Chapter Nineteen
The rain had started midday and, combined with the gusting wind, made for a noisy night, but it was a note in the post, not the weather, that had kept Alfred awake into the early morning. Mrs. Poplar had greeted him at the door, holding it with a knowing grin. His tailored clothes would be ready on time and waiting at Mr. Jeffries’s shop.
The table was already set for breakfast when he took his seat. John was hidden behind a newspaper and Mathias’s chair was empty. Mrs. Poplar joined them with the last of the meal, setting down a plate of sliced melons and a bowl of leftover rolls from the previous night’s dinner. Alfred slid two slices of melon onto his plate and passed the dish to John’s side of the table.
“Is Mathias ill?” Alfred inquired.
Mrs. Poplar took her seat
