Then he gave me an encouraging smile and closed the door behind him. I sat at the vanity, looking at my reflection in the mirror and trying not to feel annoyed. I suppose he genuinely thought he was doing me a kindness by bringing his mother down to look after me, but I took it to mean that he wanted me out of Sid and Gus’s clutches as soon as possible. I finished my toilette and went downstairs, easing myself down step by step, as walking was still painful. I came into the drawing room to find Sid on the floor, creeping around on all fours and growling as she chased a delighted Liam.
“I’m a bear,” she said, looking up as I came in. “A very fierce bear.” And she growled again, making Liam shriek, half in delight and half in terror.
“Don’t be too realistic,” I said. “I don’t want him having nightmares.”
“He likes it,” she said, standing up and brushing off the dust from her black silk trousers. “It’s good for children to be scared from time to time. How about some luncheon—the delicatessen had a fine-looking ham this morning, and we’ve tomatoes as an extra treat?”
“Oh, that’s nice,” I said. Having grown up without ever meeting a tomato, I still hadn’t really developed a taste for them, but I did know they were a luxury item, and there was a hot debate going on as to whether they were a fruit or a vegetable.
“And you’d like some lunch, wouldn’t you, young man?” Sid swept up Liam and carried him through to the kitchen. It had rained during the night, leaving the air bright and fresh with just a hint of fall about it. The windows of the conservatory behind the kitchen had been opened, letting in a refreshing breeze. I sat Liam on my knee and fed him soup and mashed potato, both of which he ate with relish in spite of the garlic I could taste in the former. Clearly he’d grow up to be a young man of cosmopolitan taste.
“Do I gather that Daniel was annoyed I had been to your apartment?” Sid asked as she bustled about the kitchen, retrieving items from the meat safe. “He certainly seemed put out when I told him.”
“He wasn’t angry with you. He was frightened. He thought someone might have come to kidnap me,” I said.
“He seems obsessed with your being kidnapped, Molly.” Sid undid wax paper and laid slices of ham on a plate as she spoke. “Does he have reason to fear for your safety? Are you keeping something from me?”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I had promised Daniel that I wouldn’t mention his investigation. I managed a bright smile as she brought the plate across to the table. “I’m afraid Daniel is overreacting at the moment. I think my being involved in the train crash yesterday has really unnerved him, especially after what happened to us earlier this year.”
“I can certainly understand that.” Sid put a plate of spring onions and tomatoes next to the ham. “But this Italian gang is no longer making threats to you personally, is it?”
“No. That’s all settled,” I could say with honesty. “The moment all charges were dropped against their leader a sort of truce was established. I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to subdue them completely, with new Italian immigrants pouring into the city all the time. Daniel thinks that we’ll have to learn to live with them.”
“I’m glad I’m not in his position,” Sid said. “Wanting to do the right thing but always having to compromise. It can’t be easy.”
“No,” I said. “His mother wants him to leave the police and go into politics.”
“Senator Sullivan. It has a certain ring to it, and he’d garner the Irish vote,” Sid said with a smile.
“Oh, and speaking of Daniel’s mother,” I went on, as I reached to put a slice of apple in front of Liam. “Daniel dropped another little bombshell as he was leaving. He’s been to Sloane’s and ordered a couple of beds so that his mother can come to stay immediately and help me hire another maid.”
“Perfectly sensible, given the circumstances,” Sid said.
“Whose side are you on?” I demanded.
“Nobody’s side, just seeing Daniel’s rationale in doing this. He knows you aren’t in any fit state to go to Sloane’s and buy beds yourself, so he’s saving you the trouble. And it would also make sense to have your mother-in-law around for a while as you get the house up and working again. You can’t go shopping at a department store with a wriggling baby on your hip. And we might not always be available to babysit. Gus has been asked to give a lecture on Professor Freud’s interpretation of dreams and the latest research in Vienna, so she’ll need to prepare for it.”