Chapter Fifteen #2
Barrow nodded. “Oh, I am quite familiar with that lot. Lord Pullingham is one of those little rats. The man has money, the only one of Hawthorne’s friends who does.
It is his wife’s money, of course. Pullingham has never worked a day in his life and had to marry a rich tradesman’s daughter to maintain his style of living.
Her father purchased a townhouse for them in Belgravia. ”
Gideon arched an eyebrow. “That’s serious money.”
“As I said, all the wife’s. And her father keeps tight rein on it, all bound up in trusts and such.
Pullingham might be aiding Hawthorne, but he would never allow the man to hide Lord Berwick at his residence.
Besides, his wife happens to be in London now.
She would be screaming bloody murder and every constable in London would have been called to her home by now.
She will never allow that sneaky rat of a husband and his friends to embroil her in this nefarious nonsense. ”
“Then where? Somewhere outside of London?” Gideon asked.
“No, Hawthorne does not have the resources for that. I’m sure he meant to grab Lady Berry and carry her off to a prelate who could be bribed to overlook her protests and marry them fast right here in London.
It is common knowledge that the prelate at St. Simeon’s Church of the Revelations in Southwark is on the take. ”
“But I have Lady Berry safely at my club, so why would he bother to go there now?”
“In the hope that crooked prelate might hide Lord Berwick for him.”
“Truly? Would a man of the cloth be that stupid?”
Barrow rolled his eyes. “You, of all people, should know how stupid and venal people can be. Has your upbringing not taught you as much?”
Gideon grunted in acknowledgment.
“If he were willing to lie about Lady Berry’s consent to marry Lord Hawthorne, is it a stretch to think this prelate would lie about hiding Lord Berwick and holding him hostage?
This assumes there will be a ransom demand for his return.
That man is going to grab a share of whatever is paid over for Lord Berwick’s return.
” Barrow paused and shook his head in dismay, his prominent jowls wobbling.
“Let’s hope they choose to ransom him. We are now dealing with frightened men.
It is also possible they will decide to kill him and toss his body into the Thames. ”
“And the ton considers me low and unworthy,” Gideon muttered, grunting in disgust.
“Well, Pullingham’s home and St. Simeon’s Church are the two places I will start asking questions.
Keep in mind, Hawthorne probably has not planned for any alternatives and could still be driving around London in a panic while he decides what to do next.
Your men are hopefully following him and this is why they have not returned to your club yet. ”
Gideon admitted that this was likely.
“If I were a betting man, I would place wagers on Hawthorne ultimately deciding to make for St. Simeon’s once he manages to lose your friends. It is familiar ground, and he thinks no one will figure out the connection between him and that prelate.”
“Makes sense. I’ll come with you.”
“And I’ll nose around the Pullingham residence,” one of Barrow’s men, the one called Mick, said.
The other man, whose name was George, also rose. “I’ll stop by the magistrate’s office to see if anyone has reported a disturbance. As the complaints come in, we may be able to deduce where Hawthorne is fleeing, or at least the direction in which he is fleeing.”
“Consider us on the case, Mr. Knight,” Barrow said with a nod.
“But I suggest you return to Lady Berry. You do not want to be caught up in any nasty business, especially if Lord Hawthorne resists capture. No, you do not help Lady Berry by confronting that villain and possibly getting hurt yourself. And you dare not get caught up in an assault charge. He is a lord, after all. Even if it is just a courtesy title. Let us handle it. I’ll report back to you at your club before noon today. ”
Gideon was not the sort to sit around and do nothing.
Dr. Farthingale was still with Berry, and Horace was there to carry out his precise instructions.
Bonham would take care of the club and any other business that arose.
“I’m coming with you, Mr. Barrow. I’ll stay back and let you take the lead.
Otherwise, you would be one man alone against Hawthorne and his rabble.
Also, if Lord Berwick is badly hurt, you’ll require my assistance and my carriage to get him to safety. ”
Barrow did not look pleased, but nodded. “All right, Mr. Knight.” He then turned to his men. “My gut tells me they are heading to Southwark and the church. Meet me there as soon as you have checked out Pullingham’s residence and the magistrate’s office.”
Gideon always carried two weapons on him, a pistol in the lip of one boot and a knife in the lip of the other.
He watched as Barrow also armed himself.
“I rarely ever have to use force, Mr. Knight. It is all in how one talks to the accomplices. Few of them are willing to hang for a friend’s mad idea.
As they sober up, they will realize the mess they have gotten themselves into and scurry off like rats abandoning a sinking ship.
You must let them. Our objective is to rescue Lord Berwick first. The magistrate’s men will apprehend Hawthorne’s accomplices later. ”
“And what of Hawthorne and the prelate?”
“Apprehending them is secondary. Lord Berwick is much respected by many important men of power. He’ll see that Hawthorne is duly punished.
And do you think the Bishop of London will ignore him when he demands punishment for the prelate?
Frankly, I am surprised that nothing has been done about him yet.
I suppose his misdeeds have been too small so far for the bishop to pay attention.
But this incident will not be swept aside and ignored. ”
Gideon did not comment, for the Bow Street investigator obviously had more faith in religion and the judicial system than he. “Got it, Lord Berwick first.”
In truth, this was what Berry would want most of all.
Brent had the carriage waiting out front. “Mr. Knight, what’s happening?”
Gideon quickly apprised him of their plan.
“To Southwark it is,” Brent said eagerly.
Gideon opened the carriage door. “Climb in, Mr. Barrow.”
It was not long before they were across the Thames and headed toward the church.
The streets of Southwark were dark and mostly empty at this late hour, for most of the taverns had shut their doors by now.
Torchlights illuminated the streets, but barely, and most of their ride was in darkness or cast in deep shadow.
Brent knew these streets better than anyone, and capably guided them to St. Simeon’s without problem.
The air was dank and fetid, the night breeze doing little to chase away the foul odors of Southwark or those wafting off the Thames.
Gideon ordered Brent to pull over as they neared the church, for it was wiser not to announce their presence.
To his surprise, Lord Berwick’s captured carriage was quietly standing in front of the church.
“Are they idiots?” he muttered, for who would be so foolish as to make no attempt to hide themselves, especially after absconding with the carriage and its owner?
“Yes, they are idiots,” Barrow replied.
The driver, obviously not a professional man but one of Hawthorne’s friends, was perched in the driver’s seat and looking ill at ease as he glanced around furtively.
“He’s alone,” Barrow remarked after watching him for a minute or two. “No one is in the carriage.”
“I can take care of him,” Gideon whispered with marked impatience, for he was eager to get inside the church and rescue Lord Berwick.
It would not take much to knock this man out and do the same to his wastrel friends.
Gideon was a street fighter. Hawthorne and his circle of friends were lazy dolts who probably could not even shoot straight should they withdraw pistols and attempt to kill him.
“You’ll do no such thing,” his Bow Street companion grumbled. “Leave this to me.”
Barrow picked up a stone and hurled it at one of the pair of horses. It struck the horse in the rump, startling the beast, and both took off at a gallop.
The unsuspecting lord almost fell off his perch.
The last Gideon saw of him and the carriage, he was clinging to the driver’s seat for dear life as the frightened team headed back across the river, no doubt toward Lord Berwick’s home, because this was what horses did when unguided—they embarked on the path that would lead them back to their familiar mews and the comfort of their stalls.
Gideon smiled at the Bow Street Runner, duly impressed. “Well done.”
“You see, it is best to avoid confrontations,” Barrow replied.
“Now comes the hard part. Stay behind me, Mr. Knight. If Lady Berry’s count is reliable, then we are dealing with two more accomplices, Hawthorne and the prelate.
Four men, and an injured Lord Berwick that we must ensure is not harmed once they discover our presence.
I cannot caution you enough. Rash actions will endanger his lordship. ”
Gideon nodded, for he understood this very well.
They walked silently toward the rear of the church, looking for a discreet access point, for the front door turned out to be barricaded at this hour. Gideon thought churches remained available to the cold and hungry at all hours, but what did he know? “Look, this side door is ajar.”
“That’s likely the way they went in,” Barrow said. “Hush now, the church walls will echo our voices if we speak once inside. Have your eyes adjusted to the darkness?”
“Yes.” In truth, this was one of Gideon’s strengths. Bonham often declared he had the eyes of a night predator.
They crept in and made their way toward a back room whose door was closed, but there was light slipping through the cracks.