Wrexford studied it for a moment. “I see your point. I’ll send word to our urchins to have a look.” He was careful to avoid identifying the boys as Raven and Hawk. Daggett might have observed the boys at the Royal Botanic Gardens, and while he trusted the American, there was no reason for the fellow to know all of the family secrets.
“How the devil do you intend to do that?” Daggett had gone to stand by the window overlooking the river. “They’re scattered helter-pelter from here to London Bridge.”
“You underestimate the wharf rats,” responded the earl dryly. “One of the ways they survive is to work as sentries for the thieving rings that plague the docklands. They know how to set up a very sophisticated network of communication.” He glanced at the door. “There’s a boy waiting in the outer office. When I dispatch him with a message, it will make its way very quickly to one of our two leaders.”
Daggett pulled a pocket watch from his coat and clicked it open. “We’ve now less than six hours.”
“I will be back momentarily.”
When Wrexford returned, the American had his back turned to the room and was staring out over the water, whose lead-dark ripples were frothed with dots of foam from rising breezes.
Charlotte and Cordelia had busied themselves making tea on the coal stove in the corner. Steam rose in a curling plume from the pot as they filled five cups and began to pass them around.
Without a word, Sheffield went through the side door into his office and came back with a bottle of whisky. “I think we all could do with a wee dram to fortify our spirits.”
“Are you passing out miracles, as well as malt?” muttered Daggett. He waved off the cup and turned his gaze back to the river. The cutters and wherries of the rivermen were heading upstream, carried along on the swirling currents of the flooding tide.
Wrexford ignored the comment. He was sure the urchins would find the ship. The question of how they were going to free Tyler, once they located it, was a far more daunting challenge.
“Hell’s teeth.” Daggett suddenly turned around from the mullioned glass. “We’ve been looking at the problem from the wrong end of the spyglass! We don’t have to find Lyman’s bloody ship. We just have to stop it from sailing out to sea.”
“But—” began Cordelia.
“But how?” he finished for her. “It’s quite simple. We commandeer one of the British war frigates docked at the naval yard in Greenwich.” Daggett pulled out the official documents and shook them triumphantly. “These give us permission to do so. All we have to do is lie in wait for Lyman’s ship. A frigate outguns it, and with no room to maneuver, Lyman will have no choice but to surrender or be blown out of the water.” A pause. “And I don’t really care which option he chooses.”
“But we do,” said Wrexford. “Tyler is captive on Lyman’s ship.”
“You can hire another valet, milord,” snapped Daggett.
In a flash, the earl coiled a fist, but Charlotte seized his arm before he could throw a punch.
“Tyler is part of our family, Captain Daggett,” she said. “We’ve a bond that runs far deeper than blood.”
“Forgive me—that was badly voiced.” The American met Wrexford’s scowl without flinching. “But as a military man, milord, you are aware that however difficult, we must be ruthlessly pragmatic in making strategic decisions. If Lyman escapes, he’ll continue to wreak havoc on countless lives.”
“If you blow the ship to kingdom come, you’ll destroy Becton’s plant specimen,” countered Charlotte, “which will help save far more lives than Lyman will ever harm. So if you wish to go merely by the numbers, they, too, are on our side.”
Giving thanks for Charlotte’s quick thinking, the earl held his tongue. That they had the drawing of the plant was a detail Daggett didn’t need to know. After all, it might take years to locate it in its natural habitat.
“I’ve a better strategy,” continued Charlotte. “You go to the naval yard at Greenwich and organize a blockade of the river. Every frigate carries a detachment of Royal Marines, so using the longboats, it will be easy to deploy a formidable boarding party to row out and seize Lyman’s ship. Its crew members are hired mercenaries. Announce that no criminal charges will be brought against them, and they will flee like rats from a sinking ship.”
“And while you are handling those logistics,” said Wrexford, after catching Charlotte’s eye, “we’ll take charge of rescuing Tyler and the specimen.”
Daggett muttered an oath under his breath. “You know, I could use these documents to have the lot of you arrested so you can’t interfere in government business.”
“To do that, you would have to pass by me,” growled Sheffield.
“And me,” added Cordelia, snatching up a heavy brass sextant from one of the shelves.
“I don’t think violence will be necessary,” said Charlotte. “As you’ve pointed out, Captain, you’re a pragmatic man. So you see that my suggestion allows us to satisfy the demands of both reason and emotion.”
A tiny muscle twitched as Daggett clenched and unclenched his jaw. And then he chuffed a laugh. “Much as it galls me to surrender to a British opponent, I know when I’ve met my match.”
“In this, our two countries have a truce, so your honor is saved, Daggett,” pointed out Wrexford.
“Then I shall hold my chin up high as I leave—assuming Mr. Sheffield doesn’t plant me a facer.” He inclined a small bow to Cordelia. “And that Lady Cordelia doesn’t crack my skull.”
Cordelia set aside her makeshift weapon. “You’re quite safe now. Just don’t threaten my friends again.”
