Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(73)

“I regret, sister, that I get to see your house in Temple Street in such circumstances.”

Lilly was panicking. She had visions of Mr. and Mrs. Davey and any of the children currently there being trapped inside the house.

“I-I am s-so scared, Nicholas.”

“I am here with you, Lilliana. We will face it together.”

“Quick, Lilly, Nelly says he'll take us there!”

Toby was hanging out the door of a hackney as they reached the road. Nelly, she gathered, was the driver, who gave her a toothless grin. The footman clambered up beside him. Nicholas threw her inside and followed, and the carriage started moving as he slammed the door.

“T-tell me what you know, Toby,” Lilly gasped, pressing her fingers to her side to stop the pain.

“Mr. Davey said it was nothing, but Mrs. Davey look scared so I came to get you. I saw the flames and the smoke was thick.”

“But everyone was all right?”

“Sam left for the country yesterday, so no one else was inside.”

“Lord I wish you had told me that before I ran to the carriage. Horrid visions were filling my head, Toby.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know how much damage has been done to the house, but I think everyone is safe.”

Lilly didn't know why, but she had a sinking feeling that the fire was to do with her visit to the Watch House and the kidnapping.

“I am slowly starting to piece together things that at the time did not seem right, but I ignored,” Nicholas said, giving Lilly a steady look as she battled the panic inside her. “Your shopping trips and visits to friends were, in fact, all to your house in Temple Street, weren't they?”

Lilly nodded.

“God, how could I have been so blind.”

Ignoring her brother's muttered words, Lilly was up and out the door as the carriage stopped.

“Looks all right,” Toby said, opening the front door.

The smell of smoke still lingered in the air as they made their way through the house. The small front parlor appeared untouched, as did Mr. and Mrs. Davey's bedroom.

Nicholas followed them silently as they checked the lower floor, and then Toby led the way down the stairs to the kitchens, and Lilly heard the murmur of voices. She found Mrs. Davey with her arms in a tub of soapy water and Mr. Davey with several boards in his hand.

“Is everyone all right?”

“Of course we're all right,” Mrs. Davey said, quickly drying her hands and reaching for the kettle to heat water. Tea was always called for when anyone arrived at Temple Street.

“Where was the fire?”

“Now then, boy, you should not have disturbed Miss Braithwaite,” Mr. Davey said to Toby. “There is no need to worry yourself; it was just a small fire by the back door in a box of old rags we kept outside. The problem was it got hold of the wood I had piled outside and the flames were high enough to cause a few murmurings in the street. If we'd not been here, the damage would have been substantial, to be sure, but we were, so no harm done. If I'd known the boy was running for you, I would have stopped him.”

“I thought she should know,” Toby said, shrugging as he leaped onto the bench and took the large piece of jam and bread Mrs. Davey handed him.

“Where are your manners, Miss Braithwaite?” Mrs. Davey said, looking over Lilly's shoulder to where Nicholas stood.

“This is my brother, Lord Braithwaite. Nicholas, this is Mr. and Mrs. Davey. They look after the children and run Temple Street. It is their home.”

Lilly watched as Nicholas shook Mr. Davey's hand and bowed to Mrs. Davey. Both looked him up and down, neither looking particularly happy to have him in their home. Lilly had never willingly spoken about her family with them. However she guessed her maid and Wilson had, and none of what they had imparted had been complimentary.

“It seems my reputation has preceded me,” Nicholas said, shooting Lilly a look, to which she shrugged. “However, will you believe me when I say I have seen the error of my ways, hence my appearance here before you in the company of my sister?”

There was silence in the small kitchen and then Mr. Davey nodded. “Well then, that's as it should be, I'm thinking.”

“I wonder if you would be so kind as to take me on a tour of your lovely home, Mr. Davey?” Nicholas added, surprising Lilly. She was happy for him to do just that now she knew no one was in danger.

“Indeed, I would be honored, my lord.”

“Can you show me where the fire started, Mrs. Davey?” Lilly said after they had departed.

“Of course, please follow me.”

Her heart had resumed its normal beat as they walked outside. The weather had grown colder on the drive, and a brisk wind had risen.

“I'll fetch you a shawl, miss,” Mrs. Davey said.

“I shall be all right for a few minutes until I come back inside,” Lilly said, moving to the box Mrs. Davey pointed to.

“That is the box it started in.”

Lilly studied the area. It was small, with only a tiny patch of grass, a shed, and several chairs. There was a gate at the rear of the property and it would not be hard for a person to slip down the narrow lane and inside to light the fire. Was she being overly suspicious? Walking around the box, she looked at it from all angles.

“How do you think it started, Mrs. Davey?”