‘Of course.’ Kate laid her shawl on a chair. ‘We’re here to help, and I apologise again for leaving you to do all the work.’

‘Oh, well, I suppose you are paying me, and it’s made such a difference. At least I can feed my nippers now, and I don’t have to send the older kids out to work if they’re poorly.’ Ivy hefted the pan into the dining room.

Kate set to work slicing three loaves, and she took the bread into the room where people were queuing up with their cups, bowls or anything that would hold a portion of soup. It was then that she realised there was a disturbance amongst those crowding round the entrance. With the bread basket still clasped in her hands she went to investigate and was almost bowled over when a man hurtled through the doorway, cannoning into her. Jenny caught the basket, but Kate ended up on the floor beneath a body with a nauseatingly familiar smell. She extricated herself and scrambled to her feet.

‘Spears! What happened to you?’ she cried as he lifted his head. He was barely recognisable beneath a mass of cuts and livid bruises.

‘Miss, you got to get away from here,’ he said hoarsely. ‘They ain’t going to leave you alone, no matter what you say. You got to shut up shop and leave. I’m telling you that for nothing. Just look at the state of me if you don’t believe what I’m saying.’

Chapter Ten

‘Who did this to you, Spears?’ Kate asked anxiously.

He raised himself to a sitting position, holding his head in his hands. ‘Who d’you think? It was the Monks gang. They were responsible for Harry being arrested, and they want you out of this building.’

‘I don’t see what they can do,’ Kate said slowly. ‘Harry owns the premises. They can’t argue with that.’

Jenny placed the bread on the table. ‘Let’s get him into the kitchen, miss. The mob will break down the doors if we don’t start serving them.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Kate helped Spears to his feet, and between them they managed to guide him to a chair in the kitchen.

‘I’ll clean him up,’ Kate said firmly. ‘You’d better give Ivy a hand, Jenny. She’ll be run off her feet in the dining room.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Jenny cast an anxious glance at Spears. ‘I wouldn’t believe everything that one says.’

‘I heard that,’ Spears muttered crossly. ‘I’m in agony here, miss.’

Jenny tossed her head and marched into the dining room, slamming the door behind her.

Kate filled a bowl with warm water from the kettle. ‘This will hurt, Spears, but it has to be done.’ She proceeded to bathe his bruised and bloodied face, ignoring his complaints.