“When you refuse to tell me who you work for,” I began, carefully choosing my words, “it is because you’ve been forbidden to. Is that not so?”

Surprise flickered in Daniel’s eyes. “It is.”

“You’ve been free telling me much else,” I conceded. “I am being charitable and assuming the decision to impart information has been taken from you.”

“It has.” Daniel gave me a nod, but his shoulders held tension. “I don’t agree entirely with the decision, but I understand why it has been made.”

“I would certainly not be happy if you were sent to prison for telling me. Am I correct it is that dire a thing?”

“Yes.” Now the corners of Daniel’s mouth twitched. “You are a frightening person, Kat.”

“I am an observant person and a thoughtful one. Slicing twenty carrots and ten turnips for a stew is not the most absorbing of activities. One’s mind wanders, and one makes connections about many things.”

The twitch became a full grin. “I must remember to take up chopping vegetables when I need to ruminate on a problem.”

“You make fun, but it is no joke. A repetitive task releases the mind to think.”

“I believe you.”

I became serious once more. “We must find those children, Daniel.”

“We will.” He twined his fingers through mine. “I have not been idle. I have ideas, and Errol will help. Because he already has the Foundling Hospital’s board and its director trusting him, he will put that trust to use.”

“And I will find things out,” I promised. “You have the police and Mr. Fielding, but I know servants, and foundlings. And Lady Cynthia.”

“Yes, your own forces. Quite formidable they are too. I make no joke—you can go places and speak to people the police cannot, especially policemen as intimidating as McGregor.”

“He is clever and persistent,” I said, defending him to my surprise. “If wrongheaded some of the time.”

“Shall we be a team again?” Daniel lifted our joined hands and turned the hold into a handshake. “Put aside your annoyance with me to find the children and bring Nurse Betts’s killer to justice?”

“I think I will have to,” I said, withdrawing after we’d shaken on it. “Neither of us can do this alone.”

“True.” Daniel did not try to reach for me again, and I suppressed a twinge of disappointment. “We should set up a place to meet—all of us, where we can confer. Not here. Mrs. Redfern does not approve of me, and I don’t want Errol too near the costly silver Mr. Davis guards.”

“Bobby’s flat, perhaps. She has offered to help. Though I will not be able to slip away often.”

“Thanos’s flat is closer,” Daniel said.

“Is it? I thought it was in Bloomsbury.”

“It was. He’s moved to Regent Street, not far from Hanover Square.”