Daniel set down the pot and sent me the ghost of his usual grin. “I know you are—you have made very trenchant remarks about mine. But I am inclined to agree that Errol did not kill her. I saw her body. Errol is a liar, a cheat, a scoundrel, a swindler . . . but he would never beat someone to death, least of all a young woman. Even as a child, when he had to fight, he’d strike out only until he was free, then he’d run like mad. Errol learned early how to run.”

“What did you do in a fight?” I asked in curiosity.

“I usually stayed a bit longer and was a little freer with my fists. Errol took advantage of that and often threw me into a fray so he could flee.”

I could imagine it, and the boy Daniel’s irritation. “What do the police say?” I asked. “Who do they think did this?”

“They don’t much know what to make of things. Nurse Betts was found near a church in Bethnal Green, one of the sergeants told me, by a kind elderly couple—she was alive when they found her but badly hurt. They took her inside their house and sent for a physician, but he could not help her, and she died in the night. They and the physician reported the death to the police—she was taken away to be examined by the coroner.”

“The poor thing.” My heart ached for her, lying alone and terrified in the street, in wretched pain. “I’m glad the people took her in. At least she was with someone caring when she went.”

“Yes.” Daniel was somber. “There is a search for whatever brute did it, but not much hope that he’ll be found, unless the police are lucky and discover an eyewitness. Good luck to them in Bethnal Green. Inspector McGregor has been put on this case, as it involves the Foundling Hospital. Prominent members of society are on the board there . . .”

We went silent a moment. A hunk of coal fell inside the stove, the whoosh of it muffled. The fire was dying, coal breaking down into ash.

“Would you like me to tell Mr. Fielding?” I asked. “He might be very angry at you, or not believe you.”

“No, I will do it.” Daniel regarded me glumly. “I know him well, and know how to break news like this. And I want to see his face when I tell him. He might not have struck the blows himself, but know who did.”

“I doubt it. He was very worried about her.”

“With good reason, it seems.”

I took another sip of tea then wrapped my hands around the hot mug, soaking up its warmth. “Do you believe she was killed because of the children? Because she knew what happened to them?”

“If she was trying to find them, that is very possible.”