Brodie was already there when I arrived, and Alex joined us shortly after.
He handed us our travel papers as well as an envelope with French currency.
“You’ll be traveling as Lady Forsythe,” he explained as he handed me my papers. “And as newly married, husband and wife.” He glanced uncertainly from me to Brodie.
“Sir Avery thought it would be the best arrangement, so not to raise suspicion. And accommodations have been made for you at the Westminster in Paris. A good many who travel to France stay there, and it is in keeping with the reason you are there, a bit of after-wedding travel.”
How considerate of Sir Avery, I thought. I did wonder if he had somehow managed to learn about that ceremony before the magistrate in Scotland.
“It is possible to send a telegram direct from the Westminster. Telephone connections can be problematic. You are to use the code-word Excalibur.”
He paused with another nervous glance, first at Brodie who had said nothing until now, and then at me.
“And if there is a difficulty of some sort?”
“Do not contact the local authorities. Sir Avery was most insistent regarding that.” He looked at me then.
“If you encounter a difficulty, you are to contact a man by the name of Sancier at the Belleville Gallery. If you should be questioned, you’re to tell them that Lady Forsythe is looking to expand her collection,” he added with a look at me.
Not that I had a collection. I was familiar with the artist community in Paris from past school days, however, my sister was the art afficionado, not myself. I had a basic education in art. It had never fascinated me as it did my sister, who turned out to be quite talented.
“Has the man, Sancier, been notified?”
“He has, as well as been informed where you will be staying. He will be able to assist if there should be a need,” Alex responded. “I trust you have both made arrangements regarding your absence for the next few days so as not to raise questions or cause undo alarm?”
Brodie nodded.
I had placed a telephone call to Sussex Square the previous evening after I arrived back at the town house. In speaking with my great-aunt, I simply explained that I would be working on an inquiry case for a few days with unpredictable hours. I said nothing of setting off for Paris. That would raise too many questions.
“Do give Brodie my regards,” she added in spite of the fact that I had not mentioned him. “And do be careful, dear. While the French are among our ancestors, they can be a bit peevish from time to time. But then you are familiar with that. Do call when you return. Plans are well underway for Lenore and James’s wedding.”
Once again, it did seem that she was well informed. I had visions of her having her own network of spies about London. And I did wonder if my sister had been informed of the plans.
Alex was to accompany us as far as Dover. The excuse, if anyone inquired, was that he was my brother and was going as far as the coast to send us off. The real reason was to provide assistance if there should be any last-minute issue before boarding the ferry for the cross-channel trip to Dover.
I suspected it had more to do with the fact that Brodie was not at all pleased with being sent off on a matter he was certain Sir Avery’s ‘people’ in France could have handled, and had made no attempt to hide the fact.
“Plausible deniability,” he explained as Alex went to check if the train was on time. “If anything should go wrong, Sir Avery will be able to use the excuse that we were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I don’t like the fact that he has no hesitation using your title for this.”
“Then we simply need to conclude this as quickly as possible, determine what that address might have to do with anything, make our report, and return to London,” I pointed out.
“The train is on time. We can proceed to the platform,” Alex announced when he returned. “We have a private compartment. For anyone inquiring, I am your brother. I’m accompanying you to the coast to ‘see you off on holiday.’”
I smiled to myself. Alex was certainly getting into this. He did need to get away from the office below the Tower more often.
Our train arrived and we settled into our compartment. We were familiar with the journey from a previous case. Two-and-a-half hours from Dover to Calais and then six hours by train to Paris.
With Alex as our chaperone, there was little conversation, and we arrived at Dover in plenty of time to make the transfer from train to the ferry.
“You’re to keep Sir Avery advised of your progress,” Alex reminded us again and then bid us farewell.
Of course, I sarcastically thought. In the midst of a case there was more than enough time to write reports and dash off telegrams. The truth was, however, that none of this was Alex’s doing. He was merely following orders.
We left the departure area and entered the main area cabin of the ferry. Brodie tucked our bags onto a shelf along with other baggage.
I walked through to the portside deck with seats along the inside wall that were tucked under a shallow overhang to protect against weather. Brodie followed out onto the deck.
The wind had come up across the water, whitecaps appearing out beyond the landing. The crossing would put us in Calais very near evening. Alex had arranged for us to stay at an inn there before continuing on to Paris on a morning train.
