I did see his point.
“There is a simple solution,” I told him. “You must increase what we pay Mr. Cavendish for his services here. With what she makes, they should be able to manage quite well.”
I pointed out that it was not unlike our own arrangement with the trust that had been set up for my sister and I, along with substantial royalties from my books. In addition, I might provide Mr. Cavendish with additional funds as his responsibilities to us have increased substantially, that included his resources on the street for information.
“I can well afford to compensate him, and take care of ye as well,” Brodie replied. “I’ve no need of yer money.”
An argument in the past.
“You must tell him straightaway,” I told him. “Or I can deliver the news if you prefer. It will make them both very happy.”
He glared at me at the time, that dark look that was hardly intimidating.
“How did I lose the argument?” he demanded then.
So, here we were with the month of December, the holidays, and a wedding rapidly approaching.
Lily and I had only just returned to the office on The Strand, when the service bell rang on the landing. Brodie arrived, a frown at his mouth.
It did appear it had been a difficult meeting with His Highness, one that had gone on quite long.
I had stoked the fire in the coal stove when Lily and I returned from the Public House. Brodie removed his long coat, then went to the stove and extended his hands toward heat.
“We brought supper for ye,” Lily commented.
He eventually looked up. “Aye.”
I sensed it was not food he needed at present and went to the cabinet that sat against the wall adjacent to his desk. I retrieved a bottle of Old Lodge whisky and poured a dram into a tumbler. I handed it to him.
A faint smile made it past the frown as he took the tumbler, then tossed back the contents.
“A difficult meeting?” I inquired.
He held out the tumbler for another dram.
“Aye.”
He had said before leaving that we would not continue if His Highness was not forthcoming with answers to the questions he intended to ask.
I had prepared myself for it, although I did not agree, considering what Lily and I had learned on our trip to Cambridge.
“It seems there was considerably more His Highness chose not to tell us about the matter.” He stared down into the glass as he swirled the contents about. “I informed him that we would make no further inquiries unless he told me everything.”
I could only imagine how that might have been received, no doubt a surprise for someone who was used to being obeyed in all things.
I did admire Brodie for his forthright manner. He would have called itbeingdirect,something he had pointed out about myself more than once.
I waited as the whisky had its way, smoothing the edges so to speak.
“It seems that he was contacted several months ago by the person who may be responsible for the murders,” he began, having drained his glass once more.
“A matter usually handed off to those in his staff who are familiar with such things. It was not until the incident outside White’s and that particular note was discovered that it seemed the threat might be verra real.”
“And he then contacted us to investigate the so-called ‘robbery,’” I concluded the obvious.
“At the time, he claims that he thought it much the same as with her ladyship, someone who had learned about the rumors of that incident years before and determined to make profit from it.”
“Except there was no demand for payment,” I suggested from what we knew. “And then the incident at Marlborough House happened.”
