She put aside the dismals and did her best to raise her spirits before Braydon awoke. She managed well enough to be able to put on a smile for him at breakfast.
“What are your plans for the day?” she asked.
“To continue with my investigations. I’ve had some thoughts on the matter.”
“Yes?”
“Sidmouth seemed as annoyed by the situation as I am, so it’s probable that he told the truth and the Regent gave the command. The most likely reasons for that are that the Regent was himself responsible, or he knows who was and doesn’t want it known.”
“The Princess of Wales?” Kitty suggested.
“Definitely not. The Regent would want to blast that news everywhere.”
“One of the three princes, then.”
“That seems most likely.”
Kitty sipped her chocolate. Braydon was drinking ordinary coffee and, as usual, eating a sandwich. “If that’s so,” she said, “it’s over, isn’t it? The culprit will never dare try again.”
“That does depend on the why. For example, if Kent has his eye on the throne, getting rid of Clarence would move him one step closer.”
“But why wait for a gathering of three?”
“Because he needed to coax Kent back to England from Brussels.”
Kitty considered that. “But assuming he slipped away before the explosion, his brother Sussex would die.”
“A sacrifice in the cause.”
“Is he truly so callous?”
“I’ve met Kent only twice and can’t claim to know him at all, but in the army he had the reputation as a strictdisciplinarian. When he was in Nova Scotia, a group of soldiers tried to seize and murder him.”
“Good heavens. Last night you suggested the whole thing might be a farce. This isn’t farcical.”
“It isn’t, is it? If it was a pretend plot, we’re back to the puzzle of whose purpose that serves.”
“And who might have already gained by it. I’m glad you’re not going to cease investigations.”
“Sidmouth can’t think he can call off the hawks so easily, and it’s best if the Regent doesn’t, either. Beaumont will be leaving for Brussels today, as planned.”
“On a Sunday?”
“The matter is urgent enough. Charrington returns to Somerset tomorrow.”
“Which church should we attend?”
“Saint George’s.”
“But I assume you won’t have a day of rest?”
She expected agreement, but he said, “Why not? There’s little useful to do, and the weather looks fair. We could drive out somewhere. To Richmond, perhaps.”
“If we’re going so far, we could drive to Edgware.”
“Edgware?” But then he remembered. “Curious cat.”
“More interesting than an idle drive. We should see what house the fifth viscount was maintaining there, and make sure that the care is continuing.”
