Their plan had worked. Boulton had just confessed, confirmed his involvement with the Odd Fellows, and accused Hamilton in a single sentence.
Lord Stanley leaned forward.
‘Then tell me about Oswald. We know he installed the secret passageways, so do not insult us by denying it.’
Boulton licked his lips.
‘Secret passages are useful for gathering information. Listening to conversations. Our clientele often possess knowledge worth having.’ He hesitated. ‘And they are useful for concealing... smuggled goods. In exchange, we secured a knighthood for him.’
‘You mean to tell me you used the passageways to spy upon your own members?’
‘And others, yes.’
What else were the Odd Fellows involved in? Espionage? The scale of it seemed to widen with every answer. How far into society did this corruption reach? Charlotte wondered in growing alarm.
‘Why were these house parties arranged each year?’ Charlotte asked.
‘To discuss operations for the year. Family events provide excellent cover.’
So her suspicions had been correct. They truly had been conducting criminal business meetings beneath the guise of polite society.
‘Was the late Baron—my father—involved?’ Lord Stanley asked.
Though his tone remained controlled, Charlotte sensed the effort behind it.
Boulton shifted slightly in his seat
‘He was.’
Lord Stanley drew in a measured breath. His hand tightened almost imperceptibly upon the edge of the desk.
Charlotte’s chest ached for him, but she remained silent.
‘Is Oswald the third Grand Fellow?’ Lord Stanley asked quietly.
Boulton let out a contemptuous snort.
‘Oswald? The man is a babbling fool. No. He is one of the lesser members.’
Stanley’s expression hardened.
‘Then who is Falcon?’
Boulton went truly white then.
Not merely pale.
‘If I speak Falcon’s name,’ he said hoarsely, ‘my entire family line will be wiped out. You do not understand what he is capable of.’
For the first time since entering the room, he looked genuinely terrified.
‘It is not about me, Stanley. Hamilton may have no family he values, but I do.’
And there he stopped.
Nothing more could be extracted from him.
As he was led away, Charlotte released a slow breath.
