Miss Culpepper jerked around. Her face paled. She looked as appalled as the man did.
Mayhew didn’t need an introduction to know who this newcomer was. It was blindingly obvious. The man was Sir Walter Pike.
What was also blindingly obvious was that their disasters weren’t over yet. In fact, the expression on Pike’s face told Mayhew that the greatest disaster of all might be upon them.
Miss Culpepper clearly realized that, too. She put a hand to her damp, misshapen bonnet, as if she wished she could somehow hide her appearance, but it was no use. Everything about her was unkempt. And bedraggled. And grimy.
Mayhew put the basket down on a wooden bench and took a hasty step forward. “Sir Walter Pike? I can explain everything.”
The man looked him up and down, visibly dismissed him, and tu
