Read Online When We Touch by Heather Graham - Free Book Online

the East End. Mireau sighed and waited patiently, and Maggie secured the proper price. They entered the church itself and found the young curate, Father Vickers, who worked with Maggie. He was delighted, smiling ear to ear, when he saw her.
    â€œWe’ve just received the most generous donation from Lord Charles, Viscount Langdon! Enough to clothe so many of the abandoned children.” The brightness of his smile faded slightly, then he forced it again. “You’re to marry him!”
    â€œYes, isn’t it lovely,” Maggie said.
    Father Vickers looked at Mireau, who shrugged.
    â€œAh, yes, lovely. Well, the women are waiting out in the courtyard. It’s a pleasant enough day. The air is not so foul . . .” He shook his head. “Lord, if there were but a way to really get these women off the streets! In certain areas, the police have managed to close down some of the brothels, but I don’t think that it’s really helped at all. Now more of the fallen are out in the alleys, and . . .” He lowered his voice to a worried whisper, “Maggie, God knows I need the gentle charity of ladies such as yourself, but I fear for you here, as well. There was another ghastly murder just a few days ago, night of the bank holiday.”
    She touched his shoulder. “Father Vickers, we both know that murder happens here frequently enough.”
    â€œBut not like this. Ah, true, and sad! Jealousies, drunken bar fights, a wife gone mad, a husband in despair, and always, the urging of too much gin! Yes, fights are frequent, and murder, something that happens far too often. But this . . . didn’t you see it in the papers?”
    Maggie looked at Mireau. “It might have been in the back pages.”
    He sighed. “If such a thing had happened to a highborn woman, I can tell you, it would have screamed across every headline in the land!”
    â€œWhat happened?” Mireau demanded.
    â€œIt’s all rather indelicate,” Father Vickers said uneasily, looking at Maggie.
    â€œPlease, Father, I am about to talk about birth control to women who need such a conversation since their children are seldom legitimate!” Maggie said.
    â€œShe was butchered. Not just killed, butchered. Throat slit to where her head was barely attached, and entrails removed. She was barely left as human. This was not a husband killing a woman in a rage.”
    â€œWhy, I remember a report of something similar not long ago, a woman was killed by a suspected soldier. I think the reporter said police were also thinking there might be a street gang about that was harassing prostitutes.”
    Father Vickers shook his head. “This was not a street gang. And no one murdered this woman for what they might steal from her. It’s my opinion that there’s a madman on the loose, and you will begin to hear about it. So, Maggie, please, though I need your help desperately, make sure it is always by daylight, and always in good company.”
    â€œFather Vickers, I only come by daylight, and with my dear Mireau. Also, remember, the police have a special place in their hearts for me.”
    â€œThat I know, and still, the police patrol—and frequently—the very places where these murders are occurring. Please, you must bear all this in mind when you are out and about.”
    â€œFather Vickers, I promise.”
    â€œThe women are gathering, I see. The courtyard will be fine for you?”
    â€œThe courtyard will be fine, certainly,” Maggie told him.
    That day, Maggie was speaking to a group on contraception—not an idea usually condoned by the church. But Father Vickers had spent enough time in the East End to be a very practical man. He had been the one to find out about the large shipment of condoms from France.
    In the past, Maggie had spoken about many details regarding the improvement of life, and at first, her audience had been small. But before she had known she was