Aftermath (14)

A taste for being disconcerting

Nat had dressed in a good sober style and ensured that he was close-shaved, afore stepping out of where he was keeping his residence this present week. Beckoned to Patsy, that was a good sound watchful fellow that would not make himself obvious following Nat into Covent Garden and keeping an eye out.

The streets and alleyways of his manor was in excellent good order – dared say did not look that way to the swells that came here o’nights supposing they was seeing life, but Nat knew what was the normal hurly-burly, and what portended trouble. And there was no sign of the latter. Apparently idling at corners and crossings, various of his boys to watch over and ensure matters did not get out of hand. To observe what dingers were busy in the crowd. To intervene did any fellow show rough to a woman. And was there a woman walking the street without she had made herself known to Lil and Joan, to go make the introduction so that she understood the ways of the place.

There was forelocks tugged and caps lifted and women making little dips as signs of respect as Nat walked by.

Passed Grigori’s pawnshop, that was doing fine business with swells these days.

And then across that invisible boundary.

Nodded to the peeler on duty that he passed. They had an arrangement. Kept their business within their bounds, and occasional gave up to him one or another miscreant that they wished be rid of, very agreeable to all parties.

Showed generous to the beggars and crossing-sweepers he passed: sure they knew who he was, and was ever possible one day they might have useful intelligence and consider he would demonstrate suitable gratitude.

But here he was, at that discreet side alley where Marie Allard resided, some distance from where she earned her living.

He rapped on the door with his stick – having seen Patsy find a suitable place of concealment to watch from – and it was opened to him by Marie’s very proper-looking little maid, that showed him into her parlour.

Marie Allard put down the book she was reading and rose to greet Nat, taking both his hands and kissing him on the cheek. Those Allards! Marie, just like Maurie, had a taste for being disconcerting. Her little dog Pompey roused a little from his place on the rug, and let out a yap, but Marie looked down and said, shhh, friend! She stood back a little and grinned, saying she was quite infinite grateful for his good offices when that fellow Schmidt had shown so shocking encroaching into her business.

Why, was grateful to hear that he was meddling around these these parts – I daresay you have heard that is in no condition to trouble you further, said Nat, handing his stick and hat to the maid, did away with himself when things fell out 'twixt him and his Yankee confederate.

Marie lifted her eyebrows at that – he dared say she had some apprehension of the truth in the matter! – and said, poor fellow, one must hope he is now in a better place, but fear he finds himself in a warmer one.

She waved Nat into a very comfortable easy chair – sure this place was very well and elegantly appointed! whipping gentlemen must pay well! – and offered that he might care for a glass of wine?

Nat conceded that a glass of wine would come welcome, and she went to the sideboard and brought over a tray with decanter and glasses – very elegant! – and poured, and let him choose which glass, and took the first sip herself –

Well, this was fine stuff! quite as good as any he had tasted when dining with Dumaine. He took the thought that 'twould be civil to enquire after Marie’s family, so remarked that had not seen Maurie lately, supposed 'twas the usual wonted bustle of the Season – Marie grinned and nodded and said that did not fall from favour! – and asked how her mother and Miss Hortense did?

Marie smiled a little wistful and said, doubted their mother would ever come round to being completely well, but the sight of the sea soothed her mind quite wonderful – would sit and watch it for hours in all weathers. And Hortense quite flourished and was well-respected by the women in the house.

Nat said, would wish to show generous to the good cause and drew out a small purse of sovereigns to hand to her.

Marie said that was above and beyond generous in him, and had no doubt he did the same office for his sister Doll at the Red House – he nodded, though, he added, cannot get out to visit her as much as I should like.

You’ve ever been a good brother to her.

Nat twitched his shoulder and said, they were all each other had –

Marie leant over and patted him on the shoulder, then poured him some more wine. Added that they would be dining shortly, hoped the fare would be to his taste.

Indeed it was, very fine fare was served up, quite as good as anything when he had dined with Dumaine. Remarked that she did herself well –

She smirked and said, had to keep her strength up! – and sure, one could see she looked strong and well, that was not the usual fate of one that had been walking the streets of Seven Dials as young as Marie had. Well, things had pulled round for the Allards – that drunken brute their father dying in a gutter – and even before then their connexions the Laceys had got Maurie into a respectable apprenticeship – and he had found safer other work at that club for gentlemen – but had not forgot old acquaintance –

Marie poured him a glass of brandy, and said, heard he had got rid of that pretty little serpent, Franzie?

He sighed, and nodded, and said, had to be done – some thought mayhap he should have been severer –

Marie wrinkled her nose and said, sounded as if there was a sharp lesson taught!

– but for all her annoying ways, had give him a deal of pleasure, and now there was mots looking to put themselves in his way –

Marie sniggered a little. 'Tis to be expected, she said, refilling his glass.

– sure 'twas a troublement – a fellow got to a time of life when he was more minded for regular ways –

Marie raised her eyebrows. La, she said, do you take a mind to marriage?

Nat narrowed his eyes. Eh, was Maurie about telling you of that time?

That time? What, Nat, never tell me that you was inclined to matrimony.

Well, he was reassured of Maurie’s discretion! But now he had blabbed, supposed might as well disclose the whole to Marie.

That quite spluttered with laughter and said, Bet? Bet Bloggs, that is now Leda – Larry – living positive respectable – oh, Nat, you would have caught a Tartar there!

I see that now, he grumbled, and that I would have done better to put her in Laffen’s place when he died – but a skinny little mot – barely come into womanhood – who’d’ve thought?

Marie leaned back in her chair. But sure she would have been able to take care of herself, she remarked with a considering frown. Could not see it being the like of those tales in the penny parts when somebody kidnaps the highwayman’s sweetheart to lure him into a trap –

Nat could see the humour in that – Bet – Leda’s – clever fingers would have her out very quickly, not a lock that could hold her!

–  except, she is not the style of doxy you usually favour –

Quite so, Nat agreed.

– aside from her being a tommie –

What?

Marie shrugged. So I fathom it.

Nat sat digesting that for a while, and then his mind strayed to the mots about his manor, and none of 'em appealed to him for more than a fuck or so –

Except –

Had lately gone visit that very fine Polish engraver that had took under his protection, an entire artist whose services were most greatly in demand, about certain commissions, and upon entering his studio had found it a deal more orderly than it was wont to be.

Kaminski looked up from his desk, and made most exceeding civil, and was also looking a deal tidier in his person than was usual –

Then came forth from the next room a plump young woman in dark clothing, that made him a very proper bob, as the engraver said proudly that here was his niece Ludmilla, had been living in Stepney with her parents that had lately died, came live with him to keep house and take some of the cares of business off his shoulders.

Ludmilla said she appreciated all that Mr Barron did to look after her uncle’s interests, with another bob, and would he care for a glass of tea?

Nat said that would come agreeable, and sat down, and in due course came to business, that was firstly, that fellow in Holywell Street that produced high-class items for the quality, none of your commonplace smut, had a notion for a Great Exhibition Catalogue of salacity, begging Miss Kaminski’s pardon, that responded that did not have to treat her like a schoolgirl; and secondly, Ezra Cohen had a connexion at Limehouse that, hearing of that business at Brick Lane Goods Yard, took the thought that there was similar possibilities about the docks.

Miss Kaminski was sure no schoolgirl! asked very sharp questions in her soft voice with but a trace of accent, as her uncle looked on quite doating.

Had come away very pleased with the morning’s work and prepossessed with her care of her relative –

And it now dawned that she was also a cozy armful of womanhood, pleasing respectful without being obsequious.

La, said Marie, you are cast into deep thought!

Why, that was quite the shock about Bet! 'Tis no wonder was not inclined to matrimony.

Marie smirked and said, fancied a deal of married ladies snuggled a lady sweetheart on the sly!

Nat grinned and said, was their husbands out getting their arses whipped by the likes of Marie, one could not wonder!

Or, said Marie, going off to that club of Maurie’s to ogle other gentlemen’s arses!

They shook their heads over the goings-on of the Quality.

Shortly afterwards Nat took his leave, saying it had been more than civil for Marie to dine him in such style –

Fie, we are old friends and can still do one another a favour or two!

That was so.

When he got back to his present residence he found Jem in a considerable agitation.

They have took that fellow that has been driving off the badger-diggers dressed up like a wild man – have put him in the securest cellar –

Nat clapped him on the shoulder and said, Good work. No harm in letting the fellow cool his heels there a while – mayhap set Donny’s Growler –

Already done, said Jem.

Only, shall want you and Thad to come with me the morn to this introduction Ezra Cohen makes with Abe Anglesmith from Limehouse – cannot be dealing with this fellow immediate –

Jem nodded.

Nat, feeling exceedingly gratified, made his way to bed.