Wrexford acknowledged the question with a polite bow. “I look forward to hearing about your new technologies.”
Mrs. Guppy smoothed a hand over her skirts. “If I may be so bold, we may have a few metallurgy questions for you, milord.”
“It would be my pleasure to assist.”
On that cheerful note, and with a flurry of good wishes all around, the trio took their leave.
* * *
“I suppose all’s well that ends well. Though it leaves a terrible taste in the mouth to think that four people lost their lives for no good reason.” Alison released a mournful sigh. “Will someone kindly pass me a ginger biscuit?”
Raven, his hearing as batlike as ever, appeared in a flash at the sideboard and brought the platter to the dowager. “Have two, Aunt Alison.”
A chorus of chuckles lightened the somber mood.
“This has been a particularly difficult investigation,” observed the earl.
He knew that Charlotte was troubled by some of the decisions they had made. Their family had been put in grave danger on several occasions, and he sensed that she was asking herself whether they had crossed the line.
He was wondering the same thing, but that was something to be discussed in private. For now there were other matters to resolve.
“Amen to that,” responded Henning. “Yes, it was messy. Sometimes Good and Evil aren’t clearly defined. Let us just give thanks that this close-knit circle of family and friends came through it unscathed.”
Tyler picked up the bottle of whisky from the sideboard and cocked a salute to the surgeon.
“Given that you have the malt in hand, come pour me another wee dram,” drawled Henning.
“What will happen to Fenway?” asked Cordelia.
“The government will, of course, cover up the fact that a highly respected member of the ruling class is a corrupt criminal,” said Wrexford. “They will announce that Fenway has retired from public life due to health reasons, and he’ll be packed off to his estate in Derbyshire, where he will live out his days in poverty, as all his ill-gotten assets will be forfeited to the Crown.”
“Assuming Grentham doesn’t order a hunting accident in order to be rid of the potential for embarrassment,” muttered Henning.
“Hmmm, I wonder . . .” mused Charlotte. “But no,” she quickly added, “in this case I think A. J. Quill agrees that some scandals don’t deserve the light of day. The Bristol Road Project is important for the country. It shouldn’t lose the support of the public or Parliament because of Fenway and Wheeler’s machinations.”
“As to that . . .” Cordelia mustered her first real smile of the meeting. “Kit has been asked to head up one of the subcommittees.”
“I look forward to taking up the challenges,” said Sheffield. “But only after my bride and I take our delayed wedding trip to the Continent.”
“Bravo!” exclaimed Wrexford. “The government has made a wise choice.”
Sheffield drew in a deep breath. “We shall see. But I hope to do some good.”
“There is still one thing I am wondering, sir,” ventured Peregrine. “You mentioned that Lord Fenway and Mr. Wheeler imprisoned you in the dreaded Lockbox. How did you ever discover the secret passageway?”
“I have a confession to make, lad,” replied the earl. “I attended Eton for a term—well, three-quarters of a term—but hated it, so I got myself expelled. However, I didn’t want to mention that to you boys, so as not to set a bad example for you.”
“What did you do, Wrex?” demanded Raven.
“There were no stink bombs involved,” responded Wrexford. “My brother and I formed a small band of like-minded rebels, and we sneaked out of our quarters every night to explore the school. We had heard rumors of the passageways and managed to locate a few of them early on, which allowed us to escape the night watchmen. I then found an ancient map of all the tunnels in the library archives and made a copy, which allowed us to create some outrageous overnight mayhem—a pig in the provost’s inner sanctum, itching powder in the headmaster’s robes . . .”
The Weasels began to chortle.
“The headmaster couldn’t prove that my brother and I were the ringleaders. However, my father was soon requested to find other educational opportunities for us,” finished the earl. “But be forewarned. Donotconsider this revelation to be a license to commit mayhem going forward.”
He paused, his expression turning very solemn. “As we have seen in this investigation, actions have consequences—and not always the ones that are intended. I hope we have all learned the lesson of how important it is to consider our decisions very carefully and think through the possible ramifications.”
All three boys nodded in unison.
