“I’ll question him andattempt to uncover the truth.”
He threw up his hands. “There. Ithought so. If you approach these men and make it public, it willbe like setting the hounds among the rabbits.”
“I’ll be discreet with myinquiries,” Jack said. “What else do you ask of me?”
“Some protection for myfamily. Lady Butterstone and Lady Ashley may be in danger too.You’re an ex-army man; you will have useful friends.”
“Then you must tell meeverything you know. Why was Butterstone killed?”
“I can only imagine it wasbecause he made inquiries of the wrong people at Whitehall. Stirredthe hornet’s nest.”
Jack frowned. “You’re suggesting thatsomeone in our government was involved?”
“It’s possible,” Caindalesaid.
“The other possibility isthat the French might have considered Butterstone to be a party tothe plot to bring about Bonaparte’s death,” Jack said. “In thatcase why didn’t they shoot you when they held up your carriage, asthey did Butterstone? Why take you back to London?”
“They believe I can leadthem to Napoleon’s assassin.” He peered anxiously out of thewindow. The carriage was traveling through the park. “I must becareful…”
Jack eyed him. Caindale’s foreheaddripped sweat, and his hand shook. His fear was real. But couldthere be more to this than he revealed? Jack recalled the pastorsaying he’d seen two men riding side by side toward London.Commonsense urged him to refuse to have anything to do withCaindale. To leave the major part of the investigation to Bascombe.But Ashley in danger? That was not to be born. “I’ll have someonewatch your house.”
Caindale’s shoulders drooped withrelief and he held out his hand. “Thank you, Captain. I am in yourdebt.”
Jack shook it. “Now, my lord, thename?”
Caindale nodded furiously. “As soon asyour guard arrives, you shall have it.”
Annoyed by the man’s obtuseness, Jackthumped on the roof. When the horses were pulled up, he opened thedoor and leaped from the carriage.
He strolled toward his rooms inPiccadilly. He didn’t feel as if he’d advanced much further. Themore he learned of this affair the more muddied the waters became.He thought again of Ashley. Would he be able to do as he’d promisedand solve her father’s murder? It was really all he could give herof himself. And this was the reason he wouldn’t drop the matteruntil he came up against a dead end with nowhere else toturn.
~~~
Gormley failed to make an appearanceduring the meal. After they’d eaten, Cathleen went to her bedroomto pack a bag. When she came down, she glanced around the parlor,regret in her eyes. “I hate having to leave my home, and myanimals.” Her chest heaved with a sigh. “And Ireland.”
“In time, you might be ableto return,” Erina said sadly.
“But when and to what?”Cathleen shook her head. “The farmhand has promised to look afterthe livestock. Gormley won’t care. I can assure you he won’t paythe man!”
Erina placed an arm around hershoulders. “Let’s go to Dublin. You’ll feel better when you put abit of distance between yourself and Gormley.”
Harry took her bag. “I’ll shake up thejarvie. He’s got a bit too comfortable in the hay loft.”
The rain held off on the way back totown. They traveled in silence with Cathleen staring glumly out thewindow. At the hotel, they alighted from the carriage and stood onthe pavement while Harry paid the driver. Cathleen instructed thehotel footman to retrieve her luggage.
“You there!”
The three of them spun around. Gormleystood a few yards away. He aimed a rifle at Cathleen. Stunned,Erina and Cathleen stared at him. “Go inside,” Harry yelled. He ranover and began to shepherd them toward the hoteldoorway.
A shot echoed around them. Erinawatched as Gormley ran away. “What did he…”
Beside her, Harry collapsed to theground.
“Harry!” Breathless, shedropped to her knees beside him.
His eyes were closed, and bloodflooded from a wound high on his right shoulder.
The hotel footman had dropped the bagin shock. “Call a doctor,” Erina screamed at him. He stood rootedto the spot. “Don’t just stand there. Go for help. We must get himinside.”
