Raven nodded in understanding.
“Sheffield, Hawk, Mac, and Magpie . . . You four come with me,” he continued. To Peregrine he added, “You circle around to the sailors and inform them that we’re heading for the building.”
Snick, snick. He cocked his weapons. “Move quietly, everyone—and quickly.”
A pause. “I daresay the dowager is yearning for a cup of Mac’s excellent coffee and a decent breakfast.”
CHAPTER 30
Taking the lead, the Weasels picked a path through the swaying reeds. Once they had covered half the distance to the building, Raven turned and indicated that von Münch should follow him in cutting around to the left.
Once the two of them had disappeared in the marshland growth, Wrexford moved around to Charlotte’s side. Their hands clasped together, but only for a moment. He dared not risk any further distraction. “Let us give them a few minutes to get into place before continuing.”
“Is there any problem?” she asked as they waited. “We thought we heard a gunshot.”
“Our mild-manned librarian was simply proving his mettle,” he replied. “It appears your instincts were right.”
He checked the area before getting back to the task at hand. “Tilden was called away yesterday afternoon—quite likely a ruse by Jarvis to confuse the chain of command at the King’s Dockyard. However, he underestimated Midshipman Porter.” A wry smile. “Who, by the by, is already a very fine naval officer.”
“So Horatio has led his men here—” she began.
“Not precisely,” answered the earl. “Horatio put his bosun in charge of the sailors who will guard the boathouse where the villains have moored the steam-powered prototype. He and I decided that as a further precaution, he would take command of the second prototype steamboat, which is kept in the laboratory boathouse, and lie in wait near the top of the river’s bend, just in case the villains manage to slip through our net.”
Seeing Charlotte go white as a ghost, he hastily added, “But I don’t expect it will come to that.”
“Nor do I.” She raised a brow at Mac. “And you? You didn’t think we could handle this on our own?”
McClellan’s lips twitched. “I figured that someone ought to stay and tend to the dowager in case you two went haring off after the villains.” She turned to Wrexford with a challenging stare. “Whatever negotiations you are planning to make, milord, I don’t imagine you are planning on letting them evade justice.”
“Correct.” Though said softly, the word had the ring of steel.
The mist was beginning to blow off, but the hazy sun had yet to warm the salty chill from the air.
“Time to move,” he announced.
With Hawk showing them the way, they followed in single file and threaded through the shadows of a glade of scrubby trees to reach the side of the house.
“The anteroom opens into the main room through a doorway on the left,” whispered Hawk. “That’s where they are holding Aunt Alison.”
“Stay out here, lad, and keep watch. Trill like a sparrow if anyone approaches.” Wrexford pressed a finger to his lips, a signal for everyone to stay silent, and then motioned for Charlotte and the others to follow.
On reaching the outer door, he slowly eased the latch open. A furtive look inside showed the unlit anteroom was deserted and shrouded with shadows.
So far, their luck was holding.
Wrexford slipped inside and motioned for his companions to join him. A few terse gestures indicated how he wanted to array his forces. He and Sheffield would step out of the gloom together, with Charlotte and McClellan aligned behind them, guarding their flanks.
He could hear the buzz of voices from the main room.
An argument?
Discord among the miscreants would only work in his favor.
After another hand signal, indicating that he would reconnoiter on his own, Wrexford crept toward the far end of the anteroom and angled a look around the corner.
A flutter of white. With a trembling hand, Taviot blotted his forehead with a silk handkerchief.
“Why me?” he whined. “Why don’tyoustay here whileIand our men move the cases of money and letters of credit to the boat? You’re better with a knife than I am.” Taviot glanced at Alison. “Why not just be done with it? We don’t need a hostage anymore, and a blade to the throat will finally silence the infernal Dragon.”
