When she turned back to the door, Maggin herself had appeared on the other side of it. She had observed the door and now stood blocking it, wielding a broomstick in one hand and a heavy metal bucket in the other. When she saw Bessie, her grim expression transformed into a smile, and she stepped back. ‘Why, if it ain’t Miss Bessie! What are ye doing walking the Darkways, lass? Is our Gent wi’ ye?’
‘Not at present, Maggin,’ said Bessie, and stepped into the parlour. Cassandra followed, and received a curious stare from the landlady. ‘We wasn’t exactly expectin’ to be in them passageways tonight.’
‘Something amiss, is it?’ said Maggin.
‘Aye. Turns out our Gent has a sister, and she has some big ideas.’
It did not appear to Bessie that Maggin was much surprised by this news, and that fact
