Chapter 16 #2
‘Exactly,’ Ben nodded. ‘So, the long and the short of it is - we get them out as soon as the meeting’s over.’ He shook his head before adding drily, ‘Of course, it would have helped if I’d thought to ask for a deuced metal file.’
‘Have you already tried to loosen any of the bars?’ Henry asked. Ben grimaced and nodded.
‘Solid,’ he confirmed.
‘And there looks to be very little rust, unlike that window in the orphanage cellar,’ Charlotte added.
Since her arrival, the matron had lowered the sandwiches she’d brought with her down through the grating, then spent the rest of her time on her hands and knees speaking with the captive children, doing her best to reassure all of them that under no circumstances would they be left to the mercies of the evil men who’d imprisoned them.
‘Even if we manage to get hold of a metal file, it’s going to take time to cut the bars free,’ Rhys confirmed, ‘especially if we have to do it in the dark.’ He grimaced.
‘I completely understand your reasoning, Ben, but I’d feel much better if we freed the children and got them away well before the bastards turn up. ’
‘As would I,’ Ben agreed. ‘But as I said, if any of the attendees arrive before full dark and realise the girls have escaped, we risk the chance they’ll simply disappear before we’ve had an opportunity to see their faces.’
‘What about Muriel Pemberton?’ Henry asked abruptly. ‘I cannot simply stand and watch them commit murder if that’s their intention.’
‘We have no control over what happens to Muriel,’ Ben retorted, his voice harsh.
‘And I will not risk more lives trying to save a woman with no morals, whose only interest is herself. My responsibility is to free these children and prevent the men who took them from continuing their vile practice…’ He paused, his face briefly revealing his torment, before his features hardened.
‘If you cannot promise me that you’ll do nothing to jeopardise that, then I must ask you to leave, Henry. ’
There was a charged silence as the two men faced each other.
It was Henry who broke eye contact first. ‘You’re right,’ he said heavily.
‘Charlotte has ever been frustrated with my slavish adherence to the law. I’ve never been very good with the notion of the lesser of two evils, I’m afraid.
’ He stopped and sighed, then added, ‘You have my word.’
‘Well, now we’ve got that bit sorted, I reckon you’ll be needin’ a couple o’ metal files,’ a voice piped up. ‘An’ it so ‘appens, I know exactly where to get ‘em.’
It turned out that Billy had got a little lost on his way to Castel-a-Mare and had accidentally gone too far, coming out behind a large shed at the bottom of a huge expensively landscaped garden.
‘Course I ‘ad a quick look round while I got me breath back,’ the boy explained, ‘an, that shed…’ He shook his head in remembered awe. ‘If I’d bin a light-fingered sort, I’d ‘ave ‘ad a field day in there.’
‘Oh Billy,’ Charlotte sighed. ‘Why is it that despite your constant refusal to do as you’re told, the sight of you always lifts my heart?’ She looked over at the three men, adding, ‘There’s no time to send him home.’
Henry gritted his teeth but didn’t waste time reprimanding the boy. ‘Can you find your way to that shed and back quickly?’
‘As quick as a wink,’ Billy answered, turning to leave.
‘Billy…’ The boy turned at Rhys’s words. ‘This is not a game,’ the Baron told him evenly. ‘As much as we all appreciate your enthusiasm, it cannot extend to any further foolish acts of bravery.’
Billy reddened, but nodded. ‘Don’ yer worry none, melord,’ he responded earnestly. ‘I ain’t goin’ to be throwin’ meself in ter no more burnin’ buildings. Learned me lesson the first time.’
Benedict’s eyes widened at Billy’s words, and after watching the boy run off, he directed a questioning glance towards Rhys. ‘Don’t ask,’ was the Baron’s unceremonious response.
Bella and Alex sat in the carriage, twiddling their thumbs, Aggie snoring between them. They could hear the murmur of Evans’ and Albert’s idle chatter as they discussed their various ailments. As far as the two women could tell, Albert was winning hands down.
‘Do we seriously have to sit here until it gets dark,’ Arabella complained. ‘I’ll end up dicked in nob at this deuced rate. I’m certain we could have done more to help than just sit here waiting.’
‘I must confess to becoming a little worried about Billy,’ Alexandra admitted, staring out of the carriage window. ‘Shouldn’t he have been back by now?’
‘Despite what Papa and Aunt Charlotte believe, I think Billy can look after himself,’ Bella argued. ‘And naturally, he'll want to stay where the action is. You know what Billy’s like - he’d be in if he fell in.’
Alex nodded doubtfully. ‘Did you bring anything to eat?’ She asked abruptly. ‘I know Aunt Charlotte told us to arrange our own vittles, but in all the excitement I completely forgot.’
‘No, but I brought the chamber pot,’ Bella responded, reaching under the seat.
‘I’d rather stick to Mrs Williams’ lemonade if it’s all the same to you,’ Alex returned sardonically.
‘Ha ha,’ Bella retorted. ‘You may well mock, dear sister, but you’ll be thanking me when you’re able to answer the call of nature in the privacy and comfort of the carriage as opposed to the side of the road.’
‘I would hardly call sitting on a po practically under your feet either private or comfortable,’ countered Alex, ‘and it certainly won’t help when we’re gutfoundered.
’ She shook her head. ‘We’re told to bring our own food, and all we’ve got is a deuced chamber pot.
Some private investigators we are.’ She picked up her reticule and delved inside, finally unearthing a bag of mint humbugs.
Holding the bag open, she counted them under her breath.
‘Ten,’ she declared at length. ‘That’s one each for every hour, presuming we’re not here all night. ’
‘What about Evans and Albert?’ Bella asked.
‘I doubt they’ve been bacon-brained enough to come without anything to eat,’ Alex retorted, holding out the bag.
Arabella frowned as she sucked on the sweet.
‘Wait a minute, I saw Charlotte take one bag of sandwiches out of the carriage. Do we seriously think that’s all she brought with her to feed a bunch of children who’ve only been fed maggot-ridden scraps?
It’s more likely she had Mrs Williams prepare enough to feed an army. ’
‘Do you think she’ll notice if we pilfer a few?’
‘Well, we’re not going to be much use to anyone if we’re faint with hunger,’ Bella countered.
‘I doubt either of us are likely to swoon from missing one deuced meal,’ Alex scoffed.
‘You’re speaking for yourself,’ Bella retorted.
‘I didn’t have any lunch. I’m going to check in the other carriage.
’ Pushing open the door, she gathered up her skirts and climbed down, returning minutes later with several sandwiches wrapped in wax paper.
‘Truly, Mrs Williams is a treasure,’ she declared, sitting back down.
‘She’s prepared enough food to feed fifty children.
’ She looked down at Aggie’s head now resting on her knee, tail wagging hopefully.
‘Or, alternatively, one dog.’ Unwrapping the package away from the Retriever’s questing nose, she handed a sandwich over to Alexandra, just as the door was thrown open.
‘Is them sandwiches?’ Billy asked, climbing up. ‘Can I ‘ave one?’
‘I might have known you’d turn up at an opportune moment,’ Bella griped, passing the boy some bread.
‘What’s happening at Castel-a-Mare?’ Alex asked.
‘I managed ter get ‘em a file and a chisel,’ Billy announced, spraying bits of bread everywhere, much to Aggie’s delight.
He helped himself to another of the sandwiches on Bella’s knee.
‘They’ve started sawing the bars off the gratin’ jus’ so the metal’s nearly cut through, but no one can tell.
The Chief Inspector said they’re goin’ ter finish the job o’ gettin’ the girls out, soon as the bastards ‘ave gone.’
‘That’s not a polite word to use, Billy,’ Alex reminded him briskly.
‘It wos the peeler wot said it,’ the boy argued, biting into sandwich number three.
‘So, what have you been told to do now?’ Bella asked him.
‘Chief Inspector ‘artley said I’m ter be a runner. Say’s ‘e wants me ter keep an eye on things at both ends.’
‘A go-between,’ Alex confirmed.
Billy frowned. I ain’t sure. I reckon ‘e meant more like them blokes wot worked in Lon’on on that street.’
‘Bow Street, you mean?’
The boy nodded importantly and drew himself up, puffing out his chest. ‘Don’ yer fret none ladies, I’m ‘ere to make sure nothin’ bad ‘appens to either of yer.’ Both women raised identical eyebrows but refrained from ruining the moment.
‘Right then,’ Billy went on, ‘Time ter walk the pr’imeter. You comin’ Agee?’ He bent down to grab the dog’s lead.
‘Please don’t do anything foolish, Billy,’ Alex warned as he pushed the door open and jumped down.
‘I’ll be the very soul o’ discretion as me ma says,’ Billy returned with a grin, before slamming the door shut.
‘Should we have let him take Aggie?’ Bella fretted, watching the pair head towards the wooded area.
‘She gives him an excellent excuse for nosing around the woods if he’s caught,’ Alexandra answered.
‘And, besides, if the last half an hour is anything to go by, we could well be rendered insensible if Aggie’s sat in here with us for the rest of the evening.
And then we’ll be no use to anybody.’ Pulling a face, Alex leaned over to unlock the brass catch, dragging up the window lift to bring in some fresh air.