She stopped abruptly as an idea suddenly came to mind. “On second thought, fly up to your aerie and change into your fancy clothes while I dress for the evening.”
Seeing McClellan’s questioning frown as Hawk darted for the stairs, she explained, “Both Tyler and I have taken Hawk to sketch in the Royal Botanic Gardens recently, so the attendants know the boy and won’t find a visit out of the ordinary. If the two of us go out there now, we can keep an eye on the storeroom—”
She saw the maid was about to speak and quickly added, “Before you begin to protest, be assured that I’ve no intention of taking any chances. I mean to stop at Wrexford’s townhouse, and if he’s not yet returned, I shall ask Tyler to accompany us.”
McClellan gave a grudging nod. “That seems safe enough. Tyler can be counted on not to take any silly risk.”
“And as Raven should be there as well, helping in the workroom, I’ll dispatch him with a note to Aunt Alison, asking her to accompany Hartley to the evening lecture, and to be sure that they arrive early,” went on Charlotte. “She’ll understand that some intrigue is afoot and will follow my instructions to tell Hartley that they are needed to assist Wrexford with a delicate situation. I’ll explain things more fully when I see them.”
“But Hawk can hardly stay for the evening’s event,” pointed out the maid.
“No, of course not. I plan to send him home with Tyler—we’ll travel out there in one of the earl’s carriages. If for some reason, Tyler needs to stay with us, Hawk can return to Town with Alison’s coachman, who’ll bring him here.”
McClellan picked at a bit of dough that was clinging to her cuff. “What will you do if Wrexford doesn’t return home and never gets your message? I’m assuming you’re counting on him to convince the secretary of the Royal Society to put Becton’s specimen under lock and key until the killer is unmasked and brought to justice.”
“I’ve thought of that,” replied Charlotte. “It’s the reason I’m making sure Aunt Alison attends the event. She wields a good deal of influence in Society—”
“Not to speak of a very sharp stick,” murmured McClellan.
“And I shall ask her to use her cane, if need be,” responded Charlotte. “But I don’t expect violence to be necessary. That Hartley is an earl should provide enough gravitas to our request to keep the specimen under guard until Wrexford has a chance to explain matters. After all, Lord Bethany owes him a rather large favor.”
Pursing her lips, the maid considered the plan.
Charlotte waited. She trusted McClellan’s judgment. “If you see any flaws, please point them out.”
“No, no,” responded the maid. “It’s an excellent strategy, one that is both prudent and pragmatic.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It seems that we are finally about to bring this pernicious investigation to an end. Wrexford has learned the identity of the killer, and thanks to Hawk, the specimen has been found and shall soon be safe . . .”
“Yes, but Daggett is still free to foment evil,” whispered Charlotte.
“As Wrexford said, it is now up to the authorities to apprehend him and see that he’s punished for his misdeeds,” replied McClellan. “Our part in this unholy mess will soon be over.”
Charlotte forced a smile, but a niggling sense of unease robbed it of any warmth. “I had better hurry and change so that Hawk and I can be on our way.”
CHAPTER 19
“Damnation,” muttered Sheffield as he and Wrexford entered the earl’s workroom. “I will shed no tears over the deaths of DeVere and Quincy, but no matter how unsavory, one deserves a fair trial in which to answer for one’s sins.”
“So says the law of the land. And for the concept of justice to hold any meaning, it must apply equally to everyone.” Wrexford took a seat at his desk, feeling frustrated and discouraged. After failing to find Daggett at the Sun and Sextant Club, he had paid a visit to an old friend, who held a senior position in military intelligence at the Horse Guards, to discuss the political ramifications of arresting an American naval officer. Only to be told that principle would likely give way to pragmatism.
“However . . .” The earl picked up his letter opener and ran a finger along the blade. “Norris informed me that private negotiations have just begun to end the war between our two countries, so he is of the opinion that—”
“That the dastard is going to get away with murder,” interrupted Sheffield. He grimaced. “Lady Charlotte isn’t going to be happy.”
His friend’s words sent a spike of fear through Wrexford’s gut. “Do you think I don’t know that?” His hand tightened on the hilt of the letter opener. “I’m aware that she’ll not turn a blind eye on it, and will use her pen to provoke the public into asking more questions about the crime.”
“What can we do to protect her?” asked Sheffield.
“I need to find Daggett. Our government may be loath to confront him, but I’m not,” growled Wrexford. “Griffin has two men keeping the Sun and Sextant Club under surveillance, so I’ll be alerted as soon as he returns there. I’ve some ideas of where else to look—”
A slight rustling in the storage alcove caused him to stop in midsentence. “Weasel?” he called sharply.
Silence.And then a whisper of movement as Raven slipped out of the shadows, a glass beaker and polishing cloth in his hands.
The earl swore under his breath. “I ought to birch your bum for eavesdropping.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, sir,” replied the boy. “I was working. . .” A pause. “At the task that Mr. Tyler assigned to me.”
Sheffield cleared his throat to mask a chuckle.
