Five weeks to court Kate. Five weeks to discover the identity of The Sentinel. Five weeks to stop a threat against the Crown.
A familiar knock sounded, and the butler strode through the door with a bow. “My lord, your young friend is at the servants’ entrance. He is asking to speak with you.”
James straightened. “Tell him I shall be there directly.”
He gathered the papers on his desk and locked them in a drawer.Why had Jimmy come?James had told him to visit Westmarch if he came across any useful information. Would James be disobeying orders if he talked to the boy? Surely not. He would simply ensure the boy was fed. If Jimmy wanted to share any information while he ate, it would be rude not to listen.
James entered the kitchen to the sweet fragrance of tea cakes. A young boy of about ten with unruly dark blond hairand breeches several sizes too short sat at the kitchen worktable. He was devouring the sweet buns, crumbs at the corners of his mouth mixing with the smudges of soot on his cheeks.
An ache bloomed in James’s chest at the rip in the boy’s jacket and the hunger in his eyes. At least Jimmy’s shoes were in decent shape. James had seen to that with a pair passed on as castoffs by the stable boy, sufficiently scuffed to appear worn. The boy had refused James’s offer of a steady job, though James paid him in food and coin for the information he brought him from the streets. Pride was a fierce thing, especially when it was all one had left.
“I nearly made it to your chair before you noticed me. Are you losing your touch?”
Jimmy’s head snapped up, a broad grin stretching across his face. “Nah, it’s just them cakes. Can’t ’elp it if there’s food to be eaten.” He took another large bite, then licked his fingers. “Right delicious these are.”
“I thought I told you that for the time being, you should visit our mutual friend instead of coming here.”
“I remember. What d’ye take me for? I ain’t a confounded lackwit! I went just like you said. His servant told me he ain’t home at present. Said he didn’t know when the gent’d be back, so I came here instead. ’Sides, Mrs. Bates always has the best grub.” Jimmy’s hand hovered near the remaining cakes.
James slid the plate closer as he took a seat on the wooden chair across from Jimmy. “Indeed. And I daresay she hopes that these will be eaten by someone who might truly appreciate them.”
Jimmy snatched another one from the plate. “Well, if you ain’t makin’ game of me.”
“I assure you, Jimmy. Nothing would make her happier.” The sweet smell of bread and dried fruit reached his nose. “In fact,I will join you.” James took a bite of the soft bun and brushed away the crumbs.
“Now. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?”
“Well, I was at that taproom near Pottery Lane, the one Mr. Brown owns. He lets me sweep up now and again for coin.” Jimmy paused his story to take a quick bite of tea cake and a gulp of tea. “There was two gents sittin’ at a table in the corner, one of ’em was three sheets in the wind. I was just cleanin’ and I heard . . .” Jimmy hesitated, brushing his fingers over the crumbs on the table. “I heard ’em say the name Henry Whitlock.”
The name struck James like a physical blow.
“So I kept my ears open and stayed close, and the flash cove with the fancy ring said he was meetin’ someone.”
“Who? Where?”
“Midnight. At Wycliff’s. In the library.” Jimmy shrugged. “Didn’t make much sense to me, but that’s what he said.”
Wycliff’s. The ball tonight. James had learned that sometimes the perfect place to hide was in plain sight.
“I done right, comin’ to tell ya, didn’t I?”
James reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Yes, Jimmy. You did exceedingly well.” That earned him a large grin. “I have an important job for you. Do you think you are up for it?”
Jimmy nodded enthusiastically.
“Wonderful. I have a list of names, and I need you and the other boys to see what you can find out. Tell them there is extra coin and food for anyone willing to help me.”
As James waited in the front hall of Kate’s town house to accompany her family to the ball, he replayed Jimmy’s words in his mind. The boy had never led him astray, and James knew where he had to be at midnight. He would have to find a place to conceal himself, but a library at a large town house should provide options. He needed tonight to go smoothly so that he could delay explaining himself to Westmarch until it was necessary. If the man could not be reached, he could hardly fault James for his actions tonight.
He glanced up at the stairs. Again. Footsteps sounded, but it was not Kate who appeared.
“Good evening, Lord Sutherland. Lady Sutherland.” James bowed, but when he straightened, he noticed Lord Sutherland was not in evening attire.
“There has been a change in plans,” Lord Sutherland said. “I shall not be attending the ball tonight. There has been an unfortunate accident.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Kate. Is she well? Did she—?” His voice broke as dread seized him.
“I apologize for alarming you. Kate is unharmed,” Lord Sutherland reassured him. “It is Hugh. He was thrown from his horse. He will make a full recovery, but Lady Sutherland insisted one of us remain at the house to be with him.”
