Dangerous Knight by Elizabeth Johns

Chapter Eleven

After the confrontation with Lloyd, Jack had left the gaming hell more convinced than ever that something was going on. Would Lloyd divulge the truth at the meeting this morning? Had Jack almost broken his cover? He had wrestled with the problem during the few remaining hours of the night and was now waiting for Philip to join him for breakfast before they left to go to the War Office. He sat nursing a cup of coffee in the breakfast parlor, wishing he was going to his bed instead.

Wethersby entered and paused. “You have a visitor, sir.”

“Yes, I am expecting him. Please show him in.”

“A young lady has called to see you, sir.”

Jack’s brows raised in question.

“Miss Rafferty, sir.”

“Then by all means, show her in!”

Wethersby leaned forward and whispered. “She is alone, sir.”

“Then she must have a good reason for being here,” he said briskly. Standing up, he walked into the hall to greet her.

“Kate? What is wrong?” He held out his arms and clasped her hands with concern.

She looked around as though to see who was listening, so he led her into the breakfast parlour and closed the door.

“You seem a little discomposed. Are you quite well?”

She nodded, but she was no simpering miss and she was clearly disturbed. He held out a chair for her and eased her into it, before pouring her some coffee and sitting next to her.

She took a deep breath and then began to tell him what she had witnessed the previous night. He managed to contain himself and allow her to tell her story without interruption, but by the time she haltingly told him the second man had mentioned her by name, Jack was boiling with fury.

A knock on the door heralded Philip’s arrival, and Jack repeated the essentials of the tale to him while he breakfasted.

“We must go to a meeting,” Jack then informed Miss Rafferty. “Do you feel able to return to Mottram Place? You should not wander about Town by yourself! If you are not comfortable there, we will find another situation for you.”

“No, no, I will be well enough, on both counts. Major Lloyd did not see me, I feel quite certain.”

“Promise me you will never venture downstairs alone again.”

“I need no warning,” she said, “even in the daylight! But if I were to leave suddenly, he might become suspicious.”

“Very true. However, you cannot say a word to anyone about your suspicions of Lloyd—especially to Maria,” Philip warned.

“I hope you are a good actor,” Jack added. “I cannot like this.”

“Nor I, but it must be done—for now at least,” she conceded.

Jack hoped her bravado would carry her through once she was back there.

“We will take you back on the way to our meeting. I will call on you this afternoon,” Jack said.

Once they had escorted Miss Rafferty safely back to Mottram Place, Jack and Philip climbed back into the waiting hackney.

“This is worse than we thought,” Jack began.

“How I wish she had seen who the second man was,” Philip remarked.

“It could still be Feathers,” Jack pointed out. Their suspicions of him were already heightened.

“I think she would have known if it was he.”

“What do you propose we do?”

“We must have more proof before we act. Lloyd thinks you believe him to be investigating those other men. I think we should try to discover who they were. After our meeting, we can seek out Sheldon.”

When they entered the meeting room, Jack was unsurprised to see Wellington had joined them.

“Forgive our tardiness, sir. We had a slight diversion on the way here.”

Wellington gave a nod in acceptance of the apology and indicated for them to sit down. “Make your reports first,” he said, looking at Lloyd.

“I have a group of four men I am watching with a view to being accepted into their circle.”

Wellington rubbed his chin. “I see. Is there a connection?”

“I became aware of them through searching the visitor logs.”

“Do you think one of this group stole the papers?”

“That is what I am trying to discover.”

Jack did not allow himself to glance at Philip to see his reaction, but Lloyd’s smooth declaration was too coincidental.

“Very well. Knight?”

“Sir. I have not had much success. I, too, have been trying to narrow down who had access to the documents at the time they were stolen. All I have been able to ascertain is that it was not someone from outside.”

Knight’s information contradicted what Lloyd had just said, but Wellington and General Newsom did not point that out. Jack cast a subtle glance at Lloyd, but he did not fidget or squirm. Of course, he was trained not to.

“And the two of you?” Wellington turned to Jack and Philip.

“We obtained a list of known threats to the King or Prince. We have narrowed this down to two likely suspects but, so far, have ascertained no plausible threat or means to carry out such an act.”

Wellington sighed. “I need not tell you we have little time remaining in which to ferret out the traitor.”

Each of them acknowledged that fact.

“We have a guard set around the clock, near the parade grounds, but I want this weasel found. Look anywhere and everywhere. Anyone with French connections—anyone with a record of discord amongst the ranks—anyone who is desperate for funds.”

“Knight, you and Lloyd take that tack, Everleigh and Owens, continue to investigate the threats to the celebrations.”

“Yes, sir.” Saluting smartly, they began to disperse.

Wellington and Newsom then entered into a low-voiced conversation, so Jack and Philip waited.

“You are barking up two different trees,” General Newsom insisted.

Wellington shook his head. “My instinct says otherwise.”

“However it is, we had better find the culprit and fast,” Newsom said before leaving the room.

“Are you waiting for me?” Wellington asked when he noticed the two of them remaining.

“Yes, sir. There is something we are obliged to tell you and you will understand the need for discretion,” Philip replied.

“Of course.” He held his hand for them to sit back down and Jack closed the door behind him.

He then relayed what they had discovered thus far about Feathers’ and Lloyd’s possible connection.

Wellington cursed. “I need not tell you the ramifications if he is our traitor. We have to be utterly and completely certain.”

“Yes, sir. It is why we have said nothing to anyone else, but we thought you would wish to be careful with what information is disseminated.”

He ran his hand over his face and looked away as though lost in thought. “Yes. It would appear so. I will think more on it, but you did the right thing in telling me.”

Jack and Philip departed, leaving Wellington deep in concentration. Outside in the corridor, Felix Knight was waiting for them.

“Owens, Everleigh, I wish to speak with you,” he said. “Privately,” he clarified.

“Of course. We may go to my house,” Jack offered.

They left the War Office and sought their horses before returning to Half Moon Street, where they gave their mounts into the charge of grooms at the mews.

Once inside the house, Jack ordered a luncheon to be prepared for the three of them and led his comrades into his study. The door snapped shut behind him and he looked at Major Knight expectantly.

“I suspect you have found some of the same information I have,” Knight began, “and that is why you were discussing with Wellington in private.”

“Do you mean with respect to Lloyd?”

“Yes. It seems he is the most likely suspect to have taken the documents, but it makes no sense to me.”

“I cannot help but think there is some different play at hand, and yet I cannot think what that might be,” Philip agreed.

“Precisely. What motive would he have? I have been scavenging deep and cannot find anything – no French roots, no heavy debts, no grievance against the army or the government…”

“That we know of,” Jack added.

“So he must be trying to penetrate some group in order to catch them, but why not let us in on the game?” Knight asked. “That is why I kept mum. I wanted to discuss it with you and see if I was reading too deeply into it, but when I discovered you had come to the same conclusions, I thought it best to pool our resources and wits.”

“Lloyd has always been somewhat solitary. Perhaps he wants to go out on his own?” Philip suggested.

“For glory?” Jack asked, the idea repugnant to him.

“I find that doubtful, but there has to be a very good reason for him to risk his own neck and his family name,” Knight said.

“Perhaps that is the answer. Is there something deeper within the family that we are as yet unaware of?”

“The Mottram earldom goes back centuries,” Philip put in defensively, as though the idea of such an old family being traitorous was preposterous.

“Then that is a lot of skeletons to look for in a lot of priest holes,” Jack drawled.

“Your ward is aware of the situation and in a perfect position to search…” Philip suggested.

“A horrible idea if ever I heard one! She has no training – and no idea of what she would be facing.”

“Thus far she has been an admirable informant,” Philip argued.

“Would either of you care to explain what you are talking about?” Knight asked.

Philip took it upon himself to explain about Miss Rafferty—that she was Jack’s ward, and what she had discovered, painting it in a light that suited his purposes, of course. Jack was not pleased.

“And what of these drawings you asked Lady Maria to sketch?” Knight asked.

“Over here,” Jack said as he went to fetch them from the desk.

Knight studied them carefully. “And you saw these three men with this Mr. Feathers?”

“We believe so,” Jack answered. “Do you recognize any of them? The drawings are rough, but captures the general essence of the men.”

“I believe I know one of them. Lieutenant Jennings, famous deserter of Badajoz. He escaped while we were in prison together.”

*

Kate was concerned,yet there was little she could do. It was nerve-racking to be under the same roof with a possible traitor, and yet staying at the house might help her discover more to help Captain Owens.

How devastating it would be for Maria and her family! Could there be a way to catch Gabriel Lloyd and hush everything up? She dearly hoped so. She wanted Mr. Feathers to be the villain, not her dear friend’s brother.

When Kate had returned from visiting her guardian, Lady Mottram and Lady Maria were out paying calls on a close friend. Kate hesitated to go back into Mottram Place without Maria, but surely, she was being silly? It was daylight and Major Lloyd did not appear to suspect her of anything other than being a witless female.

She fetched her book from the library and withdrew to her sitting room upstairs. Lost in the trials of Marianne and Willoughby, Kate was able to forget about her own concerns for a few minutes—until there was a knock on the door, causing her to jump.

Instead of calling enter, she went to open the door herself. She did not want just anyone coming in when she was alone.

It was a footman. “Miss, there is a caller for you.” He proffered a silver salver with a calling card on it.

“Captain Owens,” she said, reading the inscription aloud. “Tell him I will be right down.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Kate tidied herself in the looking-glass and grabbed her bonnet just in case. She desired to be outside, and hoped he would oblige.

“Captain Owens!” she exclaimed when she found him alone in the drawing room. “Good afternoon. Are you well?”

“Miss Rafferty.” He made a quick bow. “I am well, and yourself?”

“Thank you, I am also well.” She paused awkwardly, sensing there was more.

“Do you have time to accompany me for a drive?”

“I do. Lady Maria and Lady Mottram are out. Allow me a moment to leave word for them. Do I need my maid?”

“I have brought an open vehicle, and I would rather speak to you alone, if possible.”

“You are also my guardian,” she said wryly.

“I have not forgotten,” he returned in a disgruntled tone that made her smile.

Outside, a smart phaeton, pulled by matching greys and held by a groom, was waiting for them.

“Did you purchase a new vehicle?” she asked.

“No, this belongs to the Everleigh household and I happen to have a connection there,” he said as he assisted her up.

“It is very smart, but I have never been so high off the ground,” she remarked as he joined her and took the reins from the groom.

“Does it scare you?”

“Not as long as you know how to drive it.”

Instead of answering, he laughed and expertly wove the greys through the traffic to the park.

It was a lovely day, one of those rarities without a cloud in the sky. Everything was in full bloom and the birds sang their approval as the carriage bowled along.

“Has something happened?” she asked, once they were going at a gentle amble along one of the carriageways.

“No, not a great deal more than you already know. It seems that another one of our sources also suspects Lloyd is the most likely person to have stolen some papers from the War Office.”

“Oh, dear. I have been hoping desperately that this was an awful mistake.”

“It still might be.” His voice held a warning. “We would still like more proof that he is acting on his own and not for someone else.”

“Yes,” she agreed quietly, although her mind raced.

She heard him hesitate before he spoke again. “Much though I hate to put you in this position, my superiors would very much appreciate any more information you are able to obtain. However, as your guardian, it is incumbent upon me to say you need not feel obligated to do anything more. You are putting yourself in a great deal of danger.”

“I have already considered that, and it is the right thing to do.”

“I do not want you to go out of your way and raise any suspicion,” he added.

“What further proof are you looking for and what kind?” she asked. “Lady Maria has already searched his chamber and the study, finding nothing.”

He looked over at her. “Lady Maria did that?”

“Oh, yes.” Kate nodded. “She is full of pluck. If her brother is involved in any wrongdoing, I would not put it past her to strangle him herself.”

Captain Owens laughed. “I think I like your Lady Maria, though I should not make light of his actions.”

“No, indeed. He sounded so self-righteous last night. If only I could place the other gentleman.”

“Speaking of gentlemen, have you found any who have stirred your interest?”

She looked sideways at him beneath her bonnet. “Not to any particular degree. Why do you ask?”

“I have already had three gentlemen request permission to court you.”

“No! It must be a jest!”

“I assure you, there is no joke. One of them is even a rather respectable gentleman who had already drawn up the very generous settlements.”

“But how absurd!” she exclaimed in disbelief.

“The ton is very strange, but Lord Summers assures me you would make his old age quite pleasant to endure.”

“He must be eighty at the very least!”

“Oh, yes,” Captain Owens agreed, “but he assures me it will be worth it.”

He looked at her astonished face and laughed again. “My dear, just be flattered. No need to take any of it seriously, you know. Nevertheless, you will apprise me, will you not, if there should be someone you would have me consider?”

She shook her head. “There is no one, sir. Why, I have hardly had the opportunity to speak to any gentleman about more than the weather.”

“That hardly matters in the ton, but I assure you there is no hurry.”

“Do I infer you have resigned yourself to being my guardian?”

“What else could I do? It is somewhat different from how I envisaged, having met you, I will admit.”

“I should be flattered, I suppose. It cannot be pleasant, having to worry about me while having these other considerations on your mind.”

“You have been useful, so far,” he teased.

“I aim to please,” she retorted sardonically. “I confess I do not enjoy idleness, although there is some fascination to being in the city. I had always wondered what it was like and what delights it held.”

“If there is anything I can show you, you need only to ask. I find London is pleasing in small doses.”

“I am certain I should be ready by the time I return to the country,” she said, reflectively.

“Do you have a particular place in mind?” he asked as he negotiated a corner.

“No. Without knowing my circumstances, I had not dared to dream.”

“You are welcome at Winterbourne for as long as I own it,” he said graciously. “Not, I will add, as a servant,” he clarified.

“You are very kind to offer, but it is time I stood on my own feet. You will not be my guardian for much longer.”

He muttered something inaudibly under his breath and drove on in silence. Kate gazed at the passing scene and repressed a chuckle. As they made their second circle of the park, Captain Owens waved to a few of his acquaintances.

“Is this what fashionable folk do, drive or ride around in circles all afternoon?”

“Oh, yes. Anybody who matters in Society goes in circles,” he said in a serious tone.

Reluctantly she had to admit she enjoyed his sense of the ridiculous, and was growing more comfortable in his presence.

“In actual fact, I am hoping we will see our four friends again.”

“You consider them to be friends now?”

“Everyone is a friend until they are no longer.”

“Duly noted. It was much earlier in the day when we saw those gentlemen. If they are plotting something nefarious, I hardly think they would risk meeting in such a public place out when the whole of Society is.”

“This is the time to be seen, and that is why it is one of the best times to blend in. I speak from experience. No one suspects anything.”

“Then I stand corrected and I shall pay more attention!”

“If only my soldiers were so obliging.”

Kate bit back a riposte about allowing females into the ranks. “Have you had any success in discovering who the other three gentlemen are?” She glanced up at Captain Owens’ finely chiseled face and saw his jaw clench. She could see that he had and that the news was not good.

“Yes, we know who another one of them is,” he said as he slowed the horses to navigate through a crowd. “The name will not mean much to you, I am afraid, but Major Knight recognized one of them as a former soldier. He escaped from prison, then deserted after Badajoz and has not been seen since.”

Kate glanced at her companion’s stern profile. “You believe something caused his desertion and he is now plotting his vengeance?”

“It would seem so.”

“Then he will have nothing to lose, will he?”

“No, and that is what I am afraid of.”

“Yet it would also seem Major Lloyd has everything one could want.”

Captain Owens blew out a frustrated breath. “Yes, and that makes him even more dangerous than Jennings.”