and since the Queen is so in love with the place, there’s more nobs than ever taking the waters. We reckon we could clean up. Big fish in a small pond, me and Sam. So we’ll help. But with our heads down on this one, Mother. And you must all tread so carefully. And remember’ – he nodded at Cato – ‘you’ll not forget you’re known to that woman too.’
‘Miss Walker never looked at me for more than half an instant!’ Cato said. He was thinking that as Jack and Sam were backing out, there’d be a chance for him to take a lead in planning and make a role for himself that didn ’t involve being sold or bought or waiting on others.
‘So you have made your decision already then – it’s to be the Stapletons?’ asked Sam.
Mother Hopkins nodded. ‘One more thing, chickens,’ she said. ‘Not a word more to Ez and Sally in the bar. They know better than to ask questions, and you all should know just as well to keep your mouths shut and your tongues still. This is not their business and I would not have them without work when we leave.’
‘Of course not, Ma,’ Jack said, and the others agreed. ‘And we’re off to the Garden to work!’
‘You will be careful, won’t you, Mother?’ Sam asked before he followed Jack out.
Mother Hopkins smiled at him, her face rosy in the glow of the fire. ‘Oh, we’ll be more than careful, Sam, you know me. I never intend setting foot in Newgate or any other place like it as long as I live and breathe.’
C HAPTER F IVE
The Web Begun
IN THE FRONT bar of The Vipers, Ezra Spinoza poured the ale into Jack’s own pewter tankard. Jack nodded his thanks and turned to Cato.
‘If that bloody Ivanski gets any nearer to my Bella, I’ll knock his block off and send it back to Russia in a box!’ He slumped forward on the polished wooden bar of The Vipers next to Cato. ‘Bella is mine and no one seems to have told him. Go on, ask anyone, ask ’em! I’m her true love and everyone knows it!’ He downed his ale. ‘I’ve loved her ever since I was younger than you and with no home of my own. Before Mother took me in! Before I knew how to love, I loved her!’ Jack’s grey eyes clouded over. ‘Bella kissed me, told me I was the one for her – we were barely fourteen but I knew she was my . . . my destiny.’
Cato couldn’t help laughing. ‘That is ale talking, Jack!’ he said. ‘She is Arabella Hopkins! And I know she is soft on you, but how many times has she been married off to others?’
‘That was just work!’ Jack protested. ‘She’ll be wed to me as soon as I can scrape enough cash together.’
‘Then don’t look at her now, Jack!’
‘I can’t help it. It’s like one of them itches you have to scratch. I know she’s there, I know she’s smilin’ at him an’ battin’ her lashes at him, doing the cow eyes just the way she does for me.’
‘Come on, Jack. Come upstairs and forget her. Ez’ll keep an eye on them, won’t you?’
The big man nodded.
Jack sighed. ‘I wish it were that easy. Love, Cato, is a bad mistress.’ He looked once more at Bella simpering at the young man and Cato couldn’t help but look too.
‘You know she has to get the accent right,’ Cato said. ‘And Mother Hopkins couldn’t find any other Russians in a hurry. I suggested it – he keeps that poor bear in a stable over Southwark.’
‘I bet I could have found an uglier one down in Deptford,’ moaned Jack. ‘A real ugly swine with no teeth and tattoos the colour of oranges going mouldy up his arms. I mean, look at your man there!’
Cato looked. The Russian was taller than Jack, and although no better looking – the Russian was fairer with clear blue eyes – he was obviously well-off. He was dressed in a fine sheepskin jacket and good leather boots. And it was obvious, even to Cato, that Bella was enjoying her work a little too much.
There was a sudden blast of cold air from the street outside and Addy stood in the doorway carrying a bundle of
‘Miss Walker never looked at me for more than half an instant!’ Cato said. He was thinking that as Jack and Sam were backing out, there’d be a chance for him to take a lead in planning and make a role for himself that didn ’t involve being sold or bought or waiting on others.
‘So you have made your decision already then – it’s to be the Stapletons?’ asked Sam.
Mother Hopkins nodded. ‘One more thing, chickens,’ she said. ‘Not a word more to Ez and Sally in the bar. They know better than to ask questions, and you all should know just as well to keep your mouths shut and your tongues still. This is not their business and I would not have them without work when we leave.’
‘Of course not, Ma,’ Jack said, and the others agreed. ‘And we’re off to the Garden to work!’
‘You will be careful, won’t you, Mother?’ Sam asked before he followed Jack out.
Mother Hopkins smiled at him, her face rosy in the glow of the fire. ‘Oh, we’ll be more than careful, Sam, you know me. I never intend setting foot in Newgate or any other place like it as long as I live and breathe.’
C HAPTER F IVE
The Web Begun
IN THE FRONT bar of The Vipers, Ezra Spinoza poured the ale into Jack’s own pewter tankard. Jack nodded his thanks and turned to Cato.
‘If that bloody Ivanski gets any nearer to my Bella, I’ll knock his block off and send it back to Russia in a box!’ He slumped forward on the polished wooden bar of The Vipers next to Cato. ‘Bella is mine and no one seems to have told him. Go on, ask anyone, ask ’em! I’m her true love and everyone knows it!’ He downed his ale. ‘I’ve loved her ever since I was younger than you and with no home of my own. Before Mother took me in! Before I knew how to love, I loved her!’ Jack’s grey eyes clouded over. ‘Bella kissed me, told me I was the one for her – we were barely fourteen but I knew she was my . . . my destiny.’
Cato couldn’t help laughing. ‘That is ale talking, Jack!’ he said. ‘She is Arabella Hopkins! And I know she is soft on you, but how many times has she been married off to others?’
‘That was just work!’ Jack protested. ‘She’ll be wed to me as soon as I can scrape enough cash together.’
‘Then don’t look at her now, Jack!’
‘I can’t help it. It’s like one of them itches you have to scratch. I know she’s there, I know she’s smilin’ at him an’ battin’ her lashes at him, doing the cow eyes just the way she does for me.’
‘Come on, Jack. Come upstairs and forget her. Ez’ll keep an eye on them, won’t you?’
The big man nodded.
Jack sighed. ‘I wish it were that easy. Love, Cato, is a bad mistress.’ He looked once more at Bella simpering at the young man and Cato couldn’t help but look too.
‘You know she has to get the accent right,’ Cato said. ‘And Mother Hopkins couldn’t find any other Russians in a hurry. I suggested it – he keeps that poor bear in a stable over Southwark.’
‘I bet I could have found an uglier one down in Deptford,’ moaned Jack. ‘A real ugly swine with no teeth and tattoos the colour of oranges going mouldy up his arms. I mean, look at your man there!’
Cato looked. The Russian was taller than Jack, and although no better looking – the Russian was fairer with clear blue eyes – he was obviously well-off. He was dressed in a fine sheepskin jacket and good leather boots. And it was obvious, even to Cato, that Bella was enjoying her work a little too much.
There was a sudden blast of cold air from the street outside and Addy stood in the doorway carrying a bundle of
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