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

time of evening, and it’s getting dark. It will cost more than the gentleman paid me to risk going in there.’
    â€˜And it would then cost you even more if someone was of a mind to steal it from you. There isn’t any more money to spare, driver. We’ll alight at St Paul’s and walk the rest of the way. Celia, help roll the blankets up.’
    The blankets were stuffed under their ragged capes, and they pulled their hoods up as they left the carriage and headed north. Alice carried the basket over her arm and Lottie was in her usual position, tucked on to Celia’s hip.
    They hurried through the alleyways and squares, aware of the speculative eyes following them. Celia kept up a good pace and Alice followed, trusting her daughter’s sense of direction.
    People littered the pavements, where they sat or squatted, dirty, sullen and unsmiling. Dogs sprang at them and the smell of urine, rotting vegetables and a nearby cellar slaughterhouse almost overwhelmed Alice. She began to feel a familiar tightness in her chest, and her breath came heavily as they turned into the lane that gave space to the cellar they called home.
    It was nearly dark now. Here and there a candle sent out a sputtering gleam from the depth of a window. The sky was the colour of pewter, the rain a persistent, heavy and sooty drizzle. An occasional penetration of pale misty moonlight through the clouds silvered down through the rooftops and painted a falsely romantic gleam on the cobbles to please the creative eye of some impoverished artist.
    Celia had the door open in a moment and they were soon inside, bolting it securely behind them. A boot to the rotten wood would soon gain somebody entrance if they tried hard enough.
    â€˜Wait there, Ma, I’ll put a match to the candle.’
    A light bloomed in the darkness, reminding her of a beautiful golden tulip that had once grown in her father’s garden. He’d paid a fortune for a variety of the bulbs, she remembered, but the yellow one had always been Alice’s favourite. She wished she were there now, in that solid and secure old house that she’d grown up in. Perhaps her family had forgiven her after all these years, and would give herself and the children shelter.
    Unhappiness engulfed Alice and she began to cry, giving big, heaving sobs at the thought of all that had been lost to her.
    â€˜Don’t cry, Ma,’ Celia said softly. ‘I was so proud of you, especially when you played the piano, just like a real lady.’
    â€˜It was a lovely afternoon and Mr Hambert and his nephew were such good company. It reminded me of my home, when I was not much older than you and I didn’t have a care in the world. I hate coming back here to this stinking hovel. It’s sapping the life from me, and it will do the same to you and Lottie.’
    â€˜Hush, Ma. At least we’re out of the rain, which is more than a lot of people have got. We must be thankful for that. Here, take that wet cape off. We’ll have a warm blanket to sleep under tonight.’
    â€˜That was a kind and generous gesture. Mr Hambert lied about them being worn out. He just felt sorry for us.’
    Celia kissed her cheek. ‘Don’t you feel sorry for us, too. I’ll settle Lottie down, while you get rid of your wet clothes.’
    â€˜I’ve got a trouser seam to finished before I go to bed.’
    â€˜And I want to finish my story, so we’ll be company for one another. Afterwards, I’ll put the food safely away before it attracts the rats. When I’ve finished that I’ll have your bed rolled out and ready. We’ll sleep warm tonight.’
    They spent an hour at their tasks, but it was cold and their hands became numb before they finished.
    As was usual, Lottie had fallen asleep almost instantly, snuggled under the cosy blanket. Celia was looking forward to joining her there before too long.
    Turning to the battered lead-lined box that