face that could have seen anywhere between fifty and seventy summers . . . if he ever took it out in daylight, which I doubted. Limp grey hair, cut to one length all the way round in the old style, brushed his dusty collar and two front teeth jutted out over his bottom lip.

Along with Telferman, he also put me in mind of a hare.

'Change can be a good thing, Miss Peck. I was often called to attend your . . . predecessor. She did not find me wanting. I trust she is in . . . er . . .

I swear he was about to say 'good health or something similar, but, as we both knew, that would have been a lie.

'Shes in the country, Dr Pardieu.

'Excellent. Fresh air . . . I am sure that will be . . . He faltered again. The thought of Lady Ginger taking a country rest cure was as ridiculous as Florence Nightingale taking a box at The Carnival. I nodded at Robbie on Peggys lap. His good thumb was stuck in his mouth now and his round brown face glowed in the lamplight.

'Is he going to be all right, then?

Dr Pardieu frowned. 'Ive done what I can this evening. The tincture of laudanum will ease the pain. Ice should be applied regularly to cool the swelling and the bandage should be kept firm, but not constricting. Ive applied a salve to the bite. It is not unusual for people to react after contact with such birds. I once treated a woman in Wapping, a captains wife, who could not stay in the same room as her husbands prized companion. She was forced to move him out in the end.

'The parrot?

'The captain. Dr Pardieu didnt smile. He looked at Robbie who was sound asleep now. 'This was a very severe case. I would almost describe it as unique. Ive not seen engorgement quite like it before. I recommend that you keep the bird and the boy apart.

Peggy stood up, Robbie cradled in her arms. 'Can I put him to bed now?

He nodded. 'That would be the best place for him. Do not hesitate to call on my services again, if there is anything you need. I got the distinctive impression he wasnt talking to Peggy.

I went to the door and found Tan Seng waiting outside.

'The doctor is leaving now. He stood to one side as Peggy walked to the stairs with Robbie. I turned to Dr Pardieu. 'Thank you. If I need you again Ill call.

He bowed his head. 'The Lady would not be seen by anyone else. I am always most discreet. I can assure you, Miss Peck, that nothing I ever see here will be spoken of beyond these walls.

When I heard the doors slam below I went over to the window. I watched the rain slide off the top of Dr Pardieus umbrella, the drops twinkling in the gaslight as he scurried back towards Salmon Lane. I wondered what those last words meant. What exactly had he seen here in the past that called for such discretion?

I rested my head against the glass. The cool eased the throbbing at my temples.

It was all going round and round like the water gushing down the drain in Pearmans Yard, only I felt like the rag caught in the grille. Misha, the letter, Romanov, the man with the cane on the roof, and now Robbie? I wished David Lennox was here right now to take his son away. Tell truth I wished he was here to take me away too.

'Hes sleeping sound. Peggy pushed open the door and walked over to the fire. 'That must mean something at least?

'It means hes been given enough laudanum to lay out a chorus line. I turned from the window. 'Thank you for calling the doctor. You did the right thing.

'I couldnt see him suffer, besides it was frightening. Ive never seen anything like it before. It happened so fast his hand swelling and that. You cant be too careful with a little one.

I nodded. 'Can you stay here tonight, Peg? Id count it as a favour if you did.

She poked at the coals to make the fire burn more brightly and straightened up. 'Im happy to. In fact, Ive already sent a message to Dan. I hope you dont mind. Its fine by him. Anyway hes got a regular appointment on Thursdays.

'Is that in the back room at The Lamb, Peggy? I noted that she turned away and pretended to busy herself again with the fire.

'Its just . . . I dont think hes cut out for it. Ive seen enough in my own family to know what happens when the cards dont run in your favour. Look at Joey.

She didnt answer, so I tried again.

'Let me help with some of the debt and you can pay me back when you can. Its got to be better than digging yourself deeper every time youre dealt a duff hand.

'You dont understand, Kit. Its his pride. And now with the baby coming hes more determined than ever. I cant tell him what to do and he wont take your money, so lets just leave it, shall we?

'Pretty girl. Pretty girl. Tits like ripe apples. I looked over at the covered cage in the corner, grateful, for once, for Jacobins profanity.

'I dont think hes talking about the feeding habits of little garden birds, do you?

Peggy scowled. 'Its got a filthy beak on it. You ought to get rid of that damn parrot. Take it back to your grandmother next time you see her.

I shrugged. 'I dont know when thatll be. She does the calling, remember?

'Maybe you should get Marcus Telferman to parcel it up and send it to her. She paused and ran a hand through her dark curls. 'I forgot something came for you today. A package. I was down in the hall with Lok when it arrived. Its on the table.

I smiled. 'You and Lok are quite the best of friends, arent you?

'Hes a kind man, Kit matter of fact they both are, him and his brother, and Lok loves little Robbie as much as I do. You heard from his father, this David, then?

I shook my head. 'Nothing. Unless that package downstairs is from Paris?

Chapter Twenty-two.

I pushed at the wide door to the workshop behind The Gaudy and it juddered open. I paused for a moment, surprised at how the familiar scent of paint and sawdust made me feel. It smelt like the past and it smelt . . . clean. I know thats an odd word to use, but I cant put it another way. It made me think of the time when I was just a seamstress and a slop girl and everything was straight.

I stepped inside. The sound of sawing came from behind a wide flat board painted up to look like the outside of a tavern. Id know Luccas hand anywhere. The tavern looked so real youd think you could step through the half-open door, slap your coins on the board and order yourself a jug of eyewater. Just above the door hed painted a square wooden cage with a little yellow bird inside.

I took a step closer and stared up. I could even see the feathers.

'Anyone at home? You there, Lucca?

The sawing stopped. 'Whos that?

I stepped round the scenery to find Danny working at a plank stretched between a couple of chairs. He laid down the saw and rubbed a hand over his forehead.

'Hello, stranger. We havent seen you here for a month or so.

That was true enough. It was the first time Id visited out back since Id took over. Im not entirely sure why. If I took it out and examined it there was something about not wanting to lord it over people whod been my friends, not wanting to make them feel uncomfortable around me. But looking closer, it was most likely the other way round. I didnt want to feel uncomfortable. Tell truth, I didnt go to the workshop across the yard at the back of The Gaudy because I was frightened to find I no longer belonged there.

I tried to smile. 'I reckon you dont need me poking about in your business. I trust you all to get on with the job. What you doing there?

'Im making up the flats ready for Lucca. Danny pointed at the tavern scene behind me. 'Its the other half of that. This side needs a window that opens out.

'Its for the sailor song?

He nodded. 'First proper performance on Monday. We need to be able to take it all over to The Carnival too, so its made portable you can see the joins on this side, but not from out front.

I looked back and realised that Luccas tavern scene was painted across four panels. Even up close I hadnt noticed.

'Its a lovely job, Dan.

'And its a ripper of a song. Itll bring in the punters. Jesmonds hot as Colmans for it to move over to The Carnival. Netta Swifts got a decent pair of lungs on her.

I raised an eyebrow. 'I wouldnt let Peggy hear you say that.

He grinned. 'Shes got nothing to worry about on that score. But she is good, Netta I mean. Almost as good as you were, Kit.

Danny glanced over his shoulder and then I saw it my cage. It stood in the shadows at the back of the workshop, half-covered in sacking. Planks of wood were propped up against it. I walked over and put a hand on one of the bars. Strands of glittering ribbon studded with paste jewels were still threaded through the metal.