Another Small Kingdom (27 page)

Chapter Fifty-seven

T
he driver twitched the reins and touched the horse with his whip and the wagon began to move off. The clerk watched them for a minute then moved off himself in the opposite direction.

A small way up the street a figure emerged from an alleyway and watched the carriage leave. It was a stocky figure in a tall hat with large fists clenched at his side. He watched the clerk walk away from the house and then set off at a brisk pace in the direction the carriage had taken.

An hour later the same stocky figure was once again making a report to Molly, Kitty and Lord Melford.

‘Sails early tomorrow, bound for Leghorn, Italy. Captain got his orders from the owner this morning sudden like. Seems he's a business client of Macleod's. Clerk did the arrangements so it looks like I watched the wrong man. They're clean away I'd say.'

‘Dammit, Gregory, couldn't you have done something?'

‘Like what, sir?'

‘Stopped them in some way.'

‘What would you suggest, sir? Hauling them out of the wagon and overpowering them on the street?'

‘Don't be so damned impertinent with me …'

‘Leave it, Melford, it's no good blaming Gregory. Macleod's been too sharp for us once again. I'm damned if I can make him out. One minute he behaves like a fool and the next he's as sharp as a razor. What do you think, Kitty?'

‘Well, they're running and I think Gregory's right, they're clean away. I'd say it's finished here for us and I don't see that we can get anywhere by trying to follow them. It could be days or weeks before we could get passage on another ship, and if we got one then what would we do when we got to Italy? We've no idea why they're going or what they'll do. No, they're clean away, all right.' Kitty paused a moment. ‘That being the case, unless you can come up with something, Molly, I'll take what money you think is fair and be on my way.'

Molly took Kitty's words very calmly.

‘Is that how you want it? I can't say this country has been kind to us. You sure staying here is better than going back?'

‘I think it will be, Molly. I don't see any future for me back in London. Trent isn't the forgiving kind and I don't fancy turning up empty-handed. His idea of fair payment may have more to do with my neck than my purse. I like what I've seen here in Boston and nothing is known against me. You never know, some kind man might take a fancy to me and make an honest woman of me.'

Molly laughed.

‘Don't ask for miracles, girl, they only happen in the Bible.'

Disbelief struggled with anger in Melford's voice.

‘What are you two women talking about? She can't just walk out. Of course we must go after them. Dammit we are in the service of His Majesty's Government.'

Kitty gave him a pitying look.

‘Service of the Government, my arse. I'm here because it was a choice between this and the rope. Molly's here for the money and why you're here, God alone knows, but whatever we were here for as far as I'm concerned it's over.' She turned again to Molly. ‘Quick partings are best so I'll get my things and be on my way.'

‘As you like.' Molly walked across to a drawer out of which she took a leather bag. She opened it and counted out some coins. Then she put the bag away, came back to Kitty and held out her hand. ‘That's fair I think?'

Kitty took the coins and counted them.

‘It'll get me started. Why not stay over here yourself? Like I say, Trent isn't the forgiving kind and you'll be going back empty-handed.'

‘You're forgetting my kid.'

Kitty gave a shrug, gave Melford one last brief look and left the room. Melford watched her go then turned to Molly.

‘Is that it? Does she just walk away?'

‘What did you want her to do, sing a song and do a dance? She's right, we're finished over here. They're away and it would be useless to follow.'

‘You mean give up?'

‘I mean go back to London. We won't be the only ones looking for what Trent wants. Maybe somebody else fared better than we did. Go to the docks and find out when we can sail for England.'

‘I must protest. There must be something we can do.'

‘Like what?'

Melford bent his mind to the problem but without result. As a last effort he resorted to bluster.

‘Our plain duty is to …'

‘My plain duty will be to give your backside a good kick if you don't do as I tell you. We're for England now and the sooner the better. Oh, and when we get there, I'll give you the honour of reporting our progress over here to Mister Trent. Like Kitty said, he's not a man who takes bad news well and he might decide to vent his spleen on the messenger. Still, you're a big strong man, Melford, and a Lord too, so Trent doesn't worry you, does he? Now shove off and get us on the first ship out of here bound for England.'

Chapter Fifty-eight

T
he sudden departure of Marie and Macleod from Boston wrought much the same effect on Darcy as it had on Lord Melford.

‘Hell and damnation, Bentley, we've lost them.' Bentley sipped his tea showing little concern. ‘It was your fault. Going in with a pistol was a mistake, and missing was a worse one. No wonder they've made off.'

‘Well, one way or another they're gone so it doesn't concern us any more.'

‘You're damned calm about it. What if our friends don't take such a measured view of what's happened?'

‘Do you think they might not? Well, well. And if they do why should that concern you? If mistakes were made they were mine not yours.'

‘And what if they choose not to make that same fine distinction but think we acted together in this mess?'

‘Ah, well, in that case whatever happens to me will almost certainly happen to you.' He held out his cup. ‘More tea, if you please. As I've said before, damn fine tea this. Come to that, you said you'd get me some but I don't remember receiving any.'

Darcy was standing in front of Bentley. He ignored the proffered cup and glared down at him.

‘Damn and blast the tea. I tell you I won't sit still and be blamed for your blunders.'

‘Then by all means stand, or sit or lie down, just as you wish but, as my host, I tell you once more I should like another cup of tea.'

Darcy hesitated for a moment then snatched the cup, refilled it and handed it back.

‘Take your damned tea.'

‘Thank you.' He took a slow sip. ‘Now, as for this blunder of mine, as you call it. Our purpose, and I
do
say ours, was to make sure that the de Valois woman could not take her information to any agency of the American Government. One way was to kill her. Even had I been successful, ask yourself would it have been the best way to deal with the matter?'

‘Well as you didn't kill her it turned out to be no way at all.'

‘Now there you are wrong, Darcy. As usual you don't seem to be able to see beyond the end of your nose.' Bentley's voice took on a patronising tone and he gestured with his free hand. ‘To rise in this world, as I have done, one must be aware of the world at large, the world beyond the end of one's own nose.'

His manner had the desired effect and Darcy's anger increased.

‘To hell with your talk. Talk is cheap and talk won't stop her mouth. I tell you …'

‘No, but a wide ocean will.'

Darcy was about to speak, but suddenly thought better of what he was about to say.

‘A wide ocean?'

‘Let us assume that my shot had done its work, that I had killed her. What then?'

‘Then she'd be dead and her information gone with her.'

‘And we'd have a dead woman on our hands. Women of station don't get murdered in their beds in Boston. There'd have been an outcry, an investigation. Would you have preferred that?' Darcy didn't answer. ‘And then what of Macleod?'

‘What of him?'

‘How could we know whether the de Valois woman hasn't already told him all she knew? We couldn't. So we would have had to kill Macleod and I doubt that would have proved at all an easy task. I was told he was dead in New Orleans and yet up he pops, alive and well, in Boston. I am now told that our friends in New Orleans made a try for the woman in Charleston, but he prevented them somehow. Now he spirits her quickly away, out of our reach. He's proving a very resourceful fellow is our Lawyer Macleod, and I for one am very glad that he is.'

‘How so? His resourcefulness, as you call it, has taken her out of our reach.'

‘Nose, Darcy, do try to look beyond the end of it. Out of our reach perhaps but more importantly out of the reach of the British agents who are here to find out what she knows. By taking ship for Italy he has quickly and efficiently removed her from any contact with the British which, for our purposes, would have probably been just as bad as contact with our own Government. He has kindly placed the Atlantic Ocean between the woman's information and Washington. Do you know what I think, Darcy?'

‘No, Bentley, patently I do not.'

‘Then I will enlighten you. I think he's run to keep her safe, that he cares more about her than he does about his duty. I think our friend Lawyer Macleod has been bitten in the leg by the tender passion. Not that it matters one way or another, because if they're both in Italy doing God knows what, they're not in Washington reporting to a certain highly placed individual who answers directly to the President. Now, Darcy, wouldn't you agree with Shakespeare?' Darcy looked blank. ‘That what we have at the end of the day is, “a consummation devoutly to be wished”?'

Darcy didn't answer. He felt sure there was a flaw in Bentley's argument, possibly a fatal flaw, but he was damned if he could put his finger on it so he changed the subject.

‘Why Italy?'

‘Why not? It must have been the first ship he could get them on. He'd probably have settled for St Petersburg if it had been going there. No, believe me, Darcy, neither the woman nor Macleod threaten us or our friends any more. We keep our heads and get on with our work in hand. As I said, I have received another report and, apart from telling me of the Charleston incident, it requires you to go to Philadelphia. We had a recent setback there if you remember, nothing serious but not helpful, distinctly not helpful. Two good men lost and others sent home with their tails between their legs. Washington is getting too active, too active by half. You are to go to Philadelphia to oversee the repair work. I have the names for you.'

Bentley put his hand into his coat and threw a folded sheet of paper onto the table by his chair. Darcy picked it up.

‘They mean nothing to me.'

‘Good, they shouldn't. Just go to your usual contact and he will introduce you to them. Tell them what they need to know and how we operate.'

‘They are completely trustworthy, I suppose?'

‘God, Darcy, how would I know? As far as I know they're both Washington men planted on us by our friend, the General. I have been sent those names and told to get it organised. I must do as I am told and you, in turn, must do as you are told. Look again at those names well enough to remember them then burn the sheet.' Bentley stood up. ‘And now I really must be on my way.'

‘What about the British agents?'

‘What about them? They've missed just as we did. Macleod and Madame de Valois are gone and they can't very well follow. I dare say they'll head back to wherever it is they came from. There's nothing further for them here. No, Darcy, our little storm is over, the teacup is once more at rest and it's back to business as usual. I'll see myself out.' He walked to the door where he stopped. ‘Don't forget my tea this time, there's a good fellow.'

Without doubt he heard the teacup shatter against the closed door as he went down the stairs but he did not return to enquire what the noise had been.

Three days later Fanny Dashwood, though without a maid, and Lord Melford, still accompanied by Gregory, said their farewells to Boston and took ship for Bristol. Four days ahead of them Macleod and Marie were settling into the slow, monotonous rhythms of a long sea voyage, both heartily glad of the repetitive boredom which each day promised. As the days passed there grew in them both not only a feeling of dangers left behind but also a sense of suppressed excitement. Before them lay the Eternal City and perhaps the one man who could make them truly safe.

Chapter Fifty-nine

T
he late summer in London was being unkind. The wind was in the east and cold. Lord Melford had expected just such a cold and uncomfortable reception from Trent when he returned with his report from America.

That was what he had expected.

‘But Melford, my dear fellow, don't take it so hard. You failed, true, but you did your best. Who could ask more?'

Melford was puzzled by Trent's manner, not only puzzled but suspicious.

‘You take it all very calmly, Trent, too damned calmly I think.'

Trent grinned.

‘Yes, I
do
take it calmly don't I? Which means what, do you think?'

‘That the outcome doesn't disappoint you?'

Trent's grin widened slightly.

‘Bravo, Melford. I hoped that a bit of action in the field might sharpen you up. I see I was right. So, if I'm not disappointed, why did I go to the trouble of sending Molly to New Orleans and make you follow her to Boston?'

Melford bent his mind to the question once more, but this time no quick answer came.

‘I have no idea.'

The grin disappeared and gave way to mock surprise.

‘What, none? Well, it doesn't matter. You and Molly have served your purpose,
that's
what matters. Where is Molly by the way?'

‘She preferred me to bring the report of our mission to you.'

‘Did she now? Why was that I wonder? She couldn't have thought that I might be upset by your supposed failure, do you? That I might vent my feelings somehow on whoever brought me the bad news? Obviously you don't think so, Melford. You, I am sure, had no reluctance to report your failure to me.' Melford was anything but reassured by the tone Trent used despite the words. ‘I am not the sort of man who shoots the messenger when the news displeases me.'

‘Of course you're not, Trent, but she's only a woman and you know what women are.'

‘Do I? Well, let's say that perhaps I know what
some
women are. Some women are clever rogues who know how to look after themselves.' Trent smiled, but there had been a nasty edge in his voice which Melford had noted. ‘As I said, Melford, I don't shoot the messenger.' The smile disappeared. ‘I have other people who do that sort of thing for me.' Melford shifted in his chair uncomfortably. The smile returned. ‘But enough of that, what to do next? That's the question.'

‘About Macleod and the de Valois woman?'

‘Great heavens no. They're of no interest. Where did you say they'd gone, Italy?' Melford nodded. ‘On pilgrimage, perhaps? No, I doubt that. Maybe a desire to soak up some classical culture? No? Well, they're gone and as far as I'm concerned so much the better. Where's Kitty Mullen by the way? She didn't return with you, I'm told.'

‘She stayed on in Boston, just damn well walked out on us. Molly let her go, I was against it, but Molly not only let her go but gave her money.'

‘Ah, clever girls. Kitty knew she had the rope waiting for her if she came back. I could hardly let her wander about telling the world what she'd been up to could I? So, Molly let her walk, did she? Well, we'll see about that. Go and get her. Tell her it went well here and that if she comes tomorrow morning I'll pay her off. Tell her I said it'll not be as much as she'd like but enough considering her failure. That'll reassure her. I don't want Molly street-crying my business any more than Kitty.'

Melford stood up.

‘I'll go at once, Trent. She'll be here tomorrow, never fear.'

‘Make it sound convincing, Melford. Perhaps I haven't quite made up my mind yet whether I think
you're
still safe to walk the streets with my business locked in your head.'

Melford turned and left, glad to be out of the room.

Trent sat back and gave himself up to thought. So, Mr Macleod, you're taking your lady to see a Cardinal who calls himself a King, are you? Well, much good may it do you both.

There was a gentle knock at his door which then opened and a head appeared. Trent looked at the head.

‘Well, don't just stand there, come in.'

Gregory, tall hat in hand, obeyed.

‘I saw him leave so I thought I'd come along.'

‘Is there anything you don't see?'

‘Must be, sir, stands to reason. I can't be everywhere, can I? But there's precious little I want to see that gets by me.'

‘Well, Gregory, what have you to tell me?'

‘About America?'

‘About anywhere. But we may as well start with Boston. Did all go well?'

‘Just as you wanted, Mr Trent. The young lady who calls herself Madame de Metz or Fanny Dashwood and is Molly to her intimates was waiting for us as you said. She sent Lord Melford along to try and deal and he made a poor fist of his visit. Then they both went and did no better the second time. But they made enough show to get noticed like you wanted.'

‘And made Macleod and the lady run. That was a neat piece of work. I hadn't hoped to get so much so quickly. How did they manage that?'

‘They didn't, that was a gentleman, name of Bentley. He was with Mr Macleod when Molly and Lord Melford went to see him.'

‘Who was he?'

‘Local businessman, wealthy. Client of Macleod, important citizen and well thought of, but a wrong 'un for all of that.'

‘How so?'

‘The usual. A solid front but frayed round the edges if you knew what to look for.'

‘And he was working for?'

‘Can't be sure, sir, didn't have the time. I'd say the American Government except it didn't sit right somehow. He was good enough himself, a very confident gentleman, but his main associate, his runner, wasn't good enough for me to swallow, not if the Government was behind him, if you see what I mean.'

‘Involved but probably not Government, eh? If not the Government then who, the French?'

‘Could be. He did try to kill the de Valois lady.'

‘Did he by God! A bit sudden wasn't it?'

‘Very. Visitor to the house in the morning, attempted murderer in the house the same night. A very sudden man our Mr Bentley.'

‘And was that what got Macleod running?'

‘Maybe, but I'd lay odds there was more to it than just the attack. I'd say the lady had already given Mr Macleod a reason to leave Boston and Bentley's try with a pistol just hurried them up.'

‘Why so?'

‘They caught a boat for Italy. Why so far, why Italy? I doubt it was a random choice, there were other ships that would have got them away. If Mr Macleod chose Italy, then there was a reason. Leghorn was the port.'

‘Thank you, Gregory. Anything else?' Gregory hesitated. ‘Come on, spit it out, man.'

‘About Mr Melford …'

‘
Lord
Melford.'

‘As you like, sir, it's all one to me.'

‘What about Lord Melford?'

‘He's not a very honest gentleman, is he, nor brave?' Trent ignored the question, so Gregory continued. ‘I liked him. I think he'll do very well if he gets the right kind of experience.'

‘It doesn't sound like he did so well in Boston.'

‘No, but if you'll permit the observation, Mr Trent, he was set up not to do well, wasn't he? So you
could
say he did well after all. I think he's got an instinct for the work. Not everyone has. Put down the right hole I'd say he could start a rabbit as well as the next man. I liked him, for a not very honest, not very brave sort of gentleman.'

‘Get out. I've no wish to hear your opinions on Lord Melford or anyone else.' But Gregory stood his ground and waited, his good eye fixed on a point somewhere just above Trent's head while his other roved. ‘Well, why aren't you going?'

‘I ain't finished.'

‘Then damn well finish and get out.'

‘I dare say you'll want to see the young lady to get her side of things.'

‘Molly?'

‘Well you won't.'

‘Won't?'

‘She scarpered. Picked up her kid and done a flit.'

Gregory waited while Trent digested the news.

‘Why didn't you stop her?'

‘I wasn't told to. I wasn't even told to keep an eye on her.'

‘So, why did you?'

‘I didn't, she came to me. Told me she was off and gave me this for you.' Gregory pushed his hand inside his hat and when he withdrew it he held a letter which he passed across to Trent. It was the letter of authorisation he had given to her before she left. ‘She said to say there was nothing between you now you had that back.'

‘Did you read it?'

Gregory's good eye, filled with innocence and honesty, played on Trent's face.

‘It's none of my business, Mr Trent. Whatever it is was between you and her, nothing to do with me. I'm just the delivery boy.'

Trent remained silent for a second, then his manner relaxed. He put the letter in a drawer.

‘Gone eh? Still, probably no harm done, Molly will know enough to keep her mouth shut. Took her child, did she?'

‘Yes.'

‘Well it looks like she's gone for good. She must have had a tidy sum left over from what she was given. No matter, I'll have no further use for her after this. If she'd have come back I would have had to … Well, as I said, no matter. Anything more?' Gregory stood silent. ‘Then get out. If I need you I'll summon you.'

Gregory raised his tall hat and set it carefully onto his head then turned and left, and Trent put Molly, Macleod and Marie from his mind and gave his thoughts to Joseph Fouché and Cardinal Bishop Henry Stuart.