The maid looked to Charlotte. “I’m so sorry I didn’t confess my sin sooner. Lord Taviot occasionally comes to Town for periods of time when Parliament is in session, and I take care to avoid the areas where he might seek entertainment. But it was a shock to see him here now.”
She drew in a ragged breath. “Then I read in the gossip column of a newspaper that he and his sister were making the rounds in Mayfair to talk about their consortium, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Tyler alerted me to Mr. Sheffield’s interest in the investment opportunity, and I saw A. J. Quill’s pen begin to poke into the race to build an oceangoing steamship.”
“Sorry,” mumbled Tyler. “Mac asked me to keep mum about her dilemma, and I felt beholden to respect her wishes.”
“I know it was wrong of me to remain silent.” McClellan lifted her shoulders in apology. “But I feared that I might somehow make trouble for you and His Lordship.”
“Would Taviot recognize you?” asked Wrexford.
“I—I don’t think so.”
“What about Lady Kirkwall?” asked Charlotte.
“Perhaps,” answered McClellan.
“It seems they have no reason to connect you to our household,” mused Wrexford. “So the real threat is that either of them might spot you on the street and alert Bow Street to take you into custody as a fugitive from justice.”
“I agree,” responded Charlotte. “So we will take precautions. The two of us will avoid being seen in public together, and you must continue to be circumspect in your own outings. That should ensure your safety.”
“Especially as Taviot will soon be worrying about a hangman’s noose tightening around his own neck.” Wrexford reopened his pistol case. “Speaking of which, let us return to the matter of bringing him to justice.”
* * *
Charlotte couldn’t help but flinch. She had never seen such a murderous gleam in her husband’s eyes.
“You don’t think that merely showing the letters you were given by the Frenchman to the minister of state security, along with samples of Taviot’s handwriting, will be enough for Grentham to arrest him for treason?” asked the dowager.
“I would rather have more conclusive evidence,” answered Wrexford. “So that the snake can’t wriggle out of answering for his misdeeds.”
“Like what?” inquired Tyler. He eyed the earl’s dueling weapons. “A signed confession?”
The answering show of teeth was clearly not meant to be a smile.
“Do we know why Taviot was on the Peninsula six years ago?” asked Charlotte. “That may help us discern how to look for other incriminating evidence.”
“He wasn’t in the military, so I assume he was involved in one of the delegations dispatched by the Foreign Office to assess the progress of the war and deal with the local civilian authorities,” answered Wrexford. “I’ll have that information by the end of the day.”
“And we ought not forget about his likely involvement in the clandestine attacks on Maudslay’s laboratory and the naval research facilities at the King’s Dockyard,” offered Alison. “The consortium’s coming reception is being held at its fancy laboratory near Hampton Palace, which will offer us the opportunity to do some sleuthing.”
A chill teased down Charlotte’s spine at the wordus. “As for the skullduggery, I have an idea of where to look for additional proof of Taviot’s misdeeds come nightfall. There may be a chance of discovering who hired the arsonist who set the fire at Maudslay’s laboratory—and I suspect it may be Taviot,” she said. “In the meantime, I shall think of how my pen can help prod him into making a mistake.”
“Enough words for now. It’s time for action,” said Wrexford. “Tyler, take Cordelia and show her Bernoulli’s book to see if she can discern whether he offers any mathematical insight into the sketches in da Vinci’s manuscript. Charlotte and I have our objectives. The rest of you—”
“I can do some asking around among the returning soldiers who come to my clinic for medical help,” offered Henning. “They may know something about the fancy gentleman who hired the poor murdered fellow who set the fire.”
“And I can continue making inquiries into Taviot’s private life,” said the dowager. “As Charlotte is so fond of saying, very few secrets elude curious eyes or ears.”
“Do it carefully, Alison,” warned Charlotte. “Taviot has shown that he kills without compunction.”
“We all need to exercise caution,” advised the earl. “Let us—” He suddenly fell silent and cocked an ear.
Footsteps, growing louder by the moment.
Charlotte saw him pick up one of his pistols.
* * *
“Wrex!” It was Sheffield who called from the corridor, sounding a bit breathless.
