Dangerous Knight by Elizabeth Johns
Chapter Nineteen
“We must remain calm,” Lady Maria said.
Jack could not help but look at her with dismay.
“I am speaking to myself,” she responded.
“I am trying to decide where to begin. We must consider who would have done this. Since Mr. Feathers is dead, the other players are Newsom and Worth; and, unfortunately, I must also consider your brother.”
Lady Maria went pale and swallowed hard. “I cannot believe it of him. If he has taken Kate, there must be a very good reason. I know Gabriel is often difficult to fathom, but we grew up together and I trust his character.”
“I hope he proves your loyalty worthy. But consider, if the abductor were your brother, where might he have taken her? It could not be far since he was at the ceremony this morning.”
“I know where I would take her if I were he. Father keeps a house a short distance before Richmond, for his mistress. I happen to know it is currently empty,” Maria remarked. She had a slight twinkle in her eye despite the gravity of the situation.
“Remind me not to toy with you, Lady Maria. Would you mind showing me where this house is? I assume you also know the direction?”
“But of course,” she said, rising and fetching her bonnet from Wethersby.
“Will your parents not be concerned over your whereabouts?”
She waved her hand dismissively in the air. “They believe I am with Kate.”
Jack shook his head and followed Lady Maria. A smart phaeton was being walked up and down the street by a tiger.
“Excellent. My phaeton is here. Would you care to drive, or shall I?”
Jack could not even find the words to reply, but took the reins and followed her directions once they had left the city and were on the road to Richmond. He could only hope this was not a diversion of monumental proportions which would lose them precious time, but he had no better suggestions to follow.
“’Tis about two more miles, now,” she voiced once they were out in the open countryside. “Why would Gabriel do such a thing, Captain Owens?”
Jack sighed heavily. “I wish I could answer with confidence, Lady Maria. But there is a piece of this situation we did not divulge to you. Whilst Kate was staying with you, she went downstairs one evening to retrieve a book from the library and she overheard your brother in conversation with General Newsom, speaking about some papers that were stolen from the War Office.”
“She said nothing of this!”
“She hoped she had misheard and did not wish to concern you. The next day she suffered her accident and then Mr. Feathers was killed.” Jack looked up. He could see Lady Maria was trying to puzzle out the details in her mind.
“That was two or three days before we found his body,” she finally remarked.
“Correct.”
“What is the connection, sir? I understood this shocking business had come about because of an expected threat to the Prince at the celebrations tonight.”
“My presumption, and I pray I am, at least, close to being correct, is that your brother purports to be working on the side of these scoundrels in order to catch them.”
“Do you mean he is serving more than one side?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
“Then you had better tell me everything. If you are right, he has probably taken Kate somewhere to protect her.”
“But from whom, and from what, I wonder?”
“Either General Newsom or one of those men you both saw in the Park.”
“I cannot credit two of the ruffians we saw with such an act. It is my belief they have been hired merely to plant and light the fireworks or explosives.”
“Do you know aught of the final member of the group? Could he be a danger to Kate?”
“I suspect you refer to a deserter called Jennings. It is possible he could be involved, but I believe either Worth or Newsom is the mastermind. We are almost certain Feathers was blackmailing them.”
“Turn at the next lane, where the sign says Rose Cottage,” Lady Maria interjected, pointing to a narrow track.
Wherever this house was, it was quite secluded, and he could see why she had immediately bethought herself of it.
“None of that explains why Gabriel would risk so much. He was Newsom’s aide when he first purchased his commission,” Lady Maria said, “but that would hardly inspire such blinding loyalty.”
“Was he? I did not know of that,” Jack admitted. That information had to be of import.
“Perhaps Gabriel discovered Newsom was doing something treasonous?”
“Feathers must have discovered the same information, whatever that might be, and was murdered for trying to blackmail Newsom with the knowledge. There must be proof of their dealings somewhere.”
“Turn right where the hedgerow ends and follow the drive. The house will be at the end.”
“Is there somewhere we might leave the carriage so we do not announce our arrival?”
“I confess I do not know the property terribly well. It used to belong to my grandmother and I have not been here since I was a child.”
“Are there caretakers? I would not like to find myself being shot for trespassing,” Jack said dryly.
“I would hope they might believe I am who I say I am,” Lady Maria answered in a similar dry tone.
When the thatched cottage came into view, Jack halted the phaeton alongside a copse of chestnut trees and tied up the horses. He would need to find them some water before they returned to Town.
They walked toward the house, skirting the trees instead of walking across the open lawn. It was a quaint stone cottage with black painted timbers and a blackened roof showing signs of colonization by ivy which festooned one corner. Despite this invader, it looked well cared for, if abandoned.
“Are we not going to knock on the door?” Maria asked.
“I would prefer to walk around and survey both the building and any possible threat first, if you will.”
“That is reasonable,” she said.
“Why, thank you, my lady.” He could see why Kate liked Lady Maria so much.
The property was not overly large. There was a gardener’s shed at the back of the house and a small stable for one or two horses twenty yards away.
“I do not think anyone is here,” Lady Maria observed quietly. “Would you like me to go and knock on the door first? They might think it odd, but I am the daughter of the owner.”
“I will go with you. It will perhaps appear less odd if you are accompanied.”
“Tally ho!” Lady Maria marched forward and around the front of the house to the door. Stepping inside the tiny rose-covered porch, she knocked on the wood panel. There was no answer. Glancing at Jack, she shrugged in a masculine fashion and then tried to turn the handle. “Locked, of course. I believe we should try the kitchen door.”
They waded back through the garden and found that door locked also. Jack knocked quite a lot harder than Lady Maria had, but still there was no movement within the house.
“Perhaps Papa turned off the caretakers.”
Something rattled in one of the buildings behind them. “Did you hear that?” Jack demanded.
“I did,” Lady Maria confirmed. “Is someone there?” she called.
The sound, like that of a door rattling, was coming from one of the other buildings. It grew louder and almost frantic.
“There must be an animal trapped inside.”
Jack was already running. “Kate could be locked in there!” he shouted over his shoulder.
“Oh, gracious heavens!” She picked up her skirts and hastened after him.
In Jack’s experience matters rarely turned out so easily, yet it was his fervent hope as he ran to the range of stone buildings. With Kate’s safety at risk, he would far rather be lucky than the alternative.
Remarkably, Lady Maria was on his heels as he approached the shed where the rattling seemed to be coming from, and then they heard Kate calling to them.
“Kate! ’Tis Captain Owens and Maria!” Lady Maria tried the handle but it was evidently also locked. “Shall we break the door down?” She looked enquiringly at Jack.
“I would be glad to impress you with my abilities, but the key is hanging up there.” He pointed to an iron key, suspended on a string from a hook just above the door.
“I confess I find that a little disappointing,” she objected as Jack took the key and opened the door. “Why go to all the trouble of capturing her if she can be found and released thus easily?”
The door opened and Kate almost fell into Jack’s arms.
“You are unharmed?” he asked, casting an anxious eye over her person. She was disheveled, but had no obvious injuries beyond her broken arm.
“Yes, thankfully. I was never so glad to see anybody, nevertheless! However did you find me?”
“We will tell you the whole on the return to Town, if you are able to make the journey? We should arrive in time, I think, for the celebrations.”
“Nothing would please me more.”
“It will be a tight squeeze, but I am sure we can contrive,” he said as he walked across to the stable. Finding two wooden buckets, he filled them with water from the pump and carried them back to where they had left the phaeton. The horses made quick work of the proffered drink and then the little group drove back to Town. Kate leaned heavily against him, and despite her assurances, he was not certain she was well.
“My brother must have brought you here. Did he say why?” Maria asked once they were out on the open road again.
Kate shook her head as though she could not form her thoughts clearly. “I believe he said it was for my protection.”
“So, he is indeed serving both sides?”
“He did not explain exactly, and seemed hesitant to say, but I suspect that is the case. Despite tying me up and drugging me, he did return to bring me food and then untie me.”
“I cannot believe he would do this to you!”
“I am certain he has his reasons, but I cannot confess to being amused by it.”
“You are too generous.” Maria snorted. “I fully intend to pull caps with him when next I see him.”
Jack shifted his position a little, that he could better handle the reins with Kate seated so close. “You may do with him what you will once we have discovered why he would do such a thing. I do not know him well, but I know enough to assume there has to have been a very good reason.”
*
Kate was sograteful when she saw Jack that she forgot she was angry, forgot all the strictures of her teachers and threw herself at him—again. She really ought to stop doing that, but now, sitting in the vehicle pressed close to him, she could not remember why. Her eyes were heavy and she wanted to sleep, but Jack and Maria were discussing the situation and she did not want to miss anything.
“Lady Maria, you were saying before we arrived that your brother was once an aide for General Newsom, were you not?”
“Yes, it was his first post in the army. Father arranged it for him.”
“Do he and Newsom have a close friendship?”
Kate looked at Maria, who was pursing her lips. “I believe they were once posted to India together. Father used to serve before he inherited the title, you know.”
“No, I did not,” Jack said in a voice that sounded as though he found the information interesting. Kate transferred her gaze to him and he smiled down at her.
“What else have I missed?” she asked.
“Not a great deal. Captain Owens and my brother were knighted this morning,” answered Maria. “That was when we discovered you were missing. He thought you had stayed with me and I thought you had returned home.”
Kate nodded. “I assumed that was what had happened. Your brother must have slipped a draught in my tea and then sent my maid away. I do not remember anything further until I awoke this morning.”
Jack growled beside her.
“I do not understand why he felt the need to abduct me now. What have I seen or heard that is so relevant to solving this mystery? I wish I might have a notion!”
“At least now I understand why your brother is involved in such a fashion,” Jack said to Maria. “If your father and Newsom are connected in some way, then perhaps there is something Major Lloyd knows of and is trying to keep secret.”
“It could be something he is trying to discover,” Maria argued.
Even to Kate’s ears, that sounded like a generous supposition. She kept trying to replay the conversations in her mind – hoping she might recall anything that would help unlock the secrets. Even though Major Lloyd had said the affair would all be over by tomorrow, she could not believe it would be so. Someone had tried to kill her because of what she had heard or what they thought she had heard.
“What do you think will happen tonight?”
“I hope proper precautions have been taken and nothing will happen. I fear there have been a lot of distractions from this situation and I suspect it was intentional.”
“If Mr. Feathers was blackmailing General Newsom, then perhaps the stolen papers were not about Wellington’s strategy against Napoleon, but something regarding Newsom’s time in India.”
Kate noticed Jack loosen his grip on the reins. The leaders—a pair of mettlesome bays—took this as an instruction to increase their pace and sped forward. One of the wheelers stumbled, jerking both his fellow and the phaeton at a slight angle and all but pulling the ribbons from Jack’s grasp.
Maria uttered a tiny squeal as the carriage lurched and Kate, while remaining silent, clutched the edge of the seat between them. With an insouciant whistle to his lips, he neatly supported the wayward wheelers, steadied the leaders and, having effortlessly brought them back under control, patted Kate’s hand in what felt like a fatherly manner.
“My apologies, ladies,” he offered cheerfully. “Please blame my lack of attention on excitement. By Jove, Lady Maria, I suspect you are correct. It would make perfect sense and it is probably what the key would lead us to.”
“The key?” Kate asked.
“Yes, we found a key in Mr. Feathers’ possessions, but we have no idea what it unlocks.”
“I do not envy you the task of finding it,” Maria said.
They drove back into Town and arrived at Half Moon Street. “Thank you for your assistance today, Lady Maria. I trust I will see you at the celebrations this evening.”
“And Kate, will you permit her to attend?” Maria asked.
“I have not yet decided how to play that card. If your brother was truly only protecting her, then perhaps it would be best if no one knows we have found her.”
“Very well. Please keep me apprised if there is anything I may do to assist you.”
“All I need at the moment is for both of you to be safe, and to find the lock that the key opens.”
Jack helped Kate down from the phaeton and Maria drove away. It was a relief to be back inside the safety of Jack’s house. He led her inside and settled her on a sofa in the drawing room.
“What may I do for you, my dear? Unfortunately, I am expected shortly at the Park.”
She waved him off. “I am content to seek my bed.”
“Do you care to join me in the dining room after I have changed my dress? I thought to order a cold collation.”
She gave a weary incline of her head. “If it pleases you. I shall rest here until then.” Jack turned to leave and turned back.
“Kate, will you forgive me for being a mutton-headed clod?”
She looked down at her hands, folded in her lap, and twisted them together. Raising her eyes to his, she said, “You are already forgiven. I found I could not stay angry with you. Mind you do not do such a thing again, however, unless you mean it.”
He walked over to her and took her hands. “I meant it, Kate. Never doubt that.” He kissed her hands and marched from the room.
She was far too exhausted to appreciate the words properly and found herself nodding off on the sofa. In her subconscious mind, she was in a state of being half-awake and half-asleep. She kept replaying the events in her mind’s eye but could not distinguish what was real or what was fantasy.
She would keep seeing a key and then be searching frantically with it, trying it in every lock she came across. Then she was suddenly transported to India and found herself walking through markets where all the clothes looked like Mr. Feathers’ garish pieces.
There was something very familiar about it all, if she could but put her finger on it.
“Kate?” She could hear Jack’s voice but her eyes refused to open.
“Kate? I expect you need the rest. I will have them leave a tray here for you, for when you wake up. I will be home soon,” he said softly, kissing her forehead. Could she be dreaming it? Why would her eyes not open?
She slipped back into her dream-like state and was again searching for the lock that fit the key. Now Maria was with her and they were shopping on Bond Street. First, they went to the milliner’s shop but there was no lock there in which to try the key.
Then they were surrounded by gloves and stockings and Kate was losing her patience with Maria as she had to try on every pair or touch every single item. Without warning, they were transported to a warehouse; it had shelves full of bolts and bolts of fabrics. Brightly colored silks in yellows, greens, reds, blues, and purples with intricate patterns were flowing through her fingers, and suddenly she was touching a flamingo-colored silk…
In the same instant, she sat straight up, fully awake.
“Mr. Feathers was at the silk warehouse that day!” Kate remembered clearly then. She had seen him speaking with an Indian woman, but she had assumed he was buying more fabrics for his outlandish toilette. Could there be a connection? Kate contemplated what she should do. It would certainly be a good time to search, with everyone at the victory celebrations.
“Do not be ridiculous,” she scolded herself. Espying the dinner tray placed on a table near her, she took a slice of beef and put it on the plate provided. After a few bites of sirloin and a piece of bread and butter, she set her fork down and stood up. “I will just take a look to see if the key is even here,” she decided aloud, and walked across the hall to Jack’s study. To her chagrin, the top of the desk was tidy and held nothing more than an ink standish and a small clock.
She knew he would never approve of her going off to search somewhere alone, but supposing whatever the key unlocked held the evidence needed to prove treason? Thus rationalizing her actions, Kate searched the drawers, but found nothing remotely resembling a key. She sat down in the chair, feeling dejected.
“As though he would leave it lying about,” she muttered crossly. Should she, however, ignore his earlier dictum, and put herself in possible jeopardy, by going to the celebrations to tell him what she had remembered?