“What sort of problem? If you don’t mind me asking, Mrs. H.”

Elsie was young, perhaps seventeen at most, with a pointed face, straight brown hair she wore in a bun, and light brown eyes. She’d already been working here when I’d arrived at the house, but I did not know much about her life before this. She was a cheerful sort, if occasionally excitable, with a terrified scream that could cut with knifelike force. Fortunately, she did not shriek often and spent most of her time humming or singing as she scrubbed.

When Elsie didn’t work, she slept. Scullery maids were far down in the servant hierarchy, nearly at the bottom. In many houses she’d double as a kitchen maid, cook’s assistant, and even the bootboy. She did not have much time to herself.

“I do not wish to upset you,” I said. “But a few children might have gone missing. Might,” I added emphatically. “They also might be just fine, but taken to another place. A nurse has gone too, perhaps with them.”

Elsie watched me in trepidation. “What children?”

Mr. Fielding had told me their names before I’d departed the sacristy for the rainy night. “Three—two boys and a girl. Sam Howes, Joshua Tarr, and Margaret Penny.”

Elsie shook her head. “I don’t know them. Might have come after me. But maybe Mabel does. I could ask her.”

“That would be kind.” I had no business demanding Elsie do things for me on her half day out, the only rest allotted her, but this problem bothered me. “I don’t want Mabel to get into any trouble, mind. Or you.”

Elsie’s dimples returned. “Never. Who is the nurse what’s gone?”

“Her name is Miss Nell Betts. So the parson told me.”

Elsie’s faint smile vanished once again. “I do know her. She’s been at the Hospital awhile, though she’s youngish. Very kind too. I hope nothing is wrong.”

“As do I. What do you know about the nurse? Is she likely to have up and gone without telling anyone?”

“Don’t think so.” Elsie sent me a dubious look. “She’s sensible—them as is flighty never last long. Weren’t none of us scared of her. Most are fond of Nurse Betts.”

“For that lady’s sake then, I will try to find her. Could be she had someone in her family to take care of and slipped off to do it.”

More doubt. “She has a mum and dad, but never visits them much. They don’t get on. Mostly she stayed in on her days off and mended. Liked to sing while she did it.”

Nurse Betts sounded a nice, comfortable person, unlikely to snatch a few innocent children and take them away with her. Besides, she’d been the one who’d brought the missing children to Mr. Fielding’s attention.