The Button Box: Gripping historical romance from the Sunday Times Bestseller. Dilly Court

      ‘You did what?’ His raised voice attracted the attention of the diners at the next table.

      ‘She had given me three days to pay off Pa’s debts, but she sent for me today.’

      ‘Why didn’t you tell me this before?’

      ‘I didn’t know what to do. She wants certain information and she’s threatened to take it out on Jane if I don’t do as she asked. She plans to get even with you for fighting with her son.’

      ‘I can stand up for myself, but that’s not all, is it? What is it she wants you to do? Come on, Clara, you know that you can’t keep anything from me.’

      She could see the tell-tale pulse throbbing in his temple and his knuckles were white as he grasped the stem of his wineglass. ‘She said she would cancel Pa’s debt if I found out where the Skinners have their hideout. She wants them dead.’ Clara’s voice broke on a sob.

      ‘Why didn’t you tell me all this in the first place? How much did Alfred owe?’

      ‘Eight guineas, but she’s increased it to ten because I can’t raise that much money, at least not quickly. I suppose I could if I sold the shop, but that’s my livelihood now.’

      ‘Your father has a lot to answer for. He’s taken the coward’s way out and left you to take the consequences.’ Luke drained his glass and reached for the bottle. ‘You won’t have to do what Patches wants and you won’t have to find the money. I’ll sort that old bitch out once and for all, and that idiot son of hers.’

      ‘How? What are you going to do?’

      ‘It’s not your problem now. This has become personal.’ Luke sat back as the waiter appeared with their food. ‘Enjoy your dinner, and then I’m taking you home.’

      ‘You don’t know Patches. She’s evil.’

      ‘I know Patches only too well, and it would take more than a pock-marked old woman to frighten me.’

      ‘You won’t do anything stupid, will you?’

      His eyes twinkled and he raised his glass to her. ‘So you do love me?’

      ‘I don’t want your death on my conscience,’ she said with a reluctant smile.

      ‘I suppose that’s a start.’ He raised his glass. ‘Let’s enjoy the evening.’

      Clara hardly slept that night for worrying about Luke. He had seen her home, but had left immediately, having laughed off her fears and promised to return next day to let her know that matters had been settled satisfactorily. He had seemed supremely confident in his own ability but she had her doubts. The whole sad affair could end up in one of the gang wars that were the scourge of the East End.

      She rose early and went about the chore of lighting the fire and filling the kettle with snow as the pump in the back yard was still frozen. The grey-white world outside felt cold and alien, adding to her feeling of foreboding.

      Betsy appeared just as the kettle came to the boil, and after snatching a cup of tea and a slice of bread and jam, she rammed her bonnet on her head and wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. ‘If Miss Lavelle isn’t in a better mood today I’m giving in my notice. I don’t care if I never find another job, but I won’t be treated like a skivvy.’

      Clara was used to listening to her sister’s grumbles before she set off each day and she ignored this last remark. ‘I’ve made a sandwich for you.’

      Betsy eyed the brown paper package with distaste. ‘She won’t allow us to eat in the workroom in case we get grease on the material.’

      ‘Never mind. Take it anyway and eat it on the way home.’

      ‘I wish you’d stop being so cheerful. We’re stuck here, in this tiny shop with hardly a rag to our backs and we have to rely on Luke for our food. It’s all Pa’s fault and I hope he’s suffering too, wherever he is now.’ Betsy tucked the sandwich into her reticule and flounced out of the parlour.

      Clara sighed and shook her head. Betsy was right, of course, but there was no point in dwelling on the past. What happened now was more important. She followed her sister through the shop and out into the street. She was about to lock the door when Betsy uttered a gasp and bent down to pluck something from the snowy pavement.

      ‘Look what I found.’ She held out her mittened hand and a tiny silver button winked in the light of the gas lamp. ‘I’ll swear this is from Luke’s waistcoat.’

      Clara took it from her. ‘Yes, I’m sure it is. It must have come off when he saw me home. I’m certain he would have noticed if it was missing in the restaurant.’

      Betsy pointed to a dark stain on the churned-up snow. ‘That looks like blood.’

      ‘It’s your imagination,’ Clara said sharply. ‘You’d better hurry or you’ll be late for work.’

      ‘Maybe he slipped and fell,’ Betsy insisted. ‘You should go round to his lodgings and make sure he’s all right.’

      ‘Luke can take care of himself.’ Clara stepped back into the shop and closed the door, but her knees were trembling and the button seemed to burn into the palm of her hand. She hesitated for a moment and then reached under the counter for the button box. It would be safe there, and buttons came off easily enough. She would make sure it was sewn on more securely when she returned it to Luke.

      ‘Clara, are you there?’ Jane’s voice brought her down to earth with a bump. It was silly to worry about a lost button, and the stain on the snow might be anything. Even if it were blood that didn’t mean to say it was Luke’s. Betsy was over-imaginative at the best of times. Clara hurried into the parlour.

      ‘I’m here. I just saw Betsy off to work.’

      ‘She’s forgotten to take the hat I finished off,’ Jane said anxiously. ‘She’ll be in trouble again.’

      Clara thought quickly. It was still only half-past seven, and there was no point in opening the shop before nine. ‘I’ll take it to her, if you don’t mind being left alone again.’

      ‘Of course not. I feel quite safe here, and thanks to Luke I can make some toast for my breakfast. There’s butter and jam – it feels like Christmas.’

      ‘I’ll open up when I get back. There probably won’t be any customers until later this morning. It’s still freezing outside.’ Clara took her cloak from the peg and slipped it on. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can.’ She picked up the bandbox containing the hat, blew Jane a kiss and set off after Betsy.

      Knowing her sister only too well, Clara had guessed correctly. Betsy did not know the meaning of the word ‘hurry’. She caught her up as she meandered along the Strand in the direction of Miss Lavelle’s shop.

      ‘You left this behind,’ Clara said breathlessly. ‘And you’re going to be late as it is.’

      Betsy glared at the hat box as if it were to blame for her employer’s faults. ‘Thank you.’

      ‘Hurry up, slowcoach.’

      ‘I will if you promise to go and see Luke. I’m worried about him.’

      ‘Anyone would think he was your beau, Betsy. I’m going there now, if you must know. Now please, run the last few yards so that at least it looks as if you’ve tried to get to work on time.’

      Betsy rolled her eyes and turned away, but she did walk a little faster than usual, and Clara waited until she saw her enter the premises. She could sympathise with her sister, but they needed the money, little though it might be. One day Betsy would be a fully qualified milliner and able to command a high price for her creations – until then she would have to put up with Miss Lavelle’s idiosyncrasies and foul moods. There was no escape for working girls, other than a suitable marriage, and even then that was not necessarily a recipe for a happy ending. Life was not a fairy tale.