Chapter 3

White Church House, White Church Lane, Whitechapel, London

Early September

“Please, Miss Woodville. Play us another song.”

“Yes do. Please do,” chimed in a chorus of young voices.

Kate smiled at the small boy who had made the first request. “What do you suggest, Peter?”

Peter gave her a wide grin, his tongue poking through the prominent gap where his two top front teeth should be. “How about I’m Jolly Dick the Lamplighter, miss? It’s right funny.”

Kate laughed. “Indeed it is, Peter. Mind you,” she added, glancing at all the eager young faces before her, ranging in age from four to twelve years old, “you must all sing along, too, if you know the words.”

A dozen heads nodded their agreement so she turned back to the pianoforte and placed her fingers on the old yellow keys she knew so well. Every week on her free afternoon, she would come to conduct a music lesson with the children who boarded here with their destitute mothers. White Church House was run by the adjacent church of St. Mary’s Matfelon, and whilst the women—widows and unwed mothers of little means—were at work during the day, the children received a few lessons from a teacher whose wage was paid for by the local parish and The Benevolent Society for the Women of Whitechapel. However, lessons of a specialist nature, such as art, music, and French, were conducted by teachers who donated their time freely. Kate always finished up her lesson by giving the children an opportunity to choose the songs they wanted to sing or listen to as a reward for good behavior.

Kate had only just finished playing the rousing introduction when the door to the small common room of the lodging house flew open to reveal a beaming Violet Lockhart, resplendent in a lavender blue walking gown and matching bonnet. Behind her trailed a maid and a footman, each bearing a basket practically overflowing with oranges, apples, and packages of sweetmeats and shortbread biscuits. The children’s mouths all fell open in shock. As did Kate’s.

“Surprise, dear children,” Violet exclaimed, and clapped her gloved hands together. “I’ve brought gifts for you all.” She looked at Kate and added, “I hope you don’t mind me interrupting, Miss Woodville. The proprietress—Mrs. Collins, is it?—she said you wouldn’t.”

Kate rose from the piano stool. “Not at all. Your generosity is most appreciated, Miss Lockhart. Children.” She caught their attention as they still sat wide-eyed and mute on the worn rug before the pianoforte; she suspected they’d never seen anything quite like this in their lives. “Say thank you to Miss Lockhart.”

Thanks were dutifully voiced in the sing-song fashion peculiar to school children, and then Peter asked, “Is it St. Stephen’s Day, milady?”

“Oh, bless you, dear boy. Christmas is quite a way off yet.” Violet waved her footman and maid into the room, and they deposited the baskets on an old deal table to one side. “I simply thought it might be nice to organize a surprise. Just for fun.”

“Are you an angel?” whispered Ruth, Peter’s younger sister.

Violet laughed. “Oh, heavens, no. I’m just a friend of Miss Woodville. Actually, she used to be my teacher, too. Isn’t she wonderful?”

Everyone nodded, and Kate felt herself blush. To alleviate her self-consciousness, she gestured toward the baskets. “Perhaps your maid and footman could hand out an orange to each child for now, Miss Lockhart. Everyone will get stomach aches if they eat all of those treats at once. I’ll have Mrs. Collins distribute the rest later.”

“Very wise,” agreed Violet before adding, “Might I have a quick word, Miss Woodville?”

“Yes, certainly.”

Kate followed Violet out into the dimly-lit narrow corridor outside the common room. She was genuinely puzzled by the young woman’s sudden interest in philanthropy. She’d never seemed interested before.

“Is Freddie here?” she whispered as soon as the door shut behind them.

Kate frowned. It all became clear. “Why would you think that? Or ask it?”

Violet blushed. “Oh, no particular reason. I know he’s no longer with his regiment, so I’d assumed he might accompany you about town from time to time…” She bit her lip.

At that moment, the back door that led to the small courtyard at the rear of the lodging house swung open, and Freddie appeared on the threshold. “Ah, there you are, Katie. All done for the day? I’ve just finished repairing that kitchen window—” He broke off and smiled when he saw her conversational partner. “Miss Lockhart. What a pleasant surprise.”

Kate scowled at him as he approached. “Freddie, please don’t treat me like a fool. It’s quite obvious. You two have engineered this charity visit of Miss Lockhart’s, haven’t you?”

Violet’s blush deepened, but Kate wasn’t sure if it was because she’d been caught out or that Freddie was sans coat and waistcoat with his sleeves rolled up so that his well-muscled forearms were exposed. “I’m sorry I’m late, Freddie,” she said in an oddly husky voice. “It was difficult to arrange… things.”

“By things, I gather you mean not alerting your brother to the fact you are arranging clandestine assignations with Freddie.” Kate rounded on her brother before Violet could respond. “Is this the first time you’ve met like this? Never mind. It will be the last. I’ll not risk having Lord Stanton’s ire crashing down on us. A man like him could ruin us, Freddie. If he finds out you are secretly courting his sister, he will call you out. Or worse. I’m sure of it.”

“Now, now, Katie. Violet and I are being very careful.”

“Careful? I’ve worked out what you’re both up to within the blink of an eye. And Lord Stanton does not strike me as a fool, either. You two must stop seeing each other. At once. No good can come of this.”

“I won’t have anyone tell me what I can and cannot do, Katie,” said Freddie, his forehead creasing into a deep frown. “Including you.”

“Oh, Freddie.” To Kate’s consternation, her voice caught. “I cannot risk losing you again. Certainly not over something so trifling as an affair.”

“Trifling? What I feel for Miss Lockhart is not trifling,” growled Freddie. “And it’s not just an affair.”

“But you only met a week ago.”

“I think at this point, the less you know, the better, Katie.”

Violet touched her arm. “I know this is awfully sudden, but please don’t doubt us or the affection we feel for each other. I hope that, with time, Anthony will come to see that Freddie would be perfect for me and that he will permit him to openly court me. I know my brother seems unreasonable and unsympathetic, but he does want me to be happy. Please don’t give us away.”

Kate drew a deep breath in an attempt to control the wild fear careening around inside her. What were they thinking? She didn’t want to be a party to this subterfuge, but in the end, she really had no power over what her brother chose to do. All she could do was to try and keep him safe. “All right,” she said on a shaky exhale. “I won’t breathe a word to anyone. Only please do not prevail on me to help you out when you conduct any more of your secret rendezvous.”

Violet hugged her. “Thank you, Kate. May I call you, Kate?” She drew back. “And I insist you call me Violet.”

Kate nodded. “Yes, you may use my first name. And I shall do the same.”

“Thank you, Katie.” Freddie enveloped her in a tight hug. “It will all work out. Don’t worry so much.”

“I’ll try.” She blew out a sigh. “I feel like I should stay and act as a chaperone but I must get back to my pupils.”

“Upon my honor, I will be nothing but a perfect gentleman.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “Of course, you will. Because if you don’t, you will have me to answer to, dear brother.”

She turned to open the door, but Violet stayed her hand. “Kate, I almost forgot to mention that there was another reason for me dropping by this afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon, there is to be a meeting at Miss Clemens’s Book Palace, and I thought you might be interested in attending.”

“How so?”

“Apparently the Duchess of Haverford, who is a great patroness of charitable causes, will be holding a house party and subscription charity ball over Yuletide at her country estate, Hollystone Hall in Buckinghamshire. The meeting is open to any interested parties. And as you are doing such wonderful things here,” Violet made a sweeping gesture, indicating their surroundings, “I rather thought you might like to attend to advocate for a charity that is obviously close to your heart. If you could gain the backing of a wealthy patroness like the duchess, just think what you could achieve.”

Kate smiled. “I have indeed heard of Her Grace. And I do believe that she has been a very generous patroness of Mrs. Brooke’s Ladies’ Academy in the past. I have also heard that she is a most forthright and forward-thinking noblewoman and a great supporter of advancing the education of all women, regardless of their backgrounds.”

“Yes, indeed.” Violet released her hand. “I should let you go, but I look forward to seeing you at the book shop tomorrow.”

“Oh. You plan on attending the meeting, too?”

Violet’s gaze flickered to Freddie before returning to her face. “Yes. Now that I have made my debut, I should like to become useful. I certainly do not wish to be the sort of woman who only worries about the contents of her wardrobe or which events she has been invited to.”

“Violet Lockhart, you have grown into a remarkable young lady. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, too.”

As the door to the common room closed behind her, Kate strongly suspected she would see her brother at Miss Clemens’s Book Palace as well.