“What–”
“Revolutionists of these Isles are not within my remit, you understand, but when the Brotherhood of Ravens work with foreign spies to aid their subversive inclinations, it becomes my business also.” He sighed. “I’ve my own man within the Ravens, you realise, and what does he report back to me? That a certain London scoundrel was regularly meeting some of them at an ale-house off Seven Dials.”
“But–”
“So of course, I assume the Home Office were investigating them also, but when I ask the Home Secretary to confirm, I receive a negative. So what am I to think, Cadwalader?”
“Well–”
“Then, to make matters worse, my man informs me that the Brotherhood of Ravens were also in possession of confidential Home Office documents, and suddenly everyone, however high on the Whitehall ladder, is under suspicion of treason.”
“That–”
“Quite frankly, it did not look good for you, and since it seemed…unwise to raise the matter with your Home Office superior at this stage, it left me no choice but to become further involved.” He flexed his hands. “I was forced to open an investigation into you, Cadwalader, calculate the odds of whether you’d turned traitor, as I was informed another in your department had, not so long ago.”
“If–”
“Well, what do you have to say?”
“I’m not your bloody traitor,” Hugh growled, straining forward. “And I say the man you speak of was no traitor either, that Ross Thornton did not take his own life. I say theBrotherhood killed him. That he grew too close to finding out who their source was. I say your man is not working fast enough and I say another of us will end up dead sooner rather than later.” Hugh sank back in the chair, the rope chafing.
Opinionated spies who disobeyed orders and went off on their own were not tolerated, he knew that.
He would be given the heave-ho from the Home Office. Quite possibly locked up.
Bloody hell.
Lord Rainham heaved a deep breath. “How did you find out about the Brotherhood of Ravens?”
Hugh weighed his options. But there was no reason he could think of not to trust the man. Rainham had shared much and, quite frankly, Hugh needed the help of someone with more resources. So he cast his lot with the man before him and told him of Ross’ notebook, of the list of names, all murdered, the suspicion a traitor was at large, the clue of the Ravens, and how Ross, it seemed, had begun his own investigation.
“He must have got close then,” murmured Lord Rainham. “And was killed for it. I’m sorry.”
Hugh hung his head. “I believe so. And I still have no idea of the source of these leaks, so…so had no choice but to keep it from…”
“Your superior, Sir Edmund Twyford.” Lord Rainham pinched his brow. “You have another Brotherhood of Ravens meeting tonight, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it seems I either reveal your insubordination to the Home Secretary and have him deal with you or…allow you to continue.”
Lips pressed, Hugh eyed him.
“On the basis of a report I have received, I shall allow you to continue your investigation. But undermydirection. You answer to me. Is that understood?”
He nodded as Lord Rainham paced.
“Indeed, it would appear more suspicious to the Ravens should you now disappear all of a sudden and you can divert attention from my man.”
“And he is?”
“Never you mind. Anything else I should know? I do not wish for further rude surprises.”
Hugh stretched his toes as best he could. “Ross also had a list of fourTonladies, all with surnames beginning with the letter T. The sole connection I could find was that they all knew or were related to someone who worked for the Home Office. It appeared Ross had investigated two and found nothing and neither have I. I’ve investigated a third and naught. There is only one left.”
“Why was the letter T significant to Thornton?”
“I can solely assume he overheard something.”
