Neate laughed. “Oh, there is, but you have to know how to ask for it. There is all manner of excellent wine that makes its way here from the coast, but the innkeepers prefer to keep it under wraps until they are sure of you. We have had some splendid brandy, have we not, Michael? Oh, for heaven’s sake, man, put away that gun. Here, take the key, and let us get out of here before someone spots us.”
They made their way back down the tree, Edward first, then Neate, and finally Edgerton, who made an effort to secure the window. They crept through the shrubbery, listening carefully for anyone arriving at or leaving the house, but all seemed quiet.
As they neared the end of the garden, however, Edgerton said in an urgent whisper, “There are people in the lane. Wait here.”
Neate pulled Edward down behind a small bush while Edgerton crept forward to see what was happening. He returned in a moment, not bothering to hide or lower his voice.
“Come and see,” he said grinning.
As soon as Edward showed himself, a figure shot forward, the skirts of her pelisse flying open. “Edward! Did you find it? Who are all these people?”
“Tess, do you think I told you to stay at the inn for my own amusement? Betty, Harold, take her back to the inn at once. Knock her over her stupid head and carry her if she protests. Ah, Deakin, there you are. You can help, too.”
“Edward, I—”
“Back to the inn! This instant!”
“But I want to know what happened!”
“And I shall tell you everything, but later. I must talk to Captain Edgerton first.”
“Captain Edgerton! I thought I recognised him. What is he doing here?”
“That, too, I shall explain, but later. Will you please go?”
With a rumble of laughter, Edgerton said, “Lord Tarvin, pray bring Miss Nicholson to the Black Swan. I believe she is entitled to hear our deliberations on this evening’s activities.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, making him an ironic little curtsy. “At leastsomeonetreats me as a rational person.”
With a sigh, Edward accepted the inevitable, and offered Tess his arm as they made their way the short distance to the Black Swan.
The Black Swan was not very different from any other modest inn, and Captain Edgerton’s parlour was no better than their own, for Pickering inns were unused to customers from the highest ranks. They found the captain’s wife awaiting them there, together with a blond Scotsman rejoicing in the name of Sandy.
The servants were dispatched to the common room to wait for them, for they absolutely refused to leave Tess unattended and go back to their own inn. Even Deakin stayed, for if Bettyand Harold watched over Tess, he seemed to think it his duty to watch over them.
Food and drink were sent for and the table was soon spread with an array of edibles. Edward had eaten little over the last few days, his nerves stretched by anticipation, so now he found he was ravenous and tucked in as though he had not seen food for a month. Tess, meanwhile, was content to sample the rather good wine that was offered and nibble a cake. The rest of the group, having presumably dined well, merely sipped the wine.
As soon as the inn servants had withdrawn, Edward, still chewing, reached into a pocket of his greatcoat and pulled out a large golden bar.
Tess gasped, running her fingers over the smooth surface. “You found it, then! But where is the rest of it?”
“Still in the safe, and Captain Edgerton has the key,” Edward said shortly, between mouthfuls. “Seventy-six bars altogether.”
“Then I am rich!” she said, with a giggle of excitement. “When will you go and get the rest?” Then, with a frown, she added, “Why does Captain Edgerton have the key?”
“Ask him,” Edward said, cutting himself another thick slice of ham.
“I am holding the key to ensure that nothing vanishes unexpectedly from the safe.”
“Very well, but when can I have my fortune?”
The captain’s face was impassive. “That is an interesting question, Miss Nicholson. Is it indeedyourfortune? That is the first point to be established.”
“Of course it is mine!” she cried. “It was my father’s, it is in the house he left me, therefore it is mine.”
“Unfortunately, we cannot be sure of that. There is a tenant in the house, so the gold bars may be hers. They may belong to some other person entirely, who is simply using the safe. We cannot say at present. It will be necessary to examine the recordsleft in the office for some indication of ownership — receipts for purchase, for instance. It will be necessary to talk to the widow who rents the property. And it will be necessary to obtain permission from your trustees to do all that, since at present there is a very clear instruction that no one is to enter for any reason.”
“But if you tell my trustees, then they will take it all away from me!” she cried fretfully. “It is mine! They must not get hold of it!”
