Jack pulled out a gold coin from his purse and tossed it to Rose. She caught it nimbly in mid-air.

But Akiko narrowed her eyes at Rose. ‘That much? I thought you didn’t steal from your friends.’

‘I don’t … though I might steal Jack’s heart again,’ Rose added, throwing a playful wink in his direction.

Akiko’s jaw tightened. She snatched her pack off the bed and headed for the door. ‘I’ll be in my room. Let me know when you’re ready to go, Jack.’

As Akiko shut the door firmly behind her, Jack wondered why she seemed annoyed. They’d got their belongings back after all. So what, if Rose made a little profit on the side? She’d brought him back the rutter and, to him, that was worth a half-crown.

Yori got to his feet and handed Jack his locket. ‘Er … I’ll get ready too,’ he said awkwardly. ‘Akiko will probably need my help re-bandaging her shoulder.’

As soon as Yori had left, Rose turned to Jack. ‘Is Akiko always so irritable?’

Jack shook his head. ‘She must be tired. Things haven’t gone exactly according to plan since we arrived in England.’

‘So what’s the plan now?’ asked Rose.

‘We search Limehouse to start with.’ Jack began laying out his new clothes on the bed. ‘Akiko suggested showing the locket to some of the locals to see if anyone recognizes Jess and knows where she’s gone. If we have no luck with that, I suppose we’ll try the workhouses next.’

‘Not much of a plan,’ remarked Rose.

‘Well, what else can we do? Jess has disappeared without a trace.’ Jack held up the locket, letting it twirl on its chain. ‘This is a mystery too. I mean, who would give my sister such an expensive gift?’

Rose raised an eyebrow. ‘A suitor?’

‘She’s still a girl!’ cried Jack, feeling instinctively protective of his little sister.

‘But will soon be a woman,’ replied Rose knowingly, ‘and a sought-after one at that, judging by her portrait … and her brother’s good looks.’

Jack laughed away the compliment. ‘You haven’t changed, Rose!’

‘But you have.’ A coy smile spread across her lips. ‘For the better.’

Flustered by her playful manner, Jack busied himself with selecting a shirt. ‘Look … I’m going to get changed. I’ll meet you downstairs with the others.’

‘If you want,’ said Rose, nonchalantly making her way to the door. ‘But do you really think you’ll find Jess just by asking people you happen to meet in the street?’

Jack looked up. ‘Have you got a better idea?’

Rose nodded. ‘For sure! We visit the jewellers off Cheapside and show them the locket. One of them’s bound to recognize whose work that portrait is. Then we can find the artist and ask him who paid for the portrait to be painted – and that person might know where your sister is!’

14: The Miniaturist