Dangerous Knight by Elizabeth Johns

Chapter Sixteen

Jack and Philip made their way to the Albany, where Feathers had rooms.

“I hope he will answer the door to us and explain what this business is all about,” Jack remarked.

“Indeed, that would be pleasant for a change, instead of finding our suspect dead and having to ferret information out of others,” Philip reflected.

“It would be boring, is what it would be,” Jack retorted.

They reached the door, and there was no answer to their summons. Jack made quick work of the lock with his knife and the door opened into an unexpected sight.

“This is disappointing,” Jack said as he looked around at an almost sterile room.

“It does not look as if anyone lives here,” Philip observed. “Do you think the killer was here before us and was seized by some strange compulsion to put everything in order?”

“It is very odd, but Newsom is a general and most generals are tidy.”

“Most generals have a servant to tidy for them.”

Jack shrugged. “I suppose we should still look around, though I doubt we will find anything.”

“Nor do I,” Philip agreed.

Jack wandered around the sitting room and into the bedchamber. “It looks as though he did not plan on returning.”

“Perhaps he was expecting a large payment and then to leave the country?”

“I daresay we will never know,” Jack called from the bedchamber, busy searching every pocket of the few pieces of clothing remaining. “One thing I can say with certainty is that not for a king’s ransom would I want to wear such clothing as this. There are pairs of bright green and yellow pantaloons as well as spotted and peacock waistcoats…”

Philip made a noise of disgust. Jack heard him opening drawers and cupboard doors of the meager furniture as he searched them. “Nothing in here.” He came into the bed chamber. “Any luck in here?”

“Just some old receipts in one or two pockets.”

“Here, I will look through them while you finish searching.” He held his hand and took them from Jack, who moved onto searching the tables on either side of the bed and then under the mattress. After that he rolled up the carpet and checked each of the floorboards.

“How is Aunt Hattie’s chaperonage succeeding?” Philip asked sardonically.

“She is perfectly amiable. Please convey my thanks to your mother.”

Philip laughed. “I think my mother has ulterior motives.”

“Aye, along with every married female across the kingdom.”

“If word gets out who your chaperone is, there will be hell to pay.”

Jack rose from the floor and dusted his breeches. “You know, I have never understood why all these old ladies, who I have never met, would care.”

“They have nothing else to do,” Philip replied, studying one piece of paper in particular.

“What have you there?” Jack asked.

“A bank transaction, but I cannot make out much of it.”

“At least that is something. I do not think there is anything else here to find.”

“It does not appear so. We can stop at the bank on the way back to my house. I wanted to meet with Sheldon one last time before we make our report.”

Jack looked at him in confusion.

“I sent him with Knight to search the warehouse. Time is short.”

“It also saves us a trip,” Jack agreed.

They found their mounts and rode into the City. It took quite a bit of coaxing, even after showing their credentials, and quite a bit of coin to convince the manager to admit Mr. Feathers had accounts with that particular bank.

Jack hated to divulge the information, but it appeared necessary. “Mr. Feathers has met with an unfortunate end. We were investigating him for possible criminal activity.”

“He is dead, you say?”

“It appears that way,” Philip confirmed.

“Then I suppose there is no harm. Of late, Mr. Feathers had become quite a customer but recently he made a very large withdrawal. He does still have a safe deposit box with us, however.”

Jack nodded. “If we could see inside the box, please?”

“Come this way.” The gentleman pulled a set of keys from his waistband and took them through several sets of doors before reaching an inner room lined with boxes. He pulled one from a shelf and then unlocked it with a key he retrieved from a row inside the inner room.

“Ring the bell if you need anything and someone will attend you,” the manager said before leaving them alone.

“I am afraid to hope,” Philip said as he lifted the metal lid.

“Is it empty?” Jack asked, trying to peer inside.

He opened the box wider, and looked closer. “Actually no, but there is only a key.”

“A key?” Jack asked, his heart sinking. “I do not suppose it has any sort of identification on it?”

Philip held up a small iron key that was as plain and unidentifiable as any he had ever seen.

“Should we return to his rooms and give it a try?”

“I found nothing whatsoever in those rooms that it would have opened.”

“Nor did I,” Jack admitted, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Perhaps it will open a money-box at another bank?”

“Perhaps,” Philip agreed, “but we will find ourselves on a wild goose chase.”

“I think we should take it. You never know what we may come upon.”

They left the bank and headed to Whitehall. “What shall we say?” Jack asked.

“I think we should say as much as possible, omitting the facts that Kate was the one who overheard what happened in the garden and that we suspect Newsom.”

“And Lloyd,” Jack pointed out.

“And Lloyd,” Philip concurred.

“We have less than two days to discover what this is all about.”

“I hope Sheldon and Knight found something at the warehouse.”

“I had almost forgotten about the warehouse,” Jack said. “It would be helpful if they have found a keyhole needing a key.”

“No one is as lucky as that,” Philip retorted.

They entered Whitehall and wound through the maze of halls and doorways until they reached the meeting room. They were the last to arrive, and Jack had to work extra hard to keep his face impassive. He was quite willing to wring Newsom’s neck there and then. However, without more proof, Jack would be the one who was drawn and quartered if he took such action at this point. He had to behave as though it was a normal day.

“Good morning, sirs,” Philip said as they entered the room.

“Be seated, gentlemen,” Wellington said. “Knight was just explaining about a warehouse his enquiries had led him to.”

Jack immediately began to panic. Was Knight going to let the cat out of the bag?

He chastised himself for jumping to conclusions. Wait!

“Indeed. We followed a group of men who had been seen behaving suspiciously in the Park, to a dockside warehouse in Wapping. We went back this morning to investigate and found crates and crates of explosives. However, they appear to be fireworks.”

“Fireworks?” Philip asked.

“Indeed,” Knight replied with a poignant look back at Philip that only Jack could see.

“Part of the victory celebrations, no doubt,” Newsom interjected dismissively. “You are barking up two different trees, I tell you.”

“Perhaps,” Wellington admitted, rubbing his furrowed brow. “I cannot like it. Rumors always have some grain of truth in them, though I suppose the papers being returned and someone overhearing conversations about fireworks and mistaking them for explosives is possible. Still, we must explore every option. It would be a blessing if all of this was a mistake, but we must be certain.”

“We will continue to watch the warehouse and its contents,” Knight volunteered.

“And we will be ready at the Park.”

“Very well. Report individually to me tomorrow,” Wellington said. “Newsom has another meeting. There are fewer than two days now,” Wellington reminded them, as if they could have forgotten. “Dismissed.”

Newsom left and Lloyd followed. The other three remained. Rising from his seat, Knight walked across and closed the door.

“Very well. What are you not telling me?” Wellington asked.

“There were definitely explosives intermixed with the fireworks. I thought it best not to divulge that information.”

Wellington allowed an expletive to escape.

“They are being removed as we speak,” Knight reassured him.

Philip explained what they had overheard and their suspicions about Feathers’ death, followed by what they had found that morning.

“A single, bloody key?” Wellington asked.

“Indeed,” Jack said, pulling the key from his pocket and handing it to his commander.

“I will be happy to return to the Continent,” the duke murmured as he fingered and inspected the key. “This could belong to any lock in the country—or all of Europe, for that matter.” He handed it back to Jack. “Do not waste extra time on it. Remember probabilities and tactical decisions. That is not likely to bear fruit.”

“Yes, sir.” Jack agreed wholeheartedly.

“I will take it upon myself to look deeper into Worth and Newsom. I am well acquainted with someone who would know, and I can ask the questions without drawing undue attention as to why,” Wellington said. Standing up, he went to the door. “I will let you know what I find. We still need proof.” He was gone before Philip or Jack could leave their chairs.

They gathered their hats, gloves and swords and did not speak again until they were safely out of the building.

“Where to next?” Philip asked.

“To see how my ward does. I have a feeling she is not lying abed as a proper invalid should.”

Philip laughed. “I do not envy you. She is lovely, but no simpering miss.”

“Were that the case, she would not be so interesting.”

*

Kate was notlying abed. Having decided her arm would throb and hurt no matter where she was, she first made certain Aunt Hattie was happy and looked after, and then sent a note to Maria to ask if she could call. Being at her guardian’s house felt safe and secure, but it would not enable to her to be of help in the investigations. The celebrations were now less than two days away. Kate had never really thought about patriotism—although, of course, she cared for her country—but it was becoming more and more important to her. It was something she had taken for granted. However, there were things that women could do to help on occasion, and her arm would mend in time, whether or not she kept to her bed.

Maria sent back word that, of course, Kate was welcome.

Kate and Simpson were soon on their way to Mottram Place, Kate wearing one of her older, more subdued grey gowns because none of her newer day dresses would fit over her splint.

“Good morning, Miss Rafferty,” Major Lloyd said, stepping out from the study and greeting her as she was shown in by the butler.

“Good morning, Major,” she returned, wondering how she could use this chance meeting to her advantage. After all, it was a good part of the reason she had wished to call.

“Are you waiting for Maria or should I send for her?” he asked.

“She is expecting me,” Kate answered, hastily trying to think of what to ask.

“Send for Maria and some tea,” he ordered the butler before showing her into the drawing room, assisting her to an elegant armchair and then joining her on the nearby sofa. “How is your arm?”

“It is quite broken,” she returned playfully, “but it will mend.”

“You are quite unlike any lady of my acquaintance, Miss Rafferty.”

“I imagine you have met many interesting ladies in your travels, Major. Are they all delicate like our English roses?”

“No,” he admitted. “You are in the right of it. I should not insult your gender so.” He had a look in his eyes that made Kate wonder what he was really about. She did not thank him evil, but perhaps that was why he was good at it.

“Is he filling your head with tales of war?” Maria asked pleasantly as she came into the room. “Good morning, Kate.”

“Good morning, Maria.”

“I would not bore Miss Rafferty so, Sister,” Lloyd replied. Standing up, he kissed her lightly on the cheek.

“Are you away on business, or would you care to join us for a walk or a drive?”

“Business, of course, but might I suggest a drive? Your friend is very brave, but having had a similar injury myself, I do not recommend excessive amounts of exercise.” He gave Kate a conspiratorial wink, which surprised her. She would not have thought him capable of such lightheartedness. But just as quickly, the look was gone and replaced with a more pensive one. Regret, perhaps? Before she could fully determine the truth behind the change, he bowed and left them.

“What would you like to do today, Kate?”

“I think perhaps he is correct that the drive would be preferable. While I do not wish to be in bed, it does not mean my arm is comfortable.”

Maria shook her head. “Let me fetch my bonnet and call for the phaeton. I think I have a fancy to drive myself.”

“How very dashing of you!” Kate teased.

Soon, a sporting vehicle of polished black with a gold trim, pulled by two sleek, dapple-grey blood horses and held by a tiger, was waiting in front of the house.

“Are you certain you know how to drive this?” Kate asked, remembering such a scene with Jack. “I do not care for any more broken bones at the moment.”

“Oh, yes. Gabriel has taught me well.”

Still feeling apprehensive, Kate climbed into the vehicle while Maria got in on the other side. In a matter of moments, Maria was handling the ribbons with an air of assurance as she steered the greys through the unpredictable traffic. While not as skilled as Captain Owens, she was evidently quite competent.

“Where shall we go?”

“For a turn around the Park, perhaps? This may sound silly, but I wish to do something to help my guardian.”

Maria looked at her for a moment before returning her attention to driving. “What do you think we may discover?”

“Perhaps we may see something. I wish I knew what to be looking for, but who would suspect two young ladies of anything other than their pleasure?”

“I suppose you are correct,” she answered doubtfully.

Kate looked about her on the beautiful morning, on the sunshine brightening drab roofs and smoke-blackened stone, and it felt as though she was imagining things. The world could not possibly be so dark as recent events suggested. When she considered what had happened to her – what had happened the night before – she felt very afraid.

“Is that not your father over there, speaking with Lord Worth?” she asked, to dispel the sense of alarm.

Maria looked up, following Kate’s pointing finger to a bridge, and squinted. “Yes, I believe so. That is Lord Bathurst with them. Shall we go closer?”

“Is there a way to do so subtly?” Kate asked.

“I very much doubt it, but we can certainly try.” She slowed the horses, then pulled them to a stop. The tiger jumped down and went to the horses’ heads. Maria began to climb down, so Kate gathered her skirts and also descended from the vehicle. “Walk the horses,” Maria instructed the tiger. “We will take a short stroll.”

The tiger did as directed, and taking Kate’s uninjured arm, Maria began to walk in the direction of the three gentlemen.

“I very much doubt we can walk directly by without interrupting their conversation,” Kate said, wondering what Maria was doing.

“We shall walk that way,” Maria answered, pointing to a small fork in the path that led toward a bridge. “I am counting on their being engrossed in conversation and not noticing us. As long as we do not draw attention to ourselves, we should be able to overhear what is said quite nicely.”

Kate smiled at her friend, who seemed very proud of her investigative skills, and hoped they found something out – while at the same time fearing that her friend would overhear something she should not.

Kate was dumbfounded to see a small alcove beneath the stone bridge, which she and Maria managed to reach unobserved by her friend’s father, by keeping their heads down and remaining quiet.

“He wants to ride in on his horse,” Lord Bathurst said. “He thinks it will look more official.”

“He likes to think he is a soldier,” Lord Mottram said.

“He will have to be content with being the Commander-in-Chief,” Bathurst replied dryly.

“You do not foresee a problem with the boats on the Serpentine and the fireworks behind?” Mottram asked.

“He will be surrounded by soldiers, your son included.”

“Who are they talking about?” Maria leaned over to whisper.

“I think they are speaking about the Prince Regent,” Kate answered, trying to continue listening. She did not see how anything she had overheard thus far would help. To have three powerful lords involved in such a scheme would be disastrous. That was a calamitous state of affairs even to her own unknowing self.

“The Prince Regent will be alongside the Duke of York, the King of Prussia, the Czar and General Blucher, Lord Beresford and Hill,” Bathurst continued. “Knight, Owens, Everleigh and Lloyd will protect him from the rear.”

“That leaves the entire front,” Worth added.

“He understands the risks, but says the celebrations must go on,” Bathurst stated.

“Explosives were found, I understand?” Mottram asked.

Maria let a gasp escape.

“It was all a mistake. My sources say that those were necessary for some of the firework displays,” Worth explained.

“Then I expect we have done all that we can do,” Bathurst said. “Tomorrow is the day and we will keep a watch posted here. We are adding twenty more soldiers as we speak. For the nonce, I must be away to a meeting with Wellington.”

“And I must meet my brother at the club for lunch. Care to join us, Mottram?”

“No, thank you,” Mottram replied and they could be heard walking away across the bridge.

“I think it is safe to leave now,” Maria said. “Even if we see Father, we have merely been out for a walk.”

“Yes,” Kate consented, disappointed that nothing helpful had been overheard.

They came out from their refuge and were attempting to look unobtrusive, as though admiring the ducks, when Lord Mottram came down the bridge toward them. “Maria, is that you?”

“Papa! Yes, as you see. Kate needed to take some air.”

“It is a pleasant day for it,” he said distractedly, inclining his head to greet her. “You are healing well, I trust, Miss Rafferty?”

“Yes, thank you.” His eyes were scanning the area around them, but Kate could not detect he was looking at any person in particular.

“Where are you off to now, Papa?” Maria asked.

“Lunch at my club. May I escort you somewhere?”

“No, we have the phaeton. I expect I will see you later, then.”

Lord Mottram inclined his head and turned his steps in the direction of Hyde Park Corner and Piccadilly.

Kate could not suppress the sigh of frustration she felt.

“I take it you did not discover what you wished?” Maria asked.

“No, nothing of any particular efficacy.”

They had started to walk along beside the water, back toward where they had left the tiger walking the curricle. when Maria suddenly spied something in the reeds and began to scream.