Page 117 of When We Touch

“Do come in, Mona. We’ve a very small parlor, but I’ve been assured, size means nothing.”

They walked into the parlor, and Maggie’s jaw nearly dropped. Arianna was indeed there, sitting in a chair at a round table set before the hearth.

Jeremiah Heath might be late, but his “controls” were awaiting his appearance. There were three young men surrounding Arianna, one directly behind her, and one on either side. They were neatly dressed, but still had the hardened appearance of street toughs.

Arianna looked exceptionally drained, thin, and white. She offered a weak smile when they walked into the room. She was clad in something like a white robe, and her black hair streamed down her back.

Maggie knew, at that moment, that Adrian Alexander was indeed making his way back into his game. Arianna had taken the place of his “Jane,” still rotting at Newgate, if news reports were to be believed.

“This lovely dear little thing is Ally,” Mrs. Hennesy said, introducing the new arrivals. “Ally, Mona and Sissy. Dear Mona has lost her husband—”

“Yes, her husband, Frank,” Arianna said. She appeared almost to be drugged. Her voice was listless, yet the intonation was right. It was as if she had become a trained seal.

Cecilia nudged Maggie. “Frank, yes! Dear, my husband was Frank!” she said. An idiot could deduce that John might well have told her the name. But people who wanted to believe would be in awe that the stranger had known the name. They wouldn’t bother thinking.

“Ah, here’s my husband, George!” Mrs. Hennesy said.

A portly man of stocky build had come in. He kissed his wife on the cheek and apologized. “There’s more mayhem out there tonight.”

“Another murder,” Arianna said.

“Another poor unfortunate!” George agreed. “Perhaps a different killer, though. Of course, the talk in the street is wild, but they’re saying as this one wasn’t chopped up. Lord, forgive me, ladies. I don’t mean to speak so crassly.”

“Another murder!” Cecilia exclaimed. She stared at Maggie with real alarm and discomfort.

“Now, now, a woman like you will certainly be fine.”

“Of course.” Cecilia let her hand flutter to her throat. “My—my husband will be right along as well.”

“It’s the same murderer,” Arianna said dully.

They all stared at her.

“Well . . . I’ve bit of brandy. Perhaps we all need a swallow,” Mrs. Hennesy said.

The toughs standing behind Arianna heard the word brandy. She smiled. “You dear young men! You are most certainly welcome to a wee sip, as well. Come along!”

The house was small and poor, but they were heading for the kitchen. Cecilia went to slip her arm through Maggie’s, but Maggie quickly shook her head. “Go!” she mouthed.

Cecilia looked worried, but did so. Maggie hurried over to the table, taking a chair by Arianna.

“You have to come with me!” she urged the girl. “You are with an evil man, and you must come away.”

Arianna turned her dazed look on Maggie, and stared at her for several long minutes. Then she gasped, and clapped her own hand over her mouth. “You’ve got to get out of here!” Arianna told Maggie. “You’re the one who doesn’t understand. He’ll kill you. They kill anyone who crosses them. They kill for sport, for fun, for a few shillings.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll get out! You must come with me.”

Maggie was startled to see a glaze of tears coming to Arianna’s eyes. “No! You say a word, I make a move . . . they’ll kill me. If he even hears who I am . . . that there’s anyone out there who might care for me . . . I’m dead. Please, Maggie, I’m begging you . . . we’ll both be dead. Do nothing, nothing!”

She heard the slight swishing sound of fabric. “There you are, Mona!”

It was Mrs. Hennesy, bringing a bit of her special brandy to Maggie. “This is special, we’ve saved it, but . . .”

“We intend to help with Jeremiah’s fee, of course!” Maggie said, flashing a smile to John, who had returned to the room, and taken up a position behind Arianna once again. “And I know already that he will be worth it! This sweet young Ally believes that my Frank is near!”

“Ally is priceless!” Mrs. Hennesy assured her.

They all turned as the door opened. Maggie held her breath, frozen, waiting.