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“Personal business.”

“Not good enough, Lady Elizabeth.”

We had left the slums, and Jeeves followed faithfully behind. Jeeves was listening to everything said, and I noticed he still held the knife, ready for if the need arose. I saw a hansom cab and stepped onto the road to hail it.

The driver stopped, and I helped Elizabeth and Jeeves into the carriage. I climbed in and told the driver to my address. Elizabeth gazed at me as if judging how much to divulge. Sternly, I gazed back, and finally, Elizabeth saw that there was nothing to do but explain the whole story.

“This concerns my maid, Lilly. Her mother lives there. Lilly departed my employ recently without notice. Just packed a few clothes and left. A few days ago, my cook saw Lilly around this area and informed me. Cook knew I was concerned, and Jeeves had been searching for Lilly. Cook, Mrs Bains, approached Lilly, and Lilly told her she was looking after her mother, who was sick, but Mrs Bains thought she was lying.”

“This is all very interesting; however, why are you here?”

“Well, Lilly had been with me for years, we were children together. Lilly would’ve informed me if her mother was ill. It made no sense for Lilly to just leave without saying anything. Jeeves and I began searching and discovered her two nights ago.”

Elisabeth sighed, and her face fell into sadness.

“Lilly has had a baby. That is why she couldn’t remain. The disgrace.”

“What about the father?”

“Lilly doesn’t know who he is. She says she was attacked, and I believe her. But Mother wouldn’t allow an unmarried mother in the house, and Lilly fled. Lilly planned to return with someexcuse but without the baby. Mother would not have taken Lilly back into service, but Lilly is not thinking straight. I’ve been taking Lilly’s clothes and money while we try to sort this mess out. Lilly cannot give the child up even though it was a result of violence, and she loves it dearly.”

The cab pulled up outside my home. Leaping lightly into the street, I looked around and saw it was deserted. Checking my surroundings, I helped Elizabeth down and led her inside. Jeeves followed dubiously.

“Why are we here?” Elisabeth finally realised she was not home.

“Jeeves can run to your house and fetch you some fresh clothing and you’ll change here. Then, you can enter through the front door with the excuse that you went for a walk with Jeeves. While walking, you met me, and I escorted you back.”

“That is not acceptable behaviour.”

“It’s somewhat preferable to wandering through the slums. Perhaps a tad more defendable than sneaking through the servant’s entrance. Word of that event would eventually reach your mother’s ears. I believe Lady Barrington is distressed enough without hearing of your late-night exploits. Plus, we must address the attack.”

Elizabeth paled, and I saw she had managed to put that out of her mind.

Remarkably, I realised Elizabeth intended to go back despite the fact she could’ve died tonight.

Jeeves saw I was working myself up to chastise her. He left the room so he could give his mistress some privacy during what was going to be embarrassing for her. Grimly, I smiled at Jeeves as he strode away.

“Do you’ve any idea who it was who attacked you? That was the bloodyRipper!You must have known what was happening with those shocking murders. I do not doubt for one minute that youhaven’t heard. The whole of London is talking about them, even delicately brought up ladies such as yourself.”

Angrily, I rose up from the chair I was sitting in and stood above her.

Elizabeth peered up without an expression on her face.

“What if I hadn’t met you? The Ripper would have torn you into pieces. How do you think Barrington would have felt when identifying your body?”

Now, Elizabeth looked sick, but I wasn’t finished.

“Recently, you lost your father. Do you really think Barrington wishes to bury his sister as well? London slums present danger, regardless of the time of day. I cannot believe that you would have been so stupid to walk them alone at night.”

“Jeeves was with me,” Elizabeth muttered, like a sulky child.

“Some help Jeeves was. The Ripper knocked him over the head. You might have killed Jeeves as well as yourself. Barrington would be terribly shocked if he learnt of your actions, all because of a maid.”

“Lilly needed me!” Elizabeth hissed, her temper stirring.

“Lilly would not want your death on her conscience. Or that of Jeeves. If I had not been there…” I stopped and allowed Elizabeth’s imagination to take over.

Slowly, it did, and Elizabeth looked suitably contrite and scared. Now, it was sinking in just how close a call she had indeed had.