‘I need to have a word with Ezra Parkinson, although I’ve never had much faith in him as a manager.’ Sadie glanced at her reflection in one of the gilt-framed wall mirrors, patting a stray strand of hair into place. ‘I always hoped that I would run the office one day, because I started working there when I was even younger than Max, but it wasn’t to be.’
‘Why wasn’t it, Aunt Sadie? That doesn’t seem right.’
‘After they were married your parents built the company, working side by side until you were born, and by that time they could afford to pay a manager and take on more clerks, and I wasn’t needed any more. It’s a man’s world, Carrie. We just have to accept it as a fact.’
‘I’m not so sure about that,’ Caroline said, smiling. ‘But we need to sort this out, Aunt. I’m coming with you.’
‘All right, but don’t say anything to your mother. There’s no need to bother her with this.’
‘Give me five minutes to fetch my bonnet and reticule and we’ll go now, before Mama is up and about.’
‘It’s little wonder that she sleeps until noon,’ Sadie said, sighing. ‘I hear her walking about her room well into the early hours.’
‘That means you don’t get much sleep either.’
‘I’ve always been like that, but your mother is wearing herself out. I worry about her.’
‘When we’ve been to the office I intend to call on Aunt Alice. She is the only person who might be able to help Mama.’
The hansom cab dropped them off outside the company office, which was situated in Wapping High Street. Caroline had known Ezra Parkinson since she was a small child. Even then she had realised that there was a certain amount of ill-feeling between her aunt and Ezra. He was always very courteous and obliging, but now she was older she felt that he was a little too familiar, and it was obvious that he had little time for women. The smile that curved his lips never quite reached the dark depths of his hooded eyes, and his obsequious manner barely masked an undercurrent of contempt.
Sadie marched into the outer office and came to a sudden halt. ‘Where is everyone?’ she demanded, gazing at the empty desks.
‘It’s too early for luncheon,’ Caroline said, frowning. ‘Mr Masters, the head clerk, was always sitting behind the counter when I used to visit Papa.’
Sadie rang the hand bell and its peal echoed mockingly around the empty room.
Caroline opened the door to the inner office. ‘Anyone there?’ she called. ‘Mr Parkinson, it’s me, Caroline Manning.’
‘Really, this is too bad. Even in the old days we would never leave the office unattended.’ Sadie pushed past her. ‘Parkinson. Are you there?’
A door at the back of the building opened and Parkinson emerged, carrying a brown leather bag. ‘Miss Dixon and Miss Manning. I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.’
‘What’s going on, Parkinson?’ Sadie demanded angrily. ‘Where is Masters? And why is there no one on the front desk?’
‘Times are hard, miss.’ Parkinson edged past them. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I have a business appointment.’
Caroline barred his way. ‘That’s not good enough, Mr Parkinson. It looks to me as if you’re leaving and you don’t intend to return.’
‘Even the rats desert a sinking ship, miss. I’m not vermin, but I know when the business is about to go bankrupt.’
With surprising strength, Sadie grabbed him by the shoulders and propelled him into the front office. She gave him a gentle shove, catching him off balance so that he sat down heavily on the nearest chair. ‘Now then, you’d better explain before I send Miss Caroline down to the Dock Police and have you arrested. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d emptied the safe and the company’s money is in that bag.’
‘That’s slander, Miss Dixon. I could have you up before the beak for that.’
‘Not if it’s true, and judging by your demeanour, I think I might have hit the nail on the head.’
Caroline went to the door. ‘Shall I call a constable, Aunt?’
‘Let him speak first.’ Sadie leaned against the desk, folding her arms across her chest. ‘We’re listening, Mr Parkinson.’
‘You’ll find out sooner or later anyway.’ Parkinson put the bag down by his feet. ‘The business has been floundering for months, ever since the loss of the Mary Louise.’
‘But surely we were insured with Lloyd’s?’ Caroline stared at him, frowning. ‘Weren’t we?’
‘We could not afford the premium for such an old vessel, Miss Manning. It was a total loss and that, together with the expensive refit on your uncle’s ship, simply added to our difficulties.’
‘There’s something very wrong here, Parkinson,’ Sadie said angrily. ‘You need to give a full account of your dealings to Mr George.’
‘The paddle steamers we owned were sold at the beginning of the year, and I don’t know when Mr George will return, but whenever it is it’s too late to save the company, Miss Dixon. I’m getting out before the bailiffs arrive.’
‘It can’t be as bad as that.’ Caroline looked from one to the other. ‘We own the house in Finsbury Circus. Mama is a wealthy woman.’
Parkinson shrugged. ‘Tell that to your creditors.’
‘Aunt Sadie?’ Caroline crossed the floor to stand beside her aunt. ‘Tell him that the house must be worth a great deal of money. Tell him.’
‘You’re right, of course, Carrie, dear, but I’m afraid it’s rented. Your father wanted the world to see how successful he’d been and he insisted on moving to Finsbury Circus, even though your mama was happy living in the Captain’s House.’
Caroline stared at her in a state of shock. The safe and secure world of her childhood had been swept away with a few ill-chosen words. ‘I remember living in that old house, and I loved it, but then we moved to Finsbury Circus. I thought we owned our home.’
Sadie laid her hand on Caroline’s shoulder, her eyes moist with unshed tears. ‘I’m sorry, my dear. This must be a terrible shock, but things are not always what they seem.’
Parkinson clutched his hands to his breast in mock horror. ‘Poor child, my heart aches for you.’
Caroline rounded on him. ‘Hold your tongue, you horrid man. This isn’t a laughing matter.’
‘Indeed it ain’t, for you, anyway. I’m saving meself, Miss High and Mighty. Take my tip and find yourself a rich husband before the news gets out.’
‘Shut up, Parkinson,’ Sadie said wearily, sinking down into a chair. ‘At least we still own the Captain’s House. Thankfully, whether out of sentiment or for a more practical reason, Jack rented it out.’
Parkinson curled his lip, reminding Caroline of a snarling cur. ‘Then the bailiffs will seize it first.’
‘I hate to disappoint you,’ Sadie said smugly. ‘But Jack had the forethought to put it in my name. I own the Captain’s House – it was to be my dowry.’
‘I remember that it had a lovely friendly atmosphere and a wonderful view of the river.’ Caroline closed her eyes, trying to envision her room at the top of the old house. ‘Pa’s housekeeper told me that the captain who had built the house still kept watch over it, and sometimes I could smell tobacco smoke in my room, but I wasn’t afraid. If it was a ghost, it was a friendly one.’
‘Your mother loved the place, and I think she would have been content to live there for ever, but