Chapter 15

15

“Perhaps that one?”asked Poppy excitedly, pointing at a hat shop as Calliope and the girls strolled down Bond Street the next day.

The sound of hooves on cobblestones melded with the murmur of animated conversations as well-dressed gentlemen and ladies navigated the throng. Underfoot, the smooth stones felt oddly comforting, worn down by countless footsteps over the years.

Modistes showcased the latest fashions behind gleaming windowpanes, the delicate fabrics teasing the eye with splashes of vibrant colors and intricate patterns. The soft melody of a violinist seeking alms reached Calliope’s ears, competing with the low hum of nearby conversations. Every so often, the sweet scent of fresh bouquets from a florist’s stand broke through the more pervasive aroma of horse and leather.

Argos, Nathaniel’s giant black dog, tugged at the leash in Hazel’s hand, his nose quivering at the myriad scents—from the remnants of meat pies to the apparently enticing smell of other dogs. Every few steps, Argos would bark at a particularly flashy carriage or growl at another hound, his whole body a bundle of curious energy.

Remembering her first encounter with the canine, Calliope smirked. The name Argos, famously known as Odysseus’s loyal companion, seemed a bit too grand for such a mischievous creature, especially considering their less-than-auspicious introduction in the mews.

Calliope, just like her cat, was quite careful around the dog and wasn’t thrilled about taking him with them, but she understood the poor animal needed some air.

And how fun it was that, for the first time in her life, Calliope, as a married woman, could chaperone someone rather than being chaperoned. And, never having had sisters, she loved showing the girls around. Despite her general lack of interest in the social life of the ton, she was excited to help Hazel come out for her first Season. And the twins would surely come out in the next couple of years, as well.

All three girls were a delight to be with. They looked at all the shops and establishments with such wide eyes and enthusiasm that Calliope’s heart melted. They’d never had a mother to take them shopping, poor things.

As they stood in front of the hat shop, Poppy practically pressed herself against the window. “Ohh, that bonnet is so pretty, look!”

It was a pretty one, indeed. White, with adorable little roses of colors ranging from blush to peach to pink.

“Let’s go and get that one for you, then,” said Calliope.

The squeal poor Poppy gave made several people turn their heads, and Argos woofed questioningly.

“Calm down,” murmured Hazel.

“I prefer a book, anyway,” said Violet with a sideways glance at the bonnet, which was full of envy.

“I’ll get one for each of you,” said Calliope. “And some fitting ribbons, too.”

The smiles that bloomed on the girls’ faces broke her heart.

As Calliope opened the door of the shop and let the girls and Argos pass first, she threw a mindless glance at the street behind them. There was someone standing at the corner of the building watching her.

She frowned, blinking. No, that couldn’t be right. So that he didn’t notice her watching him, she pretended to drop something on the pavement and knelt, keeping the man in her side vision. He was dressed like a working-class man, perhaps a carriage driver or a milkman. Sturdy, patched brown breeches hugged his muscular legs, while a faded, ill-fitting waistcoat clung to his broad chest. His shirt was speckled with the dust and grime of a day’s work. A worn cap shaded his keen eyes, which darted around as if always alert to his surroundings.

But then he detached himself from the wall of the building, turned around, and disappeared behind the corner.

She must be imagining things, Calliope decided as she straightened back up. Nothing else was out of the ordinary on the street. People continued walking and talking, passing in and out of the doors of the shops.

When she entered the shop, the girls stood sheepishly waiting for her. She asked the milliner’s assistant to allow the girls to try the bonnets they liked.

While Poppy put on the white bonnet and Violet a light blue one with lace, Hazel stood with a grim face and didn’t move.

Calliope quickly scanned the street through the window to see if the man had returned. “Why don’t you try one, too, Hazel?” she asked.

Hazel’s eyes darted to a yellow bonnet, but she stubbornly lifted her chin. “Because I have everything I need. Besides, Nathaniel won’t like you buying them bonnets.”

“Nathaniel doesn’t know what it’s like in our places,” said Violet.

“He does, actually,” said Hazel. “Why do you think he comes back home with cuts and bruises?”

Calliope went to Violet, who stood in front of a small mirror struggling with the bonnet. Calliope corrected the position of the bonnet on her head, and it fit perfectly. She tied a bow under her chin. “Why does he, Hazel?”

Violet looked at Calliope from under her lashes. “I heard Joshua tell Mrs. Nicholson that’s how he earns money.”

“What? What does that mean?”

Violet shrugged. “That’s all we know.”

Calliope looked at Hazel, who avoided her gaze, darted towards the yellow bonnet, and busied herself with touching the ribbons, the lace, and the ornaments.

“Hazel?” Calliope asked again, approaching her. “What do you know?”

“I’m sure I don’t know anything,” said Hazel, her cheeks reddening but her neck still straight.

“He doesn’t say anything to us,” said Poppy sadly. “All I know is he’s doing more for us than he wants to admit. He got the dogs to protect us, although from what, I don’t know. He goes to the balls he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t come home for days. And when he does, he reeks of perfume and appears so exhausted he seems in need of a week’s rest. But then he can pay Mrs. Nicholson and Joshua and tells them to order meat and sugar and finally good tea. Sometimes he can buy us new books.”

“Poppy!” Hazel gasped.

“She should know, Hazel,” said Violet. “She’s his wife. Our new sister.”

“Those are always our favorite days, Calliope.” Poppy said as she turned this way and that, looking at herself in the mirror. “Because that’s when Violet can read us new stories.”

Calliope’s heart did that lurch again. Nathaniel bore the weight of the whole world on his shoulders, and yet she’d called him irresponsible. Guilt gnawed at her as she thought about the hurt she’d seen in his eyes. Calliope’s eyes blurred with tears, and she swallowed a sudden knot in her throat.

She wished he could accept that he didn’t need to bear that weight all alone. That she was there to help.

“You know what,” she said with a smile. “Let us get all those bonnets and go to a bookshop. And you can pick any books you like. And then we’ll go to Sumhall and raid the library. What do you say?”

The twins giggled and nodded. Violet clapped her hands together. Hazel bit her lip but nodded reluctantly. She couldn’t fool Calliope. Even though she refused a bonnet, her eyes glimmered at the mention of books.

And Calliope would still buy her the yellow bonnet.

After Calliope paid and the shop assistant packed the bonnets into three round boxes, they left, Argos loyally trotting by Hazel’s side. They were chatting and giggling as they walked towards Calliope’s favorite bookstore, which was just six shops down the street. Calliope glanced up and down the street to see if the man who had followed them was there…

And froze just for a moment as her glance grazed the man’s figure. He was leaning against a carriage, looking straight at her.

Fear burst through her, but she pasted the smile back onto her face, looking away, trying to make sure he didn’t think she’d noticed him. Walking down the street with the girls, she thought about what she could do now to protect herself and Nathaniel’s sisters. It was good, she supposed, that they had Argos. The beast looked dangerous enough to spook some villains—hopefully, including that one.

They could scream for help; there were many people around, enough that the man, perhaps, wouldn’t try anything.

But Calliope had to know what he intended.

As they walked, chatting about what books the girls wanted to read, Calliope covertly looked over her shoulder. The man was nowhere to be seen, only well-dressed ladies and gentlemen. She felt safe enough now. The bookstore she had in mind was situated in a narrow side street, and she and the girls turned there. It was much quieter. The brick walls of the buildings flanked both sides with paned windows decorated with red and pink geraniums, and there, about fifty feet away, was the sign of the bookstore.

“There it is,” said Calliope.

They had stridden a few paces farther when she heard footsteps behind them. She turned.

Ten feet behind her, the man from earlier followed them, staring right at her. A cold wave of fear crashed over her as she turned to look straight ahead again.

“Hazel,” she said as she leaned towards the girl, “in a moment, I want you to run down the street, calling for help. Reach the bookstore as fast as you can.”

Hazel’s eyes widened. “Why?”

Calliope swallowed. “I think there’s someone about to rob us.”

Hazel’s face lost all color. “Rob? Right here, next to Bond Street?”

Perhaps the man wanted to do much worse things than rob, but Calliope couldn’t say that to Hazel.

She looked over her shoulder again. The man was only five feet behind.

“Yes, dear, I’m afraid so,” Calliope replied.

She turned her head slightly and saw with her side vision that he was now only three feet behind.

“Now.”

Calliope stopped and turned completely around, facing the man, who widened his eyes, then threw his arm out towards her. With a small but powerful movement Spencer had taught her, one she had practiced with him countless times, she hit the man straight in the nose.

There was a crack of bone against her knuckle and a lightning bolt of pain through her hand. The man grunted.

She thought she’d hear the girls running away, yelling for help. Instead, there was a tremendous growl, and Argos flashed by Calliope in a huge leap of muscle and fur, his giant jaws clashing.

“Get him, Argos!” yelled Hazel.

The man had barely managed to recover from Calliope’s hit when Argos’s jaws came together on his ankle, and he yelled with such power that Calliope’s ears hurt. Still yelling, the man got out a knife and started to mindlessly stab at Argos. Calliope’s blood ran cold for the dog.

“Calliope!” called a tall, muscular figure at the entrance into the alleyway. “Girls!”

Calliope recognized the voice…Nathaniel. Her stomach flipped from the sudden joy of his presence and worry for him.

More people were coming into the alleyway. The man kept stabbing the air around the dog, but Argos had now let him go and was growling and barking at him, standing in a protective position.

As Nathaniel and the people behind him came closer, the man dashed in the opposite direction. Argos and Nathaniel raced past Calliope in pursuit.

“Are you all right?” asked Hazel as she came to Calliope. “How are your knuckles?”

Violet took Calliope’s hand in hers and removed her glove, staring at the reddened flesh with wonder. “You must be the most extraordinary woman ever.”