Page 45 of A Silence in Belgrave Square (Below Stairs #8)

I had to explain my burned hands at home, and I simply said I’d accidentally laid them on an iron kettle that was too hot. Mrs.Bywater tutted at my clumsiness, but she sent a salve down via Mrs.Redfern that soothed my skin once Daniel’s had worn off.

It could have been much worse, I knew.

I told Tess and Lady Cynthia the entire story after supper Friday night, and they listened, agog. Both praised me for my courage and scolded me for taking any risks at all.

Tess, who’d nipped out to speak to Caleb that afternoon, was full of the news that a few bombs had indeed gone off in various places around London—one near the Carlton Club in Pall Mall, another in front of an MP’s home, and one at a pub that shared a wall with Scotland Yard.

Caleb had been summoned to help, and Tess had run home.

There had been some injuries, Mr.Davis announced while reading his newspapers on Saturday morning, but warnings had come soon enough that there had been no deaths and those hurt were expected to recover.

Other bombs had been dismantled before they could go off, and the stack of dynamite at Nelson’s Column had been defused entirely, as Daniel had told me.

Tess beamed at me as she rolled out tart dough, believing I had been the heroine who’d saved the day.

Daniel hadn’t visited Friday after he’d seen me back to Mount Street, and I did not expect him on Saturday either, though I planned to wait up, in case.

On Saturday afternoon, I baked an entire batch of crullers and a whole lemon cake—with Tess’s ample help—using my own money for the ingredients, and gave it all to Mr.Grimes, who waited in the street that evening.

Mr.Grimes was amazed and thankful, and generously said he’d share with his men who’d helped keep me safe. I warmed as he walked away, happy that I had such a friend.

I’d sent a batch of currant buns across the city to Mr.Fielding, with instructions to give them out to his groom and the lads Mr.Fielding had recruited to look after me.

Mr.Fielding sent a note with his thanks and explained that the groom, when he’d seen Hannah go after Lady Fontaine into Lord Downes’s deserted house, had immediately run to fetch help.

Lord Downes had tried to dismiss him that day, along with the rest of his staff, but the groom had lingered, suspecting something was very wrong.

I also rewarded Albie and my other lads well. Baking the things was costly, but I dipped into the ten guineas Lady Fontaine had given me and sent Charlie, the boot boy, out to the shops to fetch me the ingredients.

I hadn’t seen nor heard from Hannah since Daniel had taken me from Belgrave Square, but I assumed she and Sean had returned home to recover from the ordeal.

I did not do much on Saturday night after the rest of the staff went to bed.

My hands hurt too much to hold my knives properly to sharpen them, and I had no desire to jot thoughts in my book.

Tess had been more than generous with her assistance, doing the extra chopping, slicing, peeling, stirring, and kneading without complaint, and I’d sent her early to bed with my gratitude.

Tea steeped in the pot, and two cups and a plate of crullers with slices of lemon cake rested on the table.

I’d made several extra cakes, one of which would go with Lady Cynthia to Mr.Thanos, the other to Miss Townsend.

I’d told Cynthia to have Miss Townsend spread the word that the blackmail victims need worry no more.

Near midnight, when I was about to give into my exhaustion and go to bed, Daniel tapped on the door, and I hurried to answer it.

Daniel greeted me with a kiss, insisted on examining my hands, which he proclaimed were better, then let me lead him to the table.

We’d been shy with each other yesterday after our declarations, the pair of us who could chatter without ceasing suddenly with nothing to say. We were as quiet tonight, the tea trickling into cups the only sound as we settled at the table.

“Ah, your famous lemon cake,” Daniel said as he drew a slice toward him. “I knew something lured me here this night.”

“It’s naught but pound cake,” I said modestly, though I was proud of the recipe I’d perfected. “Scented with lemon and vanilla, and made with a bit of buttermilk.”

“When you bake it, it is heavenly.”

I sent him a wavering smile. “You needn’t pile on the flattery. I have already accepted you.”

Daniel’s brows rose. “So now that I have your pledge, I should be callous and disagreeable? That will never happen, I assure you.” He savored another bite. “My praise is not to gain things from you, my Kat. It is truth and well deserved.”

I hid my flush of pleasure by quickly lifting my teacup. “You’ll turn my head.”

Daniel winked. “I hope so.”

“I do have something serious to tell you,” I said.

Daniel laid down his fork, his teasing tone abruptly vanishing. “Are you throwing me over already? If so, state it quickly, and be done.”

“Not at all,” I said in surprise. “Except…” I let out a breath. “I do think we should wait a bit. Not rush into things.”

Daniel studied me with quiet watchfulness. “Are we rushing? I’ve been trying to woo you for nearly five years now.”

“I’ve thought it over all last night and through today, and I think we should wait at least a year before we wed.”

“Why a year?” He spoke in curiosity, but I heard the wariness behind the question.

“That will give me opportunity to settle some things.” I took a sip of tea as though I weren’t speaking about the most important matters in my life.

“I can’t leave Tess too soon. She’s coming along well, but I don’t want her to break into hysterics at the thought of being left on her own too quickly.

She needs to grow used to the idea. Mrs.Bywater will likely promote Tess to head cook, but she’ll try to save money by not employing another assistant.

I will have to work to convince Mrs.Bywater that her kitchen needs two to function well. ”

“I see that,” Daniel said. “You are right that Tess will need time to train further and grow more confident in her role.”

“Also, I want to give plenty of notice so I can receive all the pay I’m owed.

Mrs.Bywater would find some way to convince Lord Rankin to cut me off if I suddenly announced I was marrying.

We do need money to live on, Daniel. If I cease working to look after you, and you have only what you make as a deliveryman, we will be pinched to make ends meet. ”

Daniel’s focus on me sharpened as I laid out my argument. “My love, I have no intention of locking you into my house to take care of me. I know it’s what wives are trained to do, but you are like no woman I know. You have always wanted to have a tea shop—do not give up that dream for me.”

“What I want is a place to be with Grace,” I said, though I warmed with gratitude at his understanding. “And you.”

“Even so. You have a talent, and I’ll not selfishly deny it to the world, or deny you the recognition for it.” Daniel’s good humor returned. “As long as you save a good portion of what you cook for me.”

“Of course I will, you daft man.” I lifted my teacup again. “But thank you.”

“As it happens, I came here with the purpose of suggesting we wait a bit as well.”

The sting of his words surprised me. I’d taken much trouble to convince myself that this course was best, but for some reason, I was a bit hurt that he’d drawn the same conclusion.

“Oh? Why?”

“Not only for the reasons you stated so well, but because there are things I also need to take care of. Monaghan, with pressure from McGregor and a detective chief super, actually did release me from my obligation to him.”

The relief his statement brought made me want to sag in my chair, but I forced myself to remain upright.

“Well, of course he should have. You brought in a cruel and unfeeling man and saved many people from being hurt by his explosives.”

“With a hefty amount of assistance from you,” Daniel said. “You found that map, which was crucial, and alerted half of London that a madman was about to flee.”

“I hadn’t anticipated he’d turn his own home into an incendiary device,” I said.

“Neither had I. I did insist you take credit for your help, which McGregor grudgingly acknowledged. Monaghan growled that you had inserted yourself too much in this case, and he’ll be happy to see the back of me for that reason.”

“How rude.” I should not care what a heartless man like Monaghan thought of me, but his dismissal rankled. “You do not know how glad I am that you are finished with him.”

“But…”

My relief fled. “But what?”

Daniel ran his thumb along the handle of his fork. “But—I thought I’d stay on. With Special Branch, I mean. Working my way into CID when they have a place for me.”

“I see,” I said.

“I’m good at it, Kat. I can insert myself into a gang of villains without them being the wiser and stop them doing terrible things.

Monaghan chose the worst assignments he could find for me, yet I accomplished them.

I wouldn’t be working under Monaghan anymore—he made it clear he is finished with me—but there are others willing to take me on. ”

“Ah.” I sat back in uncertainty.

While I agreed that Daniel was quite talented at his job, better than Scotland Yard gave him credit for, it was dangerous, and I’d hoped I was finished with worrying.

Daniel would become a delivery driver for always, I’d decided, and I’d bake treats for him and enjoy surprising him with what I made.

“You don’t want this.” Daniel’s statement was simple, with no disappointment and no surprise.

“I don’t want you to be hurt, is all. Perhaps they’ll let you sit behind a desk and growl at constables, like Inspector McGregor does.”

Daniel chuckled. “I’d be terrible at sitting behind a desk.”

“I know. You like to move about London as you please, being in the thick of things.”

“If I hadn’t done that, I would never have met you.”