The next morning, Harriet and Agatha sat patiently waiting in the study for James’s cab to arrive. The carriage clock on the mantlepiece said quarter to nine, the public gallery in the magistrate court opened in fifteen minutes and the two women were hoping to be on the road by now.

“Something’s up.” Harriet said, now looking out of the study window into the square below.

Agatha didn’t want to alarm Harriet, but she thought the same too. “We’ll give it five more minutes than we’ll start making our own way there. The court is not in session until nine-thirty.”

Just then, Harriet spotted a hansom cab coming into the square. “He’s here!” she exclaimed. Not waiting for him to ring the door bell, Harriet and Agatha left the study and quickly walked down the stairs and opened the front door.

Both women saw the cab come by their front gate, but instead of slowing down it continued on to the house two doors down.

Harriet and Agatha stood on the door step and watched as a tall middle-aged man in a dark blue suit carrying a small black leather bag, got into the cab. “Doctor Parks, doing his rounds to the bed-ridden.” said a rather deflated Harriet.

“Look!” said Agatha. “For whatever reason, Mr Carter is not coming to collect us. We are going to have to travel by ourselves.”

Harriet nodded and the two of them were about to walk out of the square, when an empty cab came by touting for business. Harriet immediately hailed the driver, then bribed him by saying she’ll pay double the fare if he made good time in getting them to Bow Street.

With the promise of an ha’penny instead of a farthing, the cab driver weaved in and out of the busy London traffic and even managed a few ‘off the route’ alleyways to get them outside Bow Street Magistrate Court, Public Entrance for ten-past nine!

“Here you go, my good man!” said Harriet reaching up to pay the driver.

Smiling as he took the shiny bronze coin he asked, “Would you like...