“I’m afraid for you. You could be watched as you enter the caves. Kenna’s abductor may not come if he sees you.”
“That is a chance I’ll have to take.” Nick’s fingers threaded through his hair. The smile that touched his lips and blue eyes was bleak. “Victorine, I have put the gold and silver in the valise as directed. In truth, I doubt you could carry it, certainly not the entire way to the caves. If I leave now I will reduce my chances of being seen entering the cave.”
Victorine nodded. “Then go, Nicholas. Godspeed.” She waited until she heard Nick’s steps recede along the corridor, then Victorine went to her chiffonier and opened the bottom drawer. She sifted through dainty undergarments and hose until she found what she wanted. Cautiously she removed the pistol she had kept hidden there since Robert Dunne’s murder.
* * *
Rhys was waiting impatiently for Powell at the edge of the woods. When the older man inadvertently crossed his path Rhys stepped out from behind a tree and called to him.
Powell jerked with surprise, twisting around quickly.
His eyes narrowed as he made out the figure of his friend. “God almighty! You’ve likely pushed me nearer my grave. I couldn’t believe it when I received Polly’s note that you wanted to meet with me. What are you doing in England, Rhys?”
Rhys offered Powell the briefest of explanations, telling him only the most necessary details. “I arrived in London less than forty-eight hours ago. I spent one night at Polly’s and I had planned to talk to Nick yesterday. I found out he left a card game at White’s to return to Dunnelly the day before. I can think of only two reasons he would walk out on a wager. How is Victorine?”
“Much the same. Not in good health, hasn’t been since…well, you know. But she’s no worse. It was she who sent for Nick. I know because I saw her give young Billy the note.”
“That leaves something to do with Kenna. Which is why I think we haven’t much time. Hours. Days. I don’t know. But something will happen here before the week is out.”
Powell nodded heavily. “That’s a certainty, Deverell will have to move quickly if he wants to be any help to Napoleon. You’ve heard that Wellington will make his stand soon?”
“Yes. Everyone in London is talking of it. At Waterloo, I believe.”
“If Deverell knows, then he will want to ransom Kenna soon and leave the country.”
“I agree. Can you get me into the house? Hide me until we know something?”
“We can go now. The house is quiet. There are still a few hours left before the servants are up.”
Rhys followed Powell across the yard, keeping low as a precaution. They had just rounded the rear corner of the manor when Powell came to an abrupt halt, holding out his arm to keep Rhys at his back. “Look there! Near the summerhouse!”
Rhys eyes narrowed in the dark as he tried to identify the figure hurrying toward the summerhouse. “Is that Deverell? Look! He’s carrying something.”
Powell had to put a restraining hand on Rhys’s shoulder to keep him from running out and stopping the man. “Not Deverell. That’s Lord Dunne. Or at least that’s Lord Dunne’s cape.”
“I cannot afford another case of mistaken identity,” said Rhys. I’m following him.”
“No. Let me. I’ll go to the summerhouse and watch the beach. You take the passage to the caves. You can climb the stairs faster than I can. Are you armed?”
“Yes. Is the lantern still at the top of the stairs?”
“Aye. Everything’s much as you left it. No one’s used that passage but me. There’s been no activity in the caves since you went to America.”
“Small wonder,” Rhys said dryly. “What with our traitor out of the country as well. Be careful, Powell.”
“You also.” He gave Rhys’s shoulder an encouraging squeeze, then the two men parted company.
* * *
“It’s time,” Mason announced. “We’re expected.”
“You were there the night my father was killed,” Kenna said.
“Aren’t you the clever one. Come on.”
Kenna refused to move. “You’re Michael Deveraux.”
“On occasion. I confess I am surprised that it took you so long to realize it.”
