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“I am truly grieved for your turn of ill events,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said without looking up at the young woman standing in a subservient manner before her desk, “and I am customarily willing to assist those who truly appreciate my good graces, but you did not prove yourself loyal to me and the Lyon’s Den, which you promised you would. ”

“I have no place to turn,” the girl said barely above a whisper.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon looked up at the girl. “This life is not for those who do not possess a strong-will. Strength of spirit and determination are necessary to survive, even if you are fortunate enough to be one of the elite of society, which we both know you are not. From the beginning, I did not think you would be capable of entertaining a different gentleman each night, but you insisted that you could perform to my expectations. You were better off as a maid in Lord Duncan’s household, but you could not simply remain invisible, as most of the servant class do.

Those who work in all the great houses must remain invisible, but you permitted those above stairs to take your notice.

You chose, for whatever reason, to bring notice to your existence and the coat. ”

“Yes, ma’am,” the girl said in tears.

“Moreover, you betrayed me by bringing unnecessary notice to the Lyon’s Den, which can only exist as long as it remains relatively anonymous.

However, you found a coat or purchased a used coat or some such nonsense.

I understand that as one of my girls, you were required to have something to wear when you were out to the shops and so forth, but the one you found belonged to the person who attacked one of the most influential lords in Great Britain.

And when you realized the significance of the coat, you hid it!

Abandoned it in my establishment. Where I live!

Where I conduct business! Your foolish choices brought one of the heads of the Home Office to my door to ask questions.

I did not enjoy being responsible for cleaning up your mess! ”

“I did not know the coat belonged to anyone so important when I found it. I was simply glad for its warmth,” the girl said.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon stood. “You must find employment elsewhere. You are too recognizable to keep your presence secret for long, and such would bring more scrutiny to the Lyon’s Den.” She called, “Titan!”

The door opened immediately. “Merry’s business here is finished. She is not to be admitted again.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The man bowed and motioned for Merry to lead the way from the room.

Despite her tears, she knew Mrs. Dove-Lyon was correct, though at the moment, Merry was equally as needy as the others under the Lyon Den’s roof.

When they reached the main door, Titan said, “I heard that the Red Rooster down by the docks is looking for a cook. There is also a small room available. Can you cook a decent stew?”

“Yes, sir. Bless you, sir.”

“You should have told Mrs. Dove-Lyon about the coat. She could have handled it without involving the Den.”

Merry did not argue. As her grandmother had been fond of saying, “Hindsight is worse than no sight.” Instead, she nodded her gratitude and walked away. She had several miles to walk just to reach the Thames.

She had been walking for more than an hour, attempting to avoid eye contact, while still finding her way without asking for assistance.

At length, she could smell the Thames. Her nose snarled, but she held the course.

Merry had not eaten yesterday nor today.

The promise of a meal and a bed was worth the effort.

She turned onto a close and stopped suddenly.

“A short street with a dead end,” she murmured.

It was then that she heard the stutter step of someone not too far removed from where she stood.

Turning slowly in a circle, she searched each window and each doorway, but she saw nothing unusual.

Returning to the main street, Merry began again, but this time she was more aware of those around her, daring to make eye contact and looking about, for she could not quite shake the feeling of doom.

At length, the sign of the Red Rooster came into view, and she breathed easier. “Only my silly imagination,” she murmured.

“No, it wasn’t,” a voice Merry recognized said close to her ear.

The knife the person held pricked the skin at the small of Merry’s back.

“Step into the alley.” The person stayed so close, Merry wondered how they did not trip over each other’s feet.

“You had your chance to prove yourself valuable to me. Instead, you brought Lord Duncan’s sons to both my door and yours. ”

“I knew nothing of the coat’s use when I found it,” Merry began, but the knife cut into her and was jerked upward to assure her death. A gloved hand covered her mouth to stifle Merry’s scream.

“I have never tolerated incompetence. Say ‘goodnight,’ Merry. You will sleep now and forever.”

With the woman lying dead in the alley’s filth, the man stepped over her and crossed to the other end of the street. Stepping up on the wooden walkway, he turned towards London proper. “I am not finished with Lord Macdonald Duncan. Not by far.”