Dangerous Knight by Elizabeth Johns
Chapter Fourteen
Jack was watching Miss Rafferty’s face and he saw her expression change. What had happened—or what had she seen? She was staring in his direction as though she had seen a ghost. Yet the only people near him were Everleigh, Knight and Newsom. He tried subtly to signal to her, but her expression remained fixed. Turning, he looked about the room. Perhaps she was looking at someone behind him? Had she seen the second gentleman?
Lord and Lady Worth were in conversation with Lord and Lady Mottram, so he knew they could not be the reason for her look of shock. He needed to speak with her, but he would have to be discreet. While she could not dance, the first set was promised to Lady Maria, so perhaps she would mention what had troubled Miss Rafferty.
The orchestra was beginning to sound more in tune, indicating that the dancing was about to begin. He excused himself from his friends and made his way over to Lady Maria.
“My lady, shall we take the floor?” He held out his arm to her, casting a questioning look at Miss Rafferty, who gave a small shake of her head. Later then. ’Twas not what he wished for, but she could hardly blurt out her suspicions in a crowded ballroom.
They took their places in the set and he bowed before his partner. It was a minuet, so they had a few moments in which to speak.
“I am worried about Kate,” Lady Maria said.
“Indeed? Has something happened?”
She gave him an incredulous look.
“Besides what has already happened,” he clarified.
“I believe she has seen something or someone tonight.”
“What happened?” He struggled to continue dancing.
“We were conversing one moment, and then in the next she seemed upset and asked me who a particular gentleman was.”
“Who was the gentleman?”
“That is what concerns me. I did not recognize him.”
“I would have suspected you of knowing everyone amongst the ton,” Jack bantered.
“I do have an extensive acquaintance, it is true,” she responded, her eyes twinkling as she agreed with his assessment.
“Can you tell me anything about him? It might help us to narrow down who orchestrated the attack on Miss Rafferty in the park.”
“I think it was the gentleman you were speaking with; an older gentleman in uniform.”
“But that is…impossible,” Jack said as he realized she meant General Newsom. The general was the one who had set Jack and the others the task of finding who was behind the plot against the Prince and the stolen papers.
Could it have been an elaborate diversion? It was bad enough that Lloyd appeared to be knee deep in the plot, but Newsom was the head of the War Department, answering only to the Secretary of State. It was an unthinkable betrayal. If he was involved, then no one was to be trusted.
Could he be such an accomplished actor?
“Perhaps there was someone else behind you who she saw, and I am mistaken,” Lady Maria suggested in the face of his obvious disbelief. “Or maybe it is a horrible case of mistaken identity.”
“Perhaps. I will speak with her after our set.” Jack’s mind continued to race with the implications and ramifications of such a betrayal within the ranks of England’s military, while his gaze wandered over to where Miss Rafferty was sitting with the dowagers. To his dismay, she was not alone. Mr. Feathers was standing next to her, speaking with a cool, social smile. What the devil was going on? And how deep did the duplicity run?
“He is not a pleasant man, and I do not believe Kate cares for him. Shall we rescue her?” Lady Maria asked, clearly having followed his gaze to Miss Rafferty and Mr. Feathers.
He held out his arm with a nod and led her back to the side of the ballroom bordering the garden. A line of potted plants and two rows of chairs flanked the doors leading to the terrace, which were propped open to admit the cool evening breeze. Feathers looked up when they approached, his beady eyes assessing, challenging. Jack’s senses were immediately alerted, ready for any excuse to dispose of the man. Instantly, he studied Miss Rafferty for any signs of distress.
“I was enquiring after Miss Rafferty’s health,” Feathers began. “Having heard she had suffered a fall, I was surprised to find her here, looking so well.”
“Word of such calamities spreads quickly, I fear,” Miss Rafferty said, showing a bold face, but he could perceive pinched lines of worry behind her smile. He wanted to scoop her into his arms and take her home where he could protect her.
It was a disconcerting thought.
“As you can see, though, sir, I am quite well. ’Twas but a minor injury to my arm,” she answered.
“You are very brave, Miss Rafferty. I am relieved to hear no serious damage has been caused,” Feathers said.
Jack sensed that the popinjay was fishing for information, so he deliberately directed the conversation in that direction. “Something caused her horse to shy,” he said.
“Oh, indeed? I suppose that is a common enough occurrence in such a busy place and on an unfamiliar horse.”
Jack wanted to know how Feathers had become privy to such information.
“Lloyd was telling us about the sad affair,” the man added, as if reading Jack’s suspicions. “He was feeling guilty for having mounted you on the new mare.”
“It was simply an accident. It could have happened to anyone with any horse.”
“You are very gracious,” Feathers replied, appearing satisfied with Miss Rafferty’s answers. He excused himself to find his next partner, and Jack sat down beside Kate.
“Could it have been him?” he asked quietly.
“I would like it to be. He makes my hair stand on end.”
“I agree that is usually a reliable indicator, but could he be the second gentleman?”
She narrowed her gaze as though re-considering. “No. I am afraid not.”
“I want it to be him,” Jack said after a moment of reflection.
“It would be much easier that way,” she agreed. “I am afraid the older man you and Captain Everleigh were speaking with earlier bears a great deal of resemblance to the man I saw that night.”
“I cannot tell you the fall out that will occur if he is the traitor.”
“Perhaps he simply bears an uncanny resemblance to Major Lloyd’s companion. I was across the room from him. I will attempt to draw closer.”
“I daresay I might arrange that. I do not want him to grow suspicious.”
“’Tis hardly possible for me to stroll into the card room and ask him if I may have a better look at him!”
Jack gave her a look such as his father had given him when he had been impertinent as a child. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. When he opened them again, she was smiling sweetly at him. “Very well,” he said resignedly, “what was your plan?”
“I thought to make subtle excursions, like visiting the retiring room and fetching a glass of lemonade.”
“Oh no, no; you will soon be besieged by gentlemen offering to do that for you.”
“Is it necessary?” She looked as though she had tasted a glass of sour lemon juice instead.
“It is unavoidable, I am afraid. Perhaps you could take a turn about the room on my arm if you feel up to it? I have not promised the set to anyone.”
“I believe if you are there to hold me up, I can manage,” she replied sardonically.
“You have a sharp tongue, my dear,” Jack said appreciatively.
“Your grandmother frequently remarked upon it,” she agreed.
“Then I must say what a lovely quality it is.”
“I am much obliged, sir,” she said, chuckling as he held out his hand to assist her to her feet. She took his arm and he felt buoyed by her closeness and the camaraderie they seemed to have created in so short a time. He hated that she was knee-deep in the middle of this trouble, and he wanted it solved as soon as possible. The thought of her not needing him, of leaving her here alone, saddened him.
“Why so maudlin?” she asked perceptively.
“Gracious, I am maudlin. It is such a foreign behavior to me that I did not immediately recognize it!”
She laughed, as he had hoped she would, and they made their way toward the first knot of people and to safer waters…for him at least.
*
Kate hated toadmit how much she enjoyed Captain Owens’ company. He made her laugh when she might have otherwise crawled into a corner and cried. He was easy company and that feeling had been missing from her life for the past few years.
“Now you look overly thoughtful,” Captain Owens remarked. “Do you care to tell me what is on your mind, or are you concentrating on finding our man?”
“I was wool-gathering,” she admitted, “but I shall look in earnest now.”
They walked along, Jack greeting his acquaintances and introducing her.
“I do not know too many people,” he confessed.
“You know more than I do. Perhaps I should ask Lady Maria to take me about?”
“No, that will not be necessary. This serves our purpose and I feel safer if I am here with you.”
Kate did, too, but she could hardly say that aloud.
“I suspect the general is in the card room. Shall we venture in there?”
“Will there be any other ladies in there?”
“’Tis unlikely we shall see any young ones, but certainly the old, hardened gamesters will be, playing for a penny a point.”
Kate laughed again. “Very well; lead the way.”
As soon as they walked into the room, Kate could tell something had changed. Her gaze instantly found Feathers and the general speaking in a corner. Feathers looked up and caught her watching him; then the general turned to see what he was looking at.
Captain Owens squeezed her arm. “Do not stare, my dear.”
She turned to him and smiled. “Yes, of course. It is frowned upon, is it not? I have been too long in the country, sir, so you must forgive me…but I am even more certain, now that I see him closely.”
“We must go and speak with Lady Mottram so it appears that you have a purpose in here.”
Kate wanted to be sick there and then. Was it due to her injury or was it being face to face with the knowledge that she had identified the traitor?
“Lady Mottram,” Captain Owens said, bowing when they reached her. They made small talk for a few minutes before he led Kate back to the ballroom and her seat against the wall. “Will you be content here by yourself? I promised this next dance to Lord Worth’s granddaughter.”
“Yes, of course. However, I do not think I wish to remain for the whole evening after all.”
“Very well. I will make our excuses once I have fulfilled my duty in the country dance.”
Kate nodded and watched him leave. She was decidedly unsettled and wished the dance would proceed more quickly. It was hard not to feel conspicuous, sitting there alone, now that she was no longer looking for the second gentleman.
Ordinarily, she would have been intrigued to watch the different types of people in attendance, so she tried to do that. The characters were clear when one started to look: the shy young girls, the arrogant older men, the inquisitive dowagers, and the kind gentlemen who made sure the wallflowers had a partner…
The ploy almost worked until she saw Mr. Feathers again, lurking near the terrace doors. She saw him slip through them and had only a moment to make a decision. Grateful she had chosen a dark gown that evening, she slipped through one of the other doors and hid in the shadows.
Her guardian would kill her himself if he knew what she was doing, but they were so close to catching the traitors and she did not wish for another attempt on her life. Next time, they might be successful, she thought cynically.
She stopped to listen and let her eyes adjust to the darkness.
The smell of cigar smoke wafted through the air and she was certain something more was happening than some gentleman merely enjoying a draught of tobacco.
On tiptoe, she crept forward, every step sounded like a crunching twig beneath her feet, yet she had to be close enough to hear. She stopped at the bottom of the furthest flight of steps to the garden, keeping in the shade beneath the balustrade, when she heard voices.
“They are too close,” the gravelly voice growled.
“No one suspects the truth,” Feathers replied.
“You are a liability, not an asset, and are therefore dispensable.”
Kate wondered what that signified.
“Where is it?” Newsom demanded.
“You will never discover it without me.”
“Then I must count on the fact that no one else will, either. You have become too much of a nuisance and this cannot go on.”
“I have left instructions should anything happen to me,” Feathers pleaded, panic evident in his voice.
“You are bluffing.”
“I will get them for you,” Feathers pleaded. “They are nearby. I can have them to you in the morning.”
“It is too late. I will find them on my own. You should not have toyed with me.”
Kate heard a loud thud, followed by a groan and a slicing noise. She grabbed onto the baluster with her good hand. She could only imagine what was occurring and knew she must fetch help. She would be incapable of defending Feathers on her own. Running back inside the ballroom, she was relieved to find Lord Philip almost at once.
“What is it?”
“Come quickly, sir. I very much fear that Mr. Feathers has been harmed.”
He followed without hesitation and she led him back to the spot where she had overheard the altercation. No one was there.
“You are certain it was here?”
“Yes. I was standing just over there.” She pointed to the terrace where she had been standing, near the steps that led down to the garden.
Lord Philip looked around at the informal pleasure garden, then knelt down to survey the grass. “Go back and find Captain Owens for me, Miss Rafferty, and try, if you will, to bring a taper or two.”
It took her a few minutes to locate Captain Owens and find some tapers, but at last she saw him, conversing with a plump dowager in a coquelicot turban. She explained what she had overheard to her guardian as they walked steadily, trying to not draw attention to their purpose.
“I shall strangle you if he does not do so first,” he scolded her in a low voice.
“Later,” she agreed absently, too distraught to worry about his rebuke.
Minutes later, they found Lord Philip, who was back in the spot where she had left him.
“Find anything?” Owens asked.
“No people, but I found this,” he said, taking one of the tapers and leading them a few feet into the garden.
There was a dark spot on a gravel path and two tracks scraped through the pebbles.
“What does it mean?” Kate asked.
“It means that in all likelihood Feathers was killed and dragged away.”
Kate gasped. It was what she had feared, but seeing the evidence and hearing them say it out loud made it too real. “Where do you think they have taken him?”
“I doubt we will ever know, but I suspect a body will wash up in the Thames in the next few days.”
Kate felt bile rising in the back of her throat. “I think I would like to go home now.”
“Of course, my dear. I will escort you there now. Philip, I will meet up with you again later.”
Kate was grateful no more explanations were needed. It was one thing to know murder was a part of spying, but another to actually be a part of it.
“Will you send Knight out here so we shall have another witness?” Lord Philip asked.
“Yes, of course.” Her guardian led her back into the ballroom.
“Can you trust Knight?” Kate asked as he searched the crowd for Major Knight.
“I would trust him with my life. He and Everleigh have been by my side through the whole campaign.”
“I am happy to hear there is someone you can trust. I am beginning to suspect everyone of everything.”
“I, too. I would never have thought it of Newsom…” She heard his voice trail off and suspected his throat was constricting.
He said no more and helped her to climb in the carriage. It was a short drive back to Half Moon Street, and Kate was grateful to feel safe again, away from the evil she had witnessed.
Wethersby opened the door for them, concern etched on his face. “Has something happened, sir?”
“Miss Rafferty is feeling tired. Send for her maid, will you, please?”
“Of course,” Wethersby answered as he closed the door behind them.
“Perhaps a tray would be welcome since we left before dinner,” Captain Owens said. “And a bottle of brandy,” he called over his shoulder.
“There is no need to fuss over me. I will be happy enough to sleep now.”
He continued to fuss, escorting her up the stairs and waiting with her in the sitting room while her maid was sought and food was prepared.
“Are you certain you will be able to sleep? Should I send for the doctor?”
“I will be perfectly comfortable. Do go and find Captain Everleigh and catch whoever did this.”
He looked at her knowingly, as though he believed not a word of her assurances, and that she might never sleep again after what she had heard.
Their gazes locked, and she could no longer be strong. Her chin began to tremble, and her body began to shake with fear.
In seconds, it seemed, a glass of brandy was pressed to her lips. “Take a sip. Trust me.”
Liquid fire burned through her as it descended, but the shaking began to ease. Warm arms surrounded her and she allowed herself to sink into the embrace and allowed him to bear the weight of the burden for a moment. He pulled her closer than was brotherly, but she allowed it and inhaled deeply, relishing the warmth. He kissed the top of her head and it was so gentle, so sweet, that she was quite content to stay there.
He sighed deeply, and she could feel the breath against her cheek. “I should go and see if I can help Philip.”
She nodded, and allowed herself to be led to a chair while she waited for Simpson.
He squeezed her arm and moved to leave the room.
“Jack?” Her call stopped him and he turned back. “Please be careful.”
He inclined his head. “Until the morning, my dear.”