∞∞∞
‘D’you know ‘ow to find your way to your brother’s from ‘ere, Mrs Fletcher?’ Jimmy asked, eyeing the area the carriage had stopped in apprehensively. ‘I mean, it’s dark and…’ his voice trailed off.
They had been travelling for nearly three full days, and despite the matron’s earlier reserve, Jimmy had managed to coax her into conversation. Indeed, by the time they reached the outskirts of London, he learned that Lizzy Fletcher possessed both intelligence and wit. In fact, he was sorry when they finally arrived at the location she had requested.
Peering through the carriage window, Lizzy conceded that the area did not look quite as she remembered, but putting on a brave front, she nevertheless began to open the door. The horses were dancing nervously, causing the carriage to rock violently, and as Jimmy leaned forward to help, he spotted two likely gallows birds loitering in the shadows. Making a quick decision, he slammed the door shut and rapped sharply on the carriage roof. The coach driver needed no further urging, and within seconds, the carriage was turned round and heading back towards the river.
‘Whatch you up to, Jimmy Fowler?’ Lizzy protested in a shrill voice.
‘I ain’t abducting you, Mrs Fletcher, if that’s what you’re thinkin’. I’m lookin’ to save’ you from the bloody varmints ‘angin’ around that street corner.’ He shook his head. ‘If I left you in a place like this, ‘is grace’d ‘ave me baubles. I’m taken’ you to ‘is ‘ouse. Someone there’ll ‘elp you find your brother, I’m certain of it.
∞∞∞
‘He ain’t dead!’
Witherspoon looked up in distaste as the statement was followed by a bout of coughing. Christ, the bastard’d be bringing his bleeding lungs up at this rate.
‘Who ain’t dead?’ he questioned when the hacking finally subsided.
‘Don’t play silly buggers wi’ me, Wivers,’ rasped his companion. ‘You know who I mean. Stanhope. Against all the bleeding odds, the bastard’s alive and kicking and back in London.’
Witherspoon sat back on his heels and fought down the sudden panic that threatened to swamp him. ‘Says who?’
‘I seen ‘im wi’ me own eyes. All toffed up, walkin’ bold as you like down ‘aymarket. You reckon e’s lookin fer you?’
‘Well if he is, he ain’t goin’ to be looking’ down here is he? If we keep our heads down, we’ll be safe enough.’
‘It ain’t me Stanhope’ll be lookin’ for. You were the one who stuck a knife in Barnet and left ‘im to take the blame.’
‘Just remember which side your bread’s buttered on, Fletcher. We’ve got a good set up here. I’d hate for you to lose out because you thought to make a quick few bob.’
‘I ain’t goin’ to be ‘ere long enough to make more ‘an bloody sixpence. I won’t rat you out, Wivers, but I ain’t goin’ to take a fall for you neiver. Not this time. I’ve already done my bit. Just fought you ought ta know. Stanhope’s back, and the way ‘e wos dressed ses ‘e ain’t exactly purse pinched. Chances are, ‘e’ll want to clear ‘is name, and that means e’ll be lookin’ for ‘is ol’ mate Wiverspoon. An’ if ‘e catches yer–well, if ‘e don’t kill you ‘isself, old Derrick’ll do it fer ‘im.’ He gave another hacking cough, this time expelling a globule of bright red spittle on the floor.
Witherspoon stopped what he was doing and looked up, his face deadly serious. ‘Make no mistake, Fletcher,’ he growled. ‘If I end up with the morning drop, you’ll be swinging alongside me.’
‘Wot do I care about that?’ his companion wheezed. ‘This bloody churchyard cough’ll finish me off soon enough. I want wot you owe me Wivers afore I kick the bucket. I’ve done everythin’ you asked since we left the Andrew. Even lost me bleeding arm saving your skinny arse from the Upright Man after we got this place.’
Witherspoon gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to run the whinging bastard through. He’d probably be doing him a favour. Better than bloody dying slowly of the white plague.
‘I told you, you’ll get it,’ he snapped. ‘Give me until the end of the month. You know we’ve got a big fight coming up. We’ll be swimming in bloody lard once the culls have handed over the blunt. Until then, stay out of o’ Stanhope’s bloody way. I’ll send a request to the Upright Man. He owes us a favour. It’s time we put the bastard down like the vermin he is, even if we have to pay someone to do it.’
Chapter Fourteen
‘I don’t think we should be consigned to the periphery of this investigation, Percy, after all we’ve been through. After all, if it wasn’t for us, both the Duke and the Earl would likely still be at odds.’
‘I’m not sure I quite follow, Sir.’
‘Well, if we hadn’t seen fit to take matters into our own hands, laying the foundations for today’s interview so to speak, it might have been a very different story.’
‘I doubt Lord Cottesmore would count almost being brained by a falling tree limb right outside his front door as laying the foundations for anything other than an early demise,’ Percy argued. ‘Surely the Duke will not want us involving ourselves in such a potentially dangerous situation.’
‘Tare an’ hounds Percy, you’ve changed your deuced tune a bit since last night,’ Reverend Shackleford declared irritably.
‘That was before the two gentlemen sorted out their differences,’ the curate protested. ‘I doubt very much that we will do better than Malcolm in locating this blackguard, and I’m persuaded the Duke has the matter entirely in hand.’ He didn’t end withthank the Lordbut the Reverend knew he was thinking it.
‘Chucklehead,’ Augustus Shackleford muttered, helping himself to a bit more cake, making sure to drop a piece to Freddy.
All of a sudden, the drawing room door burst open to reveal Chastity. ‘This isnotacceptable,’ she announced, marching into the room. ‘I am not simply an object to be sold. Especially not to such an … an … uncouth, ill-mannered individual.’
