Kate retraced her steps and headed for the kitchen. She still felt uneasy, but there was nothing she could do, and there would be hungry people queuing outside at midday. She set about the mundane task of building up the fire in the range and filling pans with water from the pump at the sink. By the time Ivy arrived with the baby in her arms, followed by Charlie and the twins, Kate had peeled a mountain of potatoes and was about to start on the carrots.

‘You’re here early,’ Ivy said cheerfully. ‘What happened to the front door? The lock’s broken.’

‘That’s the question I’ve been asking myself ever since I arrived this morning. Spears isn’t here and he never leaves the premises unlocked.’

‘That doesn’t sound good.’ Ivy placed the baby on the floor. ‘Take care of your brothers, girls. Ma has things to do.’ Ivy rolled up her sleeves. ‘There’s nothing we can do about it. I’ll start on the onions. It’s certainly much easier since we’ve been buying sacks of vegetables. It saves time and money.’

Kate nodded but she barely heard what Ivy had said. If Spears had been taken by Monks’ gang it was quite possible that they would return and claim the property for their own purposes. She took off her apron and laid it over the back of a chair.

‘I think I’d better find Harry Trader. We might be in serious trouble.’

‘I’ve heard that there’s even worse hostility between the gangs,’ Ivy said, frowning. ‘Word gets round quicker than you can blink in Nightingale Lane.’

‘Nevertheless, this building belongs to Harry, and Spears works for him. I think he needs to know what’s happened. I’ll be as quick as I can, Ivy. I won’t leave you to manage on your own.’

‘That’s all right, miss. I’ll have Annie to help when she gets here. She’s getting good at chopping onions and the like, and I think she enjoys helping.’

‘Even so, I’ll be back before you know it.’

Kate took a cab to Finsbury Circus. The heat was oppressive as she ran up the steps to hammer on the door knocker. Dark clouds had obscured the sun and there was a sulphurous haze in the air.

Lady Lyndon’s butler opened the door, staring blankly at Kate.

‘I need to see Sir Harry Lyndon. It’s urgent.’

‘Then you’d best go to Coldbath Fields Prison, miss.’

Chapter Nine

A distant rumble of thunder sent shivers down Kate’s spine. ‘Did you say Coldbath Fields Prison?’

‘That’s what I said, miss.’

‘I need to speak to Lady Lyndon,’ Kate said firmly. ‘Please inform her ladyship that Miss Martin would very much like to see her.’