The man looked at the clock hanging behind him and turned back. “He’ll be here in five minutes. He’s making trips with Mr. Cornelius’s effects to his uncle’s, don’t you know.”

  “Thank you. I’ll just wait in the alleyway.”

  The door shut promptly, and Phillip went to the stable. There was one horse and several saddles in the open-fronted building with a door in the rear that opened to a small room with an unlit stove, some shelves, and a bench with a tall stool. Phillip sat down to wait, out of the wind and chill of the day. He heard a wagon pull in near the stable and left the room. There was a man climbing down from the seat, his back to Phillip.

  “Jim?”

  The man turned quickly. “Who are you?”

  Phillip waited several seconds. “A friend of Dolly Irving’s.”

  The young man’s eyes widened, and he dropped the reins he held, taking one step toward the alleyway before Phillip’s hand caught the back of his coat and pulled him into the stable and through to the small room at the back. Phillip leaned against the door as the man backed up until his legs hit the stool.

  “What do you want?” he said.

  “I want to know where the goods went after they were hidden in Dolly’s basement?”

  “W-what goods? Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I think you do. I think Colfax paid you a cut on the side for helping him hide what he stole and retrieve it to sell it. I think he made a mistake when he went behind his fence’s back and sold directly to a customer.”

  Jim glanced around the room, eyes wild, finally landing on a bit still attached to a length of leather. Phillip didn’t take his eyes off his face.

  “You’re thinking you’ll pick up that bit, swing it, and hope it connects with my head. I’ve got an extraordinarily hard skull according to my doctor, and I don’t think you can swing it fast enough in this small room to do much damage.”

  Jim stared back and licked his lips.

  “Who did he sell to?”

  “Don’t know his name,” he whispered. “Just drove the carriage.”

  “Where? Where did you drive it to?” The man looked away and wiped his sleeve across his mouth. “Do you realize they could be looking for you right now?”

  Jim’s head snapped back, and his face whitened further. “Why would they come after me? I don’t know nothing.”

  “You know where the goods were stored. You might know where the fence met Colfax. And you know who the customer was that Colfax sold to directly. You know plenty.”

  Jim plopped down on the stool. “What do I do?”

  “Tell me what you know. The sooner I found out who killed Colfax, the sooner you are safe.”

  Virginia and Colleen arrived at the Browns’ after receiving Phillip’s note the following morning asking to take her to a coffee shop in the Butcher’s Hill neighborhood. He pulled his front door shut as Mr. Turnbull helped her down from the carriage.

  “Hello,” he said and nodded at both women. “Since the day is so pleasant, I thought we’d walk to Colaianne’s Bakery. Delicious cakes and sweets, but don’t tell Eliza I said so.”

  Virginia laughed. “I would never want to jeopardize being the recipient of her shortbread or cookies.”

  Phillip turned and winged his arms. “It’s muddy in some spots. Hold on. You too, Miss Hughes. And thank you for coming here, although I would have been happy to go to Shellington. I didn’t think it would be wise to take a walk near the cannery, where we were bound to see people we know.”

  “Are you embarrassed to be seen walking with me?” Virginia glanced at him.

  “Oh no! Never. But I wouldn’t want you to be the subject of any talk, me being an employee. Wouldn’t seem right to plenty of them.”

  “That seems petty,” she said. “But now that I think of that, you might be the subject of some . . . derision by others at the cannery.”

  “If you’re talking about Mr. Everly, he finds plenty to be short with me about. I do my best not to be bothered when he is.”

  Virginia smiled as Phillip opened the bakery door for her and Colleen. The smell wafting toward her was marvelous. Brewing coffee, yeasty bread, and sugary treats. They went to the counter and ordered, and Colleen leaned close.

  “I see a friend from my old neighborhood. Would you mind if I sat with them?”

  “No. Not at all,” she said, glad to have a few minutes alone with Phillip.

  He seated her at a chair near the windows, where they could watch others hurry by or stop to chat with a friend. A serving girl brought the steaming drinks, a small loaf of bread, crock of butter, and several meringues on a tray to them.

  “A loaf of bread?” she asked.

  He nodded, cut a slice, and slathered on butter. “Rather have this than cake any day.”

  Virginia took a bite of her jumble sugar cookie, closed her eyes, and licked her lips. “So delicious! I’ll have to take some home to my father.” When she opened her eyes, Phillip was staring at her mouth. She picked up her napkin and dabbed her lips, looking at him from under her lashes.

  Phillip cleared his throat. “Does this . . . does our walk here count? What I mean to say is, do you consider this courting?”

  Virginia smiled at him. He was blushing, the silly man, and dipping his head. “I hope so,” she said and could feel her cheeks heat.

  “All right, then.” He smiled as he squeezed her hand.

  “Thank you so much for the invitation, Mary. This little afternoon get-together is just what I needed,” Virginia said after kissing Mary Hernsdown’s cheek and handing off her coat and muff to a smiling servant. “I thought Colleen might want to sit with us, if it is not an imposition.”

  “Absolutely not,” Mary said and smiled at Colleen. “This will be good practice for you as Virginia said you are accompanying her occasionally when she is being a hostess for her father.”

  “Thank you, Miss Hernsdown,” Colleen said and followed the women to a large sitting room with a blazing fire.

  “There you are, Virginia,” Gertrude Miller said and stood to kiss Virginia’s cheek. “Just the four of us to enjoy a comfortable talk with coffee and sweets.”

  “Well,” Mary said as she sat down, “we have one more coming. She should be along any minute.”

  Gertrude cocked her head. “Who, Mary? Who else is coming?”

  “I ran into Edwina when I was shopping and . . . well, I might have mentioned the three of us were going to meet.”

  “And Edwina . . . ?” Virginia said.

  “Invited herself, of course,” Gertrude said just as they heard the bell ring on the front door.

  Virginia patted Gertrude’s knee. “We’ll make the best of it. Smile, Gertrude.”

  Edwina followed the butler into the room. “Ladies. I hope you haven’t started without me.”

  “Of course not,” Mary said. “Come in and let me pour you a cup of tea or coffee. I have both here.”

  “Coffee would suit me on this cold day,” Edwina said and settled herself in a chair near the fire and close to the end of the sofa where Virginia was seated.

  “Is everyone going to the McCallister ball?” Mary asked. “I’ve had a new ball gown made up, and Mr. Akins will be in Baltimore after his travels.”

  “How exciting!” Virginia said. “I’m so looking forward to meeting him finally.”

  “So you’re planning to attend?” Edwina asked her.

  “What a ridiculous question, Edwina!” Gertrude said. “Baltimore’s bachelors would go into a decline if she didn’t.”

  But Virginia looked at Edwina, not dismissing her comment. There was something about her tone. “Is there a reason I wouldn’t attend?” she asked.

  Edwina reached out to hold Virginia’s hand. “You’ve always been the bravest young lady of my acquaintance. I so admire you.”

  “What are you talking about, Edwina?” Mary asked. “Of course Virginia is brave, but what does that have to do with the McCallister ball?”

  Virginia glanced at Gertrude, who was staring at Edwina in an unpleasant way. Mary was smiling nervously. “What is it, Edwina? What are you hinting at?” Virginia asked.

  Edwina shrugged and pulled her hand away from Virginia’s. “It’s just that if there were that kind of talk about me, I would be hesitant, I suppose, to face the crowds.”

  “Spill it, Edwina!” Gertrude said sharply.

  Edwina glanced at Virginia. “I hesitate to bring up this unpleasantness. After all, we are just here to enjoy each other’s company and some refreshments. Let us move on to another subject, shall we?”

  “No, we shall not.” Virginia leveled a look at Edwina. “What have you heard?”

  “Just that you attended a ball at the home of a Mrs. Bernard at the behest of that old beau of yours, Mr. Morehead, and became so intoxicated that your father sent one of his employees to bring you home, and he had to carry you out the door! I said that would have never happened. Virginia Wiest would never be drunk in public. Good Lord! How ridiculous!” Edwina turned to look at Virginia expectantly.

  Mary gasped and Gertrude scowled, ready to begin an argument. Virginia held up her hand. “I did attend a function at the home of Mrs. Bernard after receiving a note inviting me from Mr. Morehead. However, Geoffrey did not send the note. Someone trying to discourage me from looking for a young child who’d been kidnapped sent me the note, and I, in all my foolishness, attended and drank some lemonade that had been spiked with a drug. My father was out of town, but the young man who was my coachman that evening asked one of the cannery’s employees to help me home. This happened months ago. That is the truth, Edwina.”

  “How dreadful,” Mary said. “You must have been terrified.”

  “I was furious with myself is what I was. I deeply regretted causing all the fuss and worry that I had.”

  “You can always count on my discretion,” Edwina said with a nod, her lips pursed in a tight line.

  Gertrude rolled her eyes. “I’d say the exact opposite.”

  “I’m sure you were doing what you thought was best for that child who’d been separated from its mother,” Mary said. “Shall I ring for more tea? I’m working on a new embroidery piece. Would you like to see it?”

  “I’ve got to run. So sorry, Mary,” Edwina said as she stood and turned to Virginia. “The man who carried you out of Bernard’s is the fellow who escorted you to the Waters’ ball, I believe. An employee at the cannery? My mother has always warned me to stay well clear of the working class, and here you are with no mother to advise you. Well, it’s been lovely!”

  Virginia watched Edwina hurry from the room, her skirts swishing, and thinking about her trip to the bakery with Phillip the day before. “That was enlightening.”

  “That was dreadful, Virginia. No need to be stoic. You are among friends. Now anyway,” Gertrude said.

  “But, Virginia, if this is common knowledge, there are those who would make you uncomfortable at the McCallister ball,” Mary said.

  “Very true, Mary,” Virginia said and turned to the chair where Colleen was seated. “Have you heard anything from others on the staff about this?”

  Colleen took a deep breath. “One of the kitchen maids heard something like this from her sister who works across town. Cook heard her talking about it to one of the other maids and told Mr. Smith and Mrs. French.”

  “I’m guessing my butler and housekeeper had a conversation with the kitchen maid but did not share any of it with my father or me.”

  Colleen nodded. “I just recently heard about it myself, Miss Wiest. I was planning on telling you later today.”

  Virginia wondered who would have started that story, but it really could have been anyone at the Bernard ball. She’d privately hoped no one had recognized her that evening, but that had always been a bit of a dream. Far too many people in that ballroom to have been anonymous. She had no intention, however, of allowing the gossips to influence her activities. She glanced up.

  “I’ll definitely be going to the McCallister ball. I cannot pass up this chance to meet Mr. Akins and see your new ball gown,” Virginia said.

  “Good for you,” Gertrude said. “I’ll be right beside you, Virginia.”

  “Yes, of course, I’ll see you and introduce you to Mr. Akins,” Mary said. “And I will tell anyone who asks that Virginia Wiest is my dearest friend.”

  Virginia reached for each woman’s hand and squeezed. “I’m a very lucky lady to have such wonderful friends.”

  * * *

  Phillip sat down in the small room on the servants floor at the Everly home that he’d used before to interview employees. The Everly butler, Jenkins, had directed him there with one pointed finger when he’d seen him in the kitchens making conversation with staff he’d already interviewed. A short middle-aged woman knocked on the door frame and walked in. She gave Jenkins a sour look and sat down after he’d closed the door.

  “Well? What are you wanting to know?” she asked.

  Mrs. Veto, the head cook, was the last person on the list of employees he’d been given that he’d not interviewed as she’d been out of town visiting a relative. She looked capable, as if she had little time for foolishness, which suited him. She was glaring at him and tapping a broad, clean finger on the table. He wondered how this woman and Jenkins managed to work together and not come to blows.

  “I assume you’ve heard that some items of the Everlys have gone missing.”

  “’Course, I have. I’d have to be deaf and dumb if I hadn’t, which I ain’t.”

  He smiled at her. “Clearly not, Mrs. Veto.”

  “Jenkins is trying to pin it on those two new girls from Ireland from what I hear, and neither of them girls would know their way to the grocer, let alone a pawnshop. And anyway, Jenkins had Mrs. Brandeis search their room.”

  “He didn’t tell me that.”

  “’Course, he didn’t. Where else would them two hide their haul if not in their room, I ask you? He wants rid of them is all.”

  “Why does he want rid of them?”

  She leaned across the table. “Because he’s a cantankerous, unpleasant fellow who does his best to be as snooty as the boss.”

  It was an apt description, and he decided that Mrs. Veto may have more to say if he were quiet.

  “And what’s more, these things started disappearing long before Bridget and Ann started working here.”

  “Do you know when the women started work?”

  “I’d say sometime in October. Was cooler weather then, I remember. Yes, it was the middle of October because Mr. Everly had a fancy dinner and overnight guests, and Mrs. Brandeis hired those two as extra help. Then kept them on.”

  “And there were missing things before that?”

  She nodded. “Yes, sir, there were.”

  The door opened, and Phillip stood. But it was Jenkins, glaring at Mrs. Veto, who stared right back. “Do you need something, Mr. Jenkins?” Phillip asked.

  “I’m sure you’re finished here, Mrs. Veto. The kitchen girls don’t know what to do next,” Jenkins said.

  “The kitchen girls are likely still chopping the onions and potatoes and scrubbing the pans and plates from luncheon. If they’re done, they can have their own meal,” she said to him.

  “You’re needed anyway,” Jenkins said.

  Phillip walked to the door. “The interview is not over. Give us a few more minutes and I’ll have Mrs. Veto back to work.”

  Jenkins glared at him. “See that you do,” he said and slammed the door.

  Phillip smiled at Mrs. Veto. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” she said. “I did indeed.”

  Phillip sat back down. “I would not be surprised if you had some suspicions about the missing items and who might be responsible.”

  Mrs. Veto studied her hands. “I’m not going to tell you everything. Can’t. If it ever got back that it was me, I’d lose my place, even if I am the best cook in Baltimore. What I will tell you is that Porter knows all.”

  “Mrs. Everly’s maid?”

  “The very one.”

  “Is she the one who is taking the things?”

  “No. But she knows who is.”

  Phillip nodded. “I’ll make a point of speaking to her. Thank you for your time and for the information.”

  Mrs. Veto stood, straightened her apron, and stepped close to him. She motioned for him to bend toward her. She wrapped a hand around his ear and whispered. “Mrs. Everly leaves every Thursday at one in the afternoon and takes a hired conveyance across town. You should see where she goes.”

  She turned and quickly pulled open the door, causing Jenkins to nearly lose his footing from where he stood. “Ah, Mr. Jenkins. Just leaning on the door, were you? Let me by, will you? I’ve got to see about dinner.”

  “Norris will see you out,” Jenkins said to Phillip and nodded to the young man.

  “I need to speak to the last staff members remaining on my list. Porter, Mrs. Everly’s maid.”

  “I know who Porter is,” Jenkins said, leaning toward him, spit flying from his mouth. “I told you there is no reason for you to speak to her, and she is out right now anyway. Now get out.”

  Phillip shook his head. “I’ll be back. I hope I don’t have to speak to Mr. Everly in order to speak to Porter, but I will.”

  Chapter 5

  Colleen pinned the last diamond-tipped comb into Virginia’s hair. If she was to face the gossips that evening, she fully intended to look her best. Her dress was a silk that looked both green and blue depending on the light and how she was standing. She tugged her matching elbow-length gloves and took one last look in the mirror. She would do. But she wished so very much to have an escort other than her father.

  “I’ll be in the servants’ area tonight, miss, but if there is anything you need, at any time . . .”

  She touched Colleen’s arm and smiled. “I’ll be fine, and I will ask for you if I need anything at all.”

 

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