Read Online Lady Lightfingers by Janet Woods - Free Book Online Page A

couple of false starts, she warmed up her fingers with the short fugues, enjoying most the slightly plaintive G minor.
    The music was sweet and Lottie scrambled down from James’ lap and came to where she sat. She clung to her skirt, gazed at her with wide eyes and jiggled about, trying to dance on her skinny legs. Then Alice became absorbed in what she was doing, and although the couple of wrong notes made her wince, she didn’t let them bother her too much as she launched into a more lively prelude in C major.
    There was silence when the last note died away, then the two men clapped. They were being kind, and she thought it somewhat incongruous that she was seated at the piano in the drawing room of this man, dressed in her rags and listening to polite applause for her poor performance. She wanted to die from the embarrassment of it. Another thought struck her. Would he have invited her to tea if he’d suspected what she sometimes had to do to earn money?
    Her smile was almost a grimace when she rose, and she felt the need to escape. Poverty had brought her down in more than one way, and she’d taken her children with her. They deserved more. Her glance fell on dear, innocent Lottie and she thought: It could be worse. Lottie could have floated away on the tide before she’d had a chance to live.
    There was a drift of rain misting up the window. Outside, the sky was grey, and although the drizzle wasn’t heavy yet, it promised more. They’d get soaked through on the way home if they didn’t hurry. Already Alice was wishing she hadn’t come. Being in such an elegant home and eating off such pretty and delicate china had made her feel like an outsider.
    â€˜We should go before this rain gets worse.’
    Thomas nodded. ‘It looks miserable outside, as though it’s set in for the evening. I can’t allow you to walk home. You must accept my offer of your cab fare. I’ll go to the corner and tell a cab driver to pick you up in half an hour.’
    James stood. ‘I’ll go, Uncle.’
    He returned, his hair dampened into ringlets. ‘It’s a raw afternoon. Can we not find something warm for them to wear home, Uncle?’
    â€˜There were some blankets, but they were rather thin and Mrs Packer took them home with her.’ His forehead wrinkled in a frown. ‘No wait! There are two dark-blue ones folded up on the bed in the guest room, waiting their turn to be replaced. If they’re of any use, you’re welcome to take them with you, Mrs Laws.’
    With as much dignity as she could muster, since she couldn’t turn down the offer of warmth for her children, Alice answered, ‘That’s kind of you, Mr Hambert.’
    James opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again.
    â€˜James, go and hunt them out if you would. They’ve been washed and aired so are ready to use. They’re the last, and the best of the old ones. And ask Mrs Packer to send in a container of some sort, and a basket to carry it in. We’ll arrange the remaining food in it so Mrs Laws can take it home for the children. It would be a shame to waste it.’
    They’d hardly finished the task when the cab arrived. The driver looked askance at his ragged fares, but when Thomas slid some money into his hand he tipped his cap. A further sum was placed in Alice’s own hand. ‘Just in case I haven’t given him enough.’ He stood back with James, sheltered by a large black umbrella and giving them a brief, but warm smile. ‘You may proceed, driver.’ The man flicked his whip over the horse’s head and the animal trudged wearily off with its burden.
    When they were round the corner the driver opened a little window. ‘Where to, Missus?’
    Alice’s fingers closed about the coins. She wasn’t going to part with them, since it was enough to cover the rent. ‘The tenements.’
    â€˜They’re not safe at this