‘I’ll meet you at the office. You’ll know where we are going if I’m proved right. Ah, we’re here.’ Jacob got out and handed them down to the pavement.
Dora poked him in the ribs. ‘You are being tricky.’
He kissed her hard and fast. ‘No, I’m being cautious. I need to talk to Thornbury about the international repercussions. I’m hoping to persuade him to work with us so we can decide our next move.’ He got back into the carriage and drove off to Whitehall.
Mr Pierce was having a bad day. Dora could tell this from the moment they entered his office as he shouted at his clerk to turnaway all callers and deny all responsibility for injuries or lost items as a result of the accident at the concert.
‘He’s not going to like us asking questions,’ said Jane.
‘Then we need to make him think we are doing him a favour. Any ideas?’
The clerk hurried over to them, his expression wary. ‘Ladies, I’m afraid Mr Pierce is busy today. If it is about the concert last night, you must take your grievances to the managers of Vauxhall Gardens.’
‘It is nothing to do with that,’ said Jane. ‘I’m here on a matter of business.’
What tale was she spinning now, wondered Dora.
‘My name is Miss Austen. My sister-in-law is contemplating holding a musical party and was considering engaging Mr Pierce’s services to organise it. Are you saying Mr Pierce is too busy to take on new business? If so, I’ll got to the next person on my list.’ She made as if consulting her notebook.
The clerk’s demeanour changed in a trice. ‘No, no, please, dear lady. I’ll see if he is available. I believe his eleven o’clock appointment cancelled so he likely has an opening.’
He hurried off to the inner office.
‘You are a genius,’ muttered Dora.
‘I do try,’ said Jane with a smile. ‘I’ll leave you to extract the information as I’ve got us through the door.’
The clerk ushered them in. ‘Miss Austen and her… er… companion.’
Mr Pierce, a man with the face of a bulldog, small eyes and jutting chin, got up and bowed. ‘Delighted, Miss Austen, please do take a seat.’
Jane did as bidden. Dora remained standing, playing the part of chaperone servant as she scanned where the contracts might be held. It was a neat room, everything filed away. Playbillsadvertising Madame Catalani’s most famous concerts were hung framed on the wall.
‘Mr Pierce, thank you for seeing me without an appointment,’ said Jane. ‘I had the very great pleasure of meeting Madame Catalani a few days ago and mentioned her to my sister-in-law. I understand you organise her concerts when she is engaged outside a traditional theatre or concert venue?’
‘I have that pleasure. I must mention that she is much sought after and can command the very best prices for her performance.’ He was looking askance at the lady who was no sophisticate in her respectable muslin walking dress and pelisse.
‘I have no doubt that is true. My brother is a partner in a bank so there is no shortage of funds for the party my sister-in-law has in mind.’
Mr Pierce nodded. ‘Forgive me if you thought me unmannerly for raising the matter of money. It is better to check before we progress any further with arrangements, to save later disappointment. What date did your sister-in-law have in mind?’
Time to step in and relieve Jane of the burden of spinning this story any further. Dora put her card on the man’s desk. He looked down, surprised to be presented with a calling card by a woman he had dismissed as a servant.
‘Private enquiries?’ He frowned, holding it between finger and thumb. ‘What is going on here?’
‘I’m Miss Fitz-Pennington. I almost died last night because the man you hired to fire a gun put in a live round.’
‘I haven’t got time for this!’ Mr Pierce leaped to his feet and opened his mouth to summon his clerk.
‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Your employer, Madame Catalani, can vouch for us and will not like to hear that you manhandled us out of your office. She’s rather fond of MissAusten. My friend here is telling you the truth when she said we made your lady’s acquaintance earlier this week.’
He shut his mouth and looked in the direction of the theatre only a street away. Dora wouldn’t be surprised if the singers were there to discuss the concert and lick their wounds.
‘Madame Catalani was also there last night as my business partner, Dr Sandys, tended the injured,’ continued Dora. ‘Thanks to his quick actions, he made the number of people calling in your office for recompense much less than it could have been. You might have had a dead Russian diplomat as an added complication, but Dr Sandys rescued him from a burning pavilion. I’m sure you’ve been told about that.’
The manager sat back down and folded his arms, scowling. The bulldog was close to biting. ‘What do you want then? Money?’ He thought he’d got her type pinned down.
‘We want the name of the gunner and the one who suggested you hire him.’
