"Goodness, what a crush," Meriadoc said as they came through the archway into a heaving crowd of Yuletide shoppers. "Were the markets like this before?"

"They were busy, but not this crowded," Eden said, flinching away from the surging tide around her. "I suppose it's because it's Saturday, and only three shopping days before Yule."

Hodge loomed over them like a gigantic hen fussing over two little chicks.

"I always thought as how we should have gone to Forum Street and done your shopping at Godwin's Department Store," he said gloomily. "This here is a nightmare."

"Nonsense, Hodge!" said Meriadoc bracingly. "We're here to have the real Yuletide experience, rubbing shoulders with our fellow man."

"It'll be me as does all the shoulder rubbing," Hodge muttered.

"Where were you thinking of going first?" Eden asked her father, putting her mouth up to his ear to be heard above the noise.

"I'd like to have a look at that sailor chappie you told me about," Meriadoc replied. "There's a chance I might recognise him, if he really does know who you are."

Eden looked troubled. "Bernard had him questioned by the police because of me – he might not be that happy to see us," she said.

"We had nothing to do with that, and he didn't get into trouble," Meriadoc argued. "I'm going to buy all his most expensive stock in exchange for a chance to see him, so he'll make a profit from us at the very least. Where can I find him?"

"His stall is in Market Square, right next to the monument to Mercury," Eden said.

"Hodge, can you please escort us to Market Square?" Meriadoc bawled up to his bodyguard.

"I reckon so, it's no more'n five minutes walk, even in a crowd," Hodge said. "Stay close to me, and no running off, Miss Victory."

Eden thought this was a low blow, but had to admit that without Hodge, she and her father would have struggled to reach the square. Hodge's vast bulk created a space as he moved through the crowd, and Eden and Meriadoc were able to shelter under him. It wasn't the most dignified way to reach your destination, but they got there safely.

The square was less crowded than Little Market Street, as people were able to spread out, and it looked as if many of them were continuing on to Great Market Street. Eden was able to move away from Hodge, and she took a moment to look around and find her bearings.

It was easy enough to locate the Mercury Stone in the middle of Market Square. The trouble was that there was no sign of Ben Gosling there, and nobody else had a stall near the stone.

"He's not here!" Eden said to her father. "He said he would be at the stone marker every day until Yule, but his table's gone."

"Well, let's not panic yet," Meriadoc said, although he sounded a bit worried too. "He might have a cold, or the snow could be keeping him at home."

"Excuse me, madam," Eden said to the grey-haired woman who ran the craft stall nearby, "I don't suppose you know what happened to Mr Gosling? He had a stall near the Mercury Stone."

"Ben Gosling? Why, it is an absolute disgrace what was done to that man," said the woman indignantly. "He has been at the markets these many a year, and always been a good friend to all, although he keeps himself to himself and isn't a talker by any means, so we're all very upset by it. I was saying to Avis at the candle stall just yesterday that I never heard the like, and she said the same to me."

"But what happened?" Eden broke in desperately, as the woman seemed likely to go on without stopping.

"What happened? The police happened," the market woman huffed. "Coming here, badgering Ben Gosling, shouting at him, asking him I don't know what. Shoving him about, knocking his table over, breaking all his beautiful bottles ..."

"What? No!" Eden exclaimed, turning to Meriadoc in distress. "Father, the most awful thing has happened to Mr Gosling, and it's all because of me."

"You brought the police here?" the woman demanded furiously. "How dare you! What's that poor old man ever done to harm you?"

"Please, madam, calm yourself," Meriadoc said, holding out his hands in a gesture of peace. "My daughter is not responsible for the actions of the police. Tell me how I may find Mr Gosling and set this to rights."

"Oh you fine folk!" the market woman exclaimed. "It's not enough what you've done to old Ben, now you want to go poking and prying into his poor little hut as well!"

"I assure you I have no desire to bother Mr Gosling," Meriadoc said. "My only wish is to compensate him for the inconvenience we have inadvertently put him to."

"Inconvenience! Is that what you call it?" the woman said in outrage. "The police found out that Ben Gosling has been selling in the markets without a licence, and gave him a fine of a gold coin. That's twice what the license would cost, so he cannot pay it, and he's been barred from the markets. He's frightened of what may happen to him, and his livelihood is gone. It might seem like a little inconvenience to a gent like you, but for Ben, his life is ruined."

Eden and Meriadoc listened to her with horrified faces.

"Oh Father! We must do something," Eden cried, clutching at Meriadoc's arm.

Meriadoc said, "Don't worry," then turned to his bodyguard. "Hodge, I need you to escort us to whoever is in charge of the markets. And then to the nearest police station."

"Mister Voyager sir, that's impossible," Hodge answered, looking aghast. "I has orders to remain with you at the markets."

Hodge had thought he had the measure of Meriadoc. A plump little bald man with a round cheerful face like a bun, and an amiable demeanour easily attributed to good-natured indolence. He was about to discover that Meriadoc was also a king, with a sense of power and the ability to wield it.

"These are your new orders, Hodge," Meriadoc said with a steely determination. "I order you to escort me to the head of the markets, and I order you to then escort me to the nearest police station. A gross injustice has been performed in our name, and I must set it to rights or stain the honour of the royal house of Westmoreland."

"But Mister Voyager," stammered Hodge, "I cannot take a ... a young lady such as Miss Victory through the streets of Camden like a common ... girl. And to a police station, full of rough men and ... and criminals! Sir, it really would be the end of me. The captain'd have me head, sir."

Meriadoc stood in thought for a moment. "How far away is the police station?"

"It's on Horseshoe Lane off Candlelight Street, as far west from here as the palace is east."

Meriadoc turned to his daughter and said, "My dear, I must leave you here while I sort out this dreadful situation. I'll be as quick as I can, so be brave for me, and stay in the square. I am relying on these good market folk for your protection." He raised his voice on the last part, so that the traders around could hear.

"Yes, Father," Eden said.

"If we're not back by one o'clock, go the front entrance and wait for me there inside the markets. This is an emergency, and I trust in your good sense to keep you safe until I return."

"One o'clock," repeated Eden. "I'll remember, Father."

At the last moment, Meriadoc placed his face close to hers as if to bestow a farewell kiss, but instead he whispered, "See what else you can discover. Keep your ear to the ground."

Eden watched her father march through the crowds with a blazing determination and the powerful strength that only walking up and down the fells of the Lakelands gives to the legs. It was he who pushed through the crowds now, clearing a path for Hodge to follow, so ferociously did he move.

A minute later Meriadoc had disappeared, but it was several more minutes until Eden could no longer see Hodge, once he turned a curve in the street. And then she was alone in the markets, with all the freedom she had once dreamed of. She pulled her thick coat closer around her.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

Eden walked briskly right around the square – partly to keep warm, and partly to see if there was anything new she could discover that might help her father or Ben Gosling. There were more stalls, it seemed to her, and more customers for them.

There was only one Yule present she hadn't bought, and that was for Maeve, who had been with Eden when she did her shopping earlier. Nothing seemed quite right, and a silver brooch shaped like an arrow that she liked was unfortunately priced at seven silver coins, so too expensive for her to buy. The market trader might have come down in price if she'd pushed a little, but Eden was innocent of the art of haggling.

At last she found a book stall with a wooden canopy over it to protect its stock, and a good selection of new books. There were some exciting looking adventure stories, including a lot of the Jem Bones series by Ivor Fenwick.

Eden was examining one when the man running the stall said, "I've got the newest one if you're interested, miss. Just been released for Yuletide."

He showed her the novel, which had the title emblazoned in silver across the blue cover in curly writing – Jem Bones and the Case of the Moonlight Lady. The picture showed two silver swords crossed beneath a full moon and a sprinkling of silver stars.

"The price is only one silver coin, makes a good Yule gift," the stallholder said persuasively.

"Yes, thank you, I'll take it," said Eden, and went to reach for her purse.

It was then she realised that Hodge still had her money. She scrabbled in her coat pockets, finding a gritty copper coin which had got wedged in the lining. If only it had been silver!

"Would it be possible for you to hold the book for me?" Eden asked. "My father and his manservant will be back very soon, and I can pay for it then."

The bookseller looked Eden over, from her jaunty little felt hat, dark red woollen dress with neat white cuffs and collar, thick warm coat and kid gloves, right down to her buttoned boots. Shopkeepers get a nose for these things, and the bookseller immediately pegged Eden as "quality". The very fact that she didn't carry money, but had a servant to do so made her what the bookseller called "top shelf."

"I can hold it for you until two o'clock, miss," the bookseller said, putting it under the counter. "After that, I must let others have their chance."

Eden thanked him with a tight smile, and walked off. Having the freedom of the marketplace wasn't nearly as much fun with only a copper coin to spend, and although Eden had confidently said her father would be back soon, she calculated it would be almost an hour.

She looked through some trays of cheap trinkets to use up some time, and when she began to turn away, the woman running the stall said, "Only a copper each, miss. They make nice little gifts for New Year."

Oh goodness, Eden thought. I forgot about buying everyone gifts for New Year! And she still needed to buy gifts for Aubrey and Penelope.

Eden decided to leave that for now – she couldn't keep asking everyone to hold items for her. She would wait for Hodge to get back, and then dash around the markets, buying everyone the same small thing.

She bought a bun with her coin from the stall outside the Red Rose Coffee House, and prudently tucked it inside her coat pocket in case hunger pains attacked before her father arrived. Then Eden went and stood by the stall that sold candles, keeping an ear out for anyone talking about Ben Gosling.

It was while she stood with her back to a trestle table, looking down Little Market Street, that she felt two cold little hands placed around her ankles. There is something inexpressibly creepy about the feeling of an unseen someone holding your ankles from behind, and Eden let out a stifled little cry.

She whirled around and lifted the cloth covering the table to see who it was. Two bright blue eyes looked up at her dark brown ones. It was the White Mouse. 

Without hesitation, Eden crouched down and crawled under the table to face him, pulling down the cloth after them so they were hidden from sight. The White Mouse looked at her warily, and Eden racked her brain for something to say that wouldn't frighten him off. She said the first thing that popped into her head.

"Would you like a bun?"

The White Mouse nodded, snatching it from her outstretched hand, and beginning to nibble, while never taking his eyes from her.

"Good bun," he said between bites. "Lots of currants."

"What's your name?" Eden asked in a low voice.

"Oscar Twitch," he answered. "I know who you are."

"You do?" Eden asked in surprise.

Oscar nodded. "I heard that lady say your name. You're called Victory, and you're a servant at the palace."

"Oh that. I mean, yes, that's me," Eden said quickly.

Oscar finished the bun, saying, "That was nice. Is there any more?"

"Sorry, that's all I've got," Eden said. "I only had a copper coin to spend."

"You must be quite poor," said Oscar sympathetically. "It was kind of you to give me your last bun when you don't have any money."

"That's alright," Eden said. "Have you always lived in Camden?"

Oscar shook his head. "No, I'm from Little Soaking in the Fenlands, but last spring someone brought a bad fever to the village and people started dying. We went south to escape it, but the fever must have come to the city too, because mum and dad died, and so did everyone at our boarding house."

"That must have been awful, I'm so sorry," said Eden, thinking it more likely that Oscar's parents had carried the fever to Camden.

"It was. I woke up one morning with everything dark and cold, no one had lit the fire or the stove. I thought they were all asleep at first, and when I realised the truth, I was put into such a fright." Oscar rubbed the tip of his nose as he said, "I didn't cry. Not even a little bit." 

"I wouldn't blame you if you cried a big bit," Eden assured him. "Was there no one to help you?" 

"Some people came to the house, but I was scared they'd put me in an orphanage, so I ran down a back lane and hid in an empty barrel," Oscar said.

"Wouldn't it be better to be in an orphanage?"

Oscar shook his head vehemently.

"No! My granny was in the orphanage at Woolverstone, and she said it was a bad, cruel place. She told me if anyone came to put me in an orphanage to run and run and never let them catch me."

"Where's your granny now?"

"In the ground," Oscar stated baldly. "She died from the fever before we ever left our village. We took to the river to come here the day she was buried."

"Your poor granny," said Eden. "But I was told that the king closed down all the bad orphanages when he came to the throne. And now they are much better than they were in your granny's time."

"Have you seen any orphanages?" Oscar asked sceptically.

"Well ... no," Eden had to admit. "But I met some children who were at an orphanage, and they looked healthy and fairly happy."

"You don't really know," Oscar insisted. "Granny said you can't go by appearances."

"I've been told it's the best orphanage in the kingdom," Eden said.

"Well, I'm sticking with what Granny said," Oscar declared. "She was actually in an orphanage and you haven't even seen one."

Eden gave a small sigh, and said, "Look if you ever change your mind, will you please go to the King Philip Children's Home in Blythe Green and ask for help? Can you remember that?"

"I can remember, but I don't know where Blythe Green is or how to get there, and I won't change my mind."

"Please think about it," Eden said.

Instead of answering, Oscar suddenly went stiff all over, and nervously sniffed the air.

"He's here," he said, beginning to tremble. "That man. He's looking for me."

"You can smell him?" Eden asked in shock.

"Yes, and once you'd smelled him, you would remember it always as well," Oscar said.

"You've got to get away," Eden said urgently. "Run and hide, like your granny told you to do. And you need a code name. If I ever see you again, I'll call you Mouse."

"And I'll call you Vickie," Oscar said, getting down on his stomach.

He wriggled along the ground, staying hidden under the table, and trying to reach the next stall by the same method.

"I'll distract him," said Eden, likewise getting down flat and wriggling from under the table without lifting the cloth.

It was harder for her to wriggle because she was bigger than Oscar, and wearing heavier clothing, but she managed to roll under the safety of the cloth and push herself up using her hands. Her hat fell off and she jammed it back on her head, hastily brushing down her dress and coat.

She could see the man in black, slowly circling the market square, looking at the paving or crouching down as if searching for something small and hidden. He was coming closer and closer towards the candle stall, and Eden had to force herself not to look for Oscar, lest she give him away. She hoped he was still hidden.

Rather than let the man get any closer, Eden ran towards him, wishing she had any sort of plan. In adventure stories, the heroes and heroines come up with clever strategies in an instant, but all she had was nerve, and a desperate desire to stop him.

"Oh please sir, would you like to buy a nice fresh bun?" she gabbled.

"Get out of my way, girl," he growled without looking at her, brushing his hand in an impatient gesture.

"Just one copper coin from The Red Rose Coffee House, special offer today," Eden persisted. "Oh do try one, sir. They've got currants."

"I said get out," he barked, but this time he looked down at her, so that she quailed under his glare.

"Er, buy one bun, get one free," said Eden lamely, fast running out of things to say.

"Wait a minute, I've seen you before," he said, recognition dawning. "You're the meddling little piece who runs round with that ugly ginger baggage."

"She's not ugly!" shouted Eden, losing her temper. "She's strong and brave and clever!"

She kicked out at the man, who jumped backwards to save his knee, spitting out a filthy curse at her. He lunged at her with violent threats, and Eden danced out of his way, until she felt a hand clutching the back of her collar.

Eden was pulled towards the man until she was close enough to smell him, and then a voice broke through the crowds like a brick shattering glass.

"Here, you! You get your hands orf her, or I'll have you!"