Leon Garfield

In Victorian England, on the wild side of St James Park live two ragged children; young Nick and his nine-year-old sister Jubilee. Once they had a father, but now they are alone - and Nick knows it is his responsibility to find Jubilee a husband. But who would want to wed a girl who can neither cook nor sew, read nor write?

When Barnacle falls down the wrong chimney he stumbles unwittingly into the midst of a web of murder and deceit.