“Nonetheless,” replied Charlotte, “we need to hear it.”
Tyler cleared his throat. “The Weasels overheard you and His Lordship and Mr. Sheffield discussing the situation on the night of the fire and decided that they wanted to help . . .”
Charlotte listened with growing dismay as he recounted what the boys had done.
“Peregrine was not involved in the foray,” the valet hastened to add. “And though I know I shouldn’t say such a thing, it was quite clever of the Weasels to think of gathering the glass fragments and bringing them to me for examination under the microscope.”
A pause. “Given that a violent crime had been committed—one that could have killed innocent workers—I did take the liberty of telling Griffin that the fire had been an act of arson.”
Tyler paused. “It seems he assigned some of his junior Runners to investigate, and they found a witness—a tailor’s apprentice who was returning home late at night—who had seen the man running away. Based on his description of the man and his clothing, several suspects were rounded up, and the witness was able to identify the arsonist.”
“Who is the accused man?” asked Charlotte. “And why did he commit the crime?”
“I’m sorry, m’lady, but I don’t know the answers to those questions,” replied the valet.
“You did, however, make an analysis of the substance used to start the fire?” inquired Wrexford.
“Yes. The accelerant was a sophisticated chemical compound, not simply lamp oil.”
“Which would mean,” intoned the earl, “that it needed to be made in a laboratory.”
“That is my surmise, milord,” said Tyler.
Charlotte understood what that meant. And a glance at the others showed that they did as well.
“I wonder who hired the fellow?” muttered Sheffield.
“That is for the authorities to discover.” Wrexford shifted, throwing his face into shadow. “Bloody hell, it’s clear that the competition to create a marine propulsion system is fraught with hidden dangers.” He waited for a moment, allowing his words to sink in before adding, “And the villains aren’t the only ones playing with fire.”
His voice had taken on a grim edge. “I will say it again, my love. You and Kit must be very careful in how you go about investigating the race to build an oceangoing steamship. Otherwise, you both run the risk of getting burned.”
For a moment the room was deathly still.
Then Henning cleared his throat with a rusty cough. “Bloody hell, this group is always setting off sparks, laddie.” Candlelight glinted off his glass as he drank down the last of his whisky.
“And we haven’t yet gone up in flames.”
CHAPTER 9
“As always, it’s a pleasure to see you, milord.” The Bow Street Runner looked up from perusing the pages of his pocket notebook and signaled for the tavern’s serving wench to come take their order. “I confess, reading makes me hungry.”
“Everythingmakes you hungry, Griffin.” Wrexford took a seat opposite his friend at the none-too-pristine table tucked into a corner alcove. “Most especially a proximity to me and my purse.”
“Indeed, this is an unexpected pleasure,” replied Griffin after requesting enough food to fell an ox. “I thought you and your family were planning to rusticate in the country, now that shooting season for you fancy toffs is about to begin.”
The earl ordered nothing but a pot of coffee. “I’ve had my fill of things that gobang,” he said as the woman hurried away.
That drew a chuckle. Their most recent investigation together had involved recovering the plans and prototype for a revolutionary pistol. The hunt had set off a number of fireworks.
“Understandably so, milord. May you and Lady Wrexford feast on some peace and quiet . . .” Griffin hesitated, his lidded eyes intent on the earl’s expression. “Or is this not a purely social visit?”
“Alas, no,” replied Wrexford. “Much as I enjoy watching you stuff your gullet, this meeting is for professional reasons.”
The serving wench returned with a monstrous tray and placed several large platters on the table along with the earl’s pot of coffee.
“There’s been a murder,” he continued, once they were alone. “And I wish to engage your services to help me track down the killer.”
Griffin forked up a bite of shirred eggs. “If you need my assistance, then I take it the case is a complicated one.”
