‘We might also vanish off the face of the earth if what we know about Witherspoon is true,’ Chastity reasoned.
‘Tucked up with a spade,’ agreed Percy grimly.
‘Well, we’re not deuced well going to walk in and ask him if he knifed his shipmate seventeen years ago,’ was the Reverend’s exasperated response. ‘We’ll let him think we’re just there as an escort for his sister. He likely doesn’t even know Stanhope’s back in England.’
Both Chastity and Percy regarded the stout man dubiously. It was nearly ten o’clock, and for the past hour, Augustus Shackleford had been practically bouncing on his chair after Mrs. Fletcher’s jaw-dropping revelation. Being forced to say nothing whilst Jimmy and Lizzy availed themselves of Mrs. Jenk’s excellent cold repast had put him on the verge of an apoplexy. Indeed, he’d all but shoved their unexpected guests out of the drawing room the second their plates were empty. Clearly, Lizzy at least thought him foxed.
‘Only two hours ago you were bemoaning the fact that your intended considered you empty headed,’ Reverend Shackleford pressed. ‘At the very least this will force him to sit up and take notice.’
‘And thinking me dicked in the nob would be preferable?’
‘Oh, I’m certain he’s already of that opinion considering you climbed a deuced tree to get into his bedchamber.’
Chastity frowned, then gave a small huff. ‘He might lock me up and throw away the key once we are wed,’ she declared.
‘One can live in hope,’ retorted the Reverend, helping himself to the one remaining lemon tart.
‘We could at least inform Malcolm,’ interjected Percy a trifle desperately.
‘Might as well go straight to Nicholas,’ snorted Reverend Shackleford, spraying crumbs over a delighted Freddy’s nose.
‘So your intention is to do nothing aside from simply perusing the premises?’ Chastity eyed her father doubtfully. The Reverend nodded vigorously.
‘But what if it turns out that Lizzy is her brother’s accomplice? Her husband was clearly the Fletcher who lied for Witherspoon on thePhoenix. She could be leading us into a trap.’
‘She doesn’t know anything about the whole havey-cavey business,’ scoffed the clergyman.
‘So, she could be in danger,’ piped up Percy, his voice unexpectedly concerned. Both Chastity and the Reverend turned to look at him in surprise. ‘I mean… I… I wouldn’t want any harm to come to her, naturally,’ the curate added clearly flustered.
‘Do you swear to do nothing aside from perusing the premises?’ Chastity gave her father a narrow-eyed stare. At his nod, she added a stern, ‘If it should emerge that Mrs. Fletcher may be in some kind of danger, we will immediately withdraw, taking her with us?’ Another nod.
‘Won’t the Duke find out about Lizzy’s brother once he speaks with Jimmy tomorrow?’ countered Percy.
‘Thunder an’ turf, I never thought of that,’ Augustus Shackleford muttered.
‘Nicholas is unlikely to be abroad until midmorning after a late night at White’s,’ Chastity responded. ‘If we set off early enough, we could be there and back before he even comes down for breakfast. It’s likely that Mrs. Fletcher will be keen to finish her journey anyway. We just need to persuade Jimmy to allow us to accompany her in his stead.’
‘I doubt the lad will be happy with that,’ the Reverend frowned. ‘He’ll go straight to Nicholas as soon as we’re out of the deuced door.’
Chastity screwed up her face in thought. ‘Well, he’ll just have to come with us then. You can tell him that as Lizzy is one of your parishioners, it is your duty to ensure she reaches her destination safely. Which it is.’
‘What about you?’
‘Chaperone,’ Charity declared triumphantly.
The Reverend gave a slow nod, followed by a satisfied smile. ‘Well then,’ he beamed, rubbing his hands together, ‘I think our strategy’s as watertight as it’s going to get. I’m off to take Freddy to do his business, and then I’ll retire. We need a good night’s sleep if we’re to throw a rub in the way of that scoundrel Witherspoon.’
As he climbed slowly to his feet, Chastity frowned and added, ‘Just to be sure, Father, bythrowing a rub in the way, you’re referring to the valuable information we’ll bepassing onto Lord Cottesmore?’
The Reverend nodded happily. ‘By noon tomorrow, Chastity, we’ll be the toast of the hour. You mark my words…’
Chapter Fifteen
As he entered the Cottesmore townhouse, Christian Stanhope felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He hadn’t realised how much he’d been affected by the loss of Nicholas Sinclair’s friendship. In truth, he’d never allowed himself to dwell on it.
He’d told himself that he needed the Duke of Blackmore’s support to clear his name, but that had only been a part of it. Seeing Nicholas today told him just how much he’d missed his friend and mentor.
Climbing the stairs to his bedchamber, he imagined Witherspoon’s face when he finally came face to face with the bastard. Likely, the former Fourth Lieutenant thought him dead. Though strangely, the thought of bringing Witherspoon to justice did not bring him the same satisfaction as before.
