Denis sat at his desk going over letters, with no indication that he’d spent a day and a night in notorious Newgate prison.
Gibbons pointedly waited until I’d seated myself in front of the desk before he plunked a glass of brandy on the small table next to me. He withdrew, the room warming a bit once his chilly presence had gone.
Robbie, in his position by one of the windows, gave me a nod, in a more friendly manner than he’d shown in the past. He betrayed relief his master was home and hope that he’d remain here.
The usual procedure was for me to sit quietly until Denis was finished with whatever papers absorbed his attention and deigned to notice my presence. Today, my ill-humor would not let me remain still.
“If I am to help you, I need all information you have about Pickett,” I stated into the silence. “I want to know about the men who referred Pickett to you as well as exactly why you were at the Seven Dials house. Also, why the devil you decided to let Spendlove catch you over a body with a knife in your hand.”
Denis’s fingers twitched at my impertinence, but other than that, he did not acknowledge my outburst. He made a few more notes, signed a page, blotted it, and neatly set the papers aside.
“The young woman,” he began. “What did she wish to consult you about?”
I blinked a moment, my thoughts in disarray, then I realized to whom he was referring. “It is a private matter,” I said stiffly.
“That I perceived. What was this private matter?” Denis regarded me with quiet obstinacy. “If you believe I will rush to her family and reveal her whereabouts and whatever she discussed with you, you have learned nothing of me over the years.”
“Her family want nothing to do with her,” I said tightly.
“I suspected that. In my experience, genteel young women do not meet with gentlemen, even for business, without a companion or chaperone to guard their virtue. From this, I conclude that the lady is living independently, and either has no family, or no wish for her family to intrude upon her life.”
“Your conclusions are correct,” I had to admit. “Before you press me for her name, I do not know it. She will not tell me. She calls herself Lady.”
Denis’s brows rose a fraction. “An apt moniker. Is she seeking information about someone? Her own child, perhaps?”
I stopped myself from demanding how the devil he knew that. It was not difficult to conclude how a young woman came to be alone in an insalubrious part of London, instead of residing with a protective family.
“I suppose it does no harm for you to know.” No one of my acquaintance was more discreet than Denis or had more resources at his disposal. “Perhaps you could help me in return for keeping you away from the Old Bailey. Yes, her daughter. The girl was adopted by a family called Redding, but Mr. Redding is deceased, and Lady has lost track of them.”
Denis lifted his pen and made a note on a clean sheet of paper. I gave him a few more details about Redding’s business Lady had imparted to me as we’d enjoyed the cakes, and about the parish minister who had assisted in having young Vicky adopted. Donata had said she and Aline would help, but Denis could obtain information most of us could not.
Denis laid his pen down once I’d finished. “I will make a few inquiries.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “Will you now condescend to tell me how your barrister managed to procure your release? I’m surprised Spendlove isn’t battering down the door with his army of patrollers.”
“Because a certain gentleman helped my barrister with his arguments to the judge. This gentleman has much pull with the Lord Chancellor as well as the Home Department. He is an ambitious sort, and there are plenty who want to be seen doing him favors.”
“I imagine High Court judges aren’t fond of Spendlove either,” I said.
“I have no idea about that, though you are likely correct. Judges also have ambitions, as do barristers. A favor for a gentleman who is likely to one day be a powerful cabinet minister might help a man on his way to becoming an attorney general. Or even Lord Chief Justice, with a peerage created for him. Wheels need plenty of grease.”
“And you can grease them.”
“Favors beget favors. Those in Chancery have a ruthlessness you would never find in the most hardened criminal.”
I believed him. The way of politics was fraught with peril, which is why I avoided it.
“Who was this gentleman with much pull who had you released?” I prompted. “It was The Honorable Mr. Haywood, wasn’t it?”
Chapter 17
If I expected Denis to fall back to his chair, press a hand to his heart, and exclaim that he had no idea how I’d guessed the truth, I’d have been disappointed.
“I agreed to keep the matter confidential,” Denis replied without expression.
His way of telling me yes.
“I buttonholed Haywood at Covent Garden last night,” I explained. “He, too strongly, told me to leave the matter of your arrest alone and not to interfere, which was almost exactly what you’d said to me.” I reached for the brandy and took a large sip. “By which, I concluded he was assisting you. He must owe you a tremendous favor.”
