Bless the Bride

then it will not be your fault that she doesn’t return to him and he will not try to harm you.”
    “Very well,” I said. “Come to see me tomorrow.”
    “I will do so. I will be extra careful and make sure I am not followed. If you find her, I will forever be in your debt.”
    I let him out and watched him walk down Patchin Place and out into Greenwich Avenue. I wanted to believe him. I trusted his earnest, open expression, but I couldn’t put aside the thought of old Mr. Lee waiting like a vulture in the semidarkness of that ornate room for Frederick to report back. “Well? Did she tell you the girl’s hiding place? Has she found her, do you think?”

Fourteen
     
     
     
    I finished my task with the paper streamers before I decided to pay a call on Bo Kei. I was itching with impatience to go and see her, but I realized I had to behave with a great deal of caution—hard for someone as impatient as I. I half expected that Frederick or one of Lee Sing Tai’s henchmen might be lurking in the shadows, watching me to see where I went, so I started by fulfilling the shopping commissions given me by Gus—things she had forgotten to buy this morning. I hoped that seeing me with a bag of bread rolls or a jar of pickles might convince whoever was watching me that I was only on normal housewifely errands.
    I looked around as I came out of the grocer’s and saw no sign of Frederick nor of anybody who looked in any way Chinese. Of course I didn’t know if Mr. Lee employed Westerners as well, but I decided not to put Bo Kei at risk and hailed a passing hansom cab. This was extravagant, considering that I wouldn’t be paid anything for this case, but some things are worth more than money.
    The commerce of the Lower East Side forced the cab to come to a halt halfway down Elizabeth Street. “Are you sure this is where you want to be?” the cabby asked me as pushcarts and half-naked children spilled around us. “Not a safe place for young ladies around here, you know. Do you want me to wait?”
    I hadn’t anticipated a cab fare back, but it did seem like a good idea. I had less likelihood of being spotted by one of Mr. Lee’s henchmen.
    “I won’t be long,” I said and went into the house.
    Hermione came out of the kitchen to greet me, wiping her hands on an oversized apron. “Well, if it isn’t the miracle worker,” she said. “Your bringing the Chinese girl has done wonders for poor Annie. Until now she’s just lain in bed and hardly eaten a thing. Frankly I thought we’d lose her soon, but today she’s as sprightly as anything and ate a good breakfast with Bo Kei. And you should hear them laughing—like two naughty schoolgirls up there.”
    “I am glad,” I said. “So nobody has come here looking for Bo Kei?”
    She shook her head. “Although I’ve had to warn them that it might not be the smartest thing to betray their presence by talking to each other so loudly in their language. Sound does carry through open windows and we’re not far from Chinatown.”
    “I hope she won’t be here too long,” I said. “May I go up and see her?”
    “Of course. You know the way, don’t you? I’d escort you but I’m facing a mountain of washing-up.” She gave me a wry smile. “Sometimes I wonder why I thought this would be preferable to making a good match and living a life of ease.”
    “Maybe because you are free to choose to do the washing-up,” I said.
    “Exactly.” She nodded as she went back to the kitchen, while I made my way up the stairs. Bo Kei and Annie had been sitting on one of the beds together, but they jumped up as I came in. Bo Kei gave me a relieved smile. She looked like a young girl again and I realized that she probably wasn’t more than fifteen or sixteen.
    “How are you today, Bo Kei?” I said. “Hermione said you sounded very happy.”
    “Bo Kei happy to be safe and free,” she said.
    “You’re not out of the woods yet,” I said.
    “Please? Which wood is this?” She looked puzzled.
    “An expression,” I said. “It means that we still have to decide what to do with you. You can’t stay here very long.”
    “Missie Molly,” she said slowly. “I not ask you yet—who send you to find me?”
    How was I going to answer this one? Do I make up some story about the good people at the house hearing of a runaway Chinese bride? I couldn’t bring myself to come out with a lie.
    “Who do you think might be looking for you?” I asked.
    She dropped her voice to a