Page 86 of Molly Boys

“Of course,” Henry nodded. “His lordship was most clear in his instructions that he is to be informed immediately if you called.”

“Thank you,” Archie breathed in relief.

“Although…” Henry paused. “You might want to visit the boy first. He’s been asking for you almost nonstop… and he never stops talking,” Henry added wryly.

“I’ve noticed,” Archie chuckled.

“Uh yes… well.” He shook his head. “You know which room he’s in. I shall be along shortly to settle him for bed. In the meantime, I will inform Lord Stanley of your arrival.”

Nodding in acknowledgement, Archie turned to climb the stairs up to the third floor and headed down the corridor to Jack’s room. He opened the door and saw the boy in bed, propped up on a mountain of pillows. Jack’s eyes were still swollen shut, peppered with black and blue bruising.

“Henry?” Jack called. “Is that you? Are you gonna read me some more before bed? I really wanna know what ‘appens to the queen, does she really cut heads off? I like the cat, Lord Stanley says his favourite is the white rabbit. I dunno about that, did you know people eat rabbits? I’ve never eaten rabbit, do you know what rabbit tastes like? Do you think Alice had eaten rabbit? Why do people eat rabbit but don’t eat cat? Or do they? Do people eat cats?”

Archie chuckled as he crossed the room, noticing the copy ofAlice’s Adventures in Wonderlandsitting atop the dresser.

“You got the devil in your tongue, lad,” Archie said fondly as he sat in the chair placed beside the bed.

“Inspector!” Jack beamed. “You came! Lord Stanley said you was gonna but you didn’t. I ‘ad a bath! In water! I tried to tell Henry I didn’t need one, I got rained on last month, but ‘e said I was dirty and I smelled bad. Do I smell bad? Do you take baths?”

“Sssh, lad.” Archie reached out and patted his hand. “You’re supposed to be resting.”

“I know, that’s what Henry said but…”

Archie understood. It hadn’t taken him long to figure out that the more nervous and uncomfortable the boy was, the more it set his tongue wagging. It had to be difficult for him; he’d been beaten, taken away from everything he knew, put into a strange place, and to make matters even worse, he still couldn’t see. To have that most vital defence mechanism taken away from him for any length of time, especially for someone like Jack, who relied on his speed and instincts to survive, must have been terrifying.

“How are you feeling?” Archie asked.

“It ‘urts,” Jack said quietly. “Everywhere. Lord Stanley said it’ll get better.”

“He’s right, it will.” Archie patted his hand. “It just takes time, lad.”

“My eyes is gettin’ better, I can see a bit o’light and shapes, kinda…”

“That’s good.” Archie smiled. “Henry says it’s time to settle for bed.”

“I’m already in bed,” Jack huffed.

“I know, but sleep will help you heal.” Archie lifted the boy forward slightly, removing some of his pillows as he grumbled sulkily.

“Inspector?”

“Yes.”

“Lord Stanley says I don’t ‘ave to go back to The Nichol, that I’m safe here,” he said in a small voice.

Archie’s gaze softened. “That’s right, lad, you are safe, and no, you don’t have to go back to The Nichol.”

“Inspector,” Jack yawned.

“Yes.”

“I got your watch back for you,” he whispered.

Archie sighed heavily as he reached out with a careful hand and stroked the boy’s hair. “I know you did. Thank you, Jack.”

“I shouldn’t ‘ave taken it,” he muttered.

“What’s done is done,” Archie said softly. “Go to sleep. Dream about queens and white rabbits.”