Chapter Three #2
Padgett finally raised his face, revealing a scowl. “The best decision was made that could have been made, given the information at hand.”
“B.B.B. Shipping & Co. was not due to send another report to the French for weeks. I had time to go to Ramsgate.” Richard seethed with anger, and without George Wickham before him, General Padgett was the only focus for that ire.
“Your tone borders on insubordination, Fitzwilliam,” Padgett snapped. “You know as well as I that we had no way to know when they would next report to their French masters until after we apprehended and interrogated them.”
Richard ground his teeth, aware General Padgett was correct.
B.B.B. Shipping & Co. had long ago negotiated a contract with the Crown, making them responsible for supplying new weapons to the front.
It was the deceased brother who had won the contract, and Richard preferred to think that he had not known his younger siblings would turn against England.
That they would begin opening the crates they transported for the Crown, documenting the contents, and providing that information, along with the locations to which they sent said weapons, to Britain’s enemies.
“Listen,” Padgett said in a calmer voice. “I am sorry. I did not believe that a Darcy, even a young, female one, would be so foolish. So corruptible. It lowers my opinion of the fairer sex.”
“You did not think a fifteen-year-old, of either sex, subject to manipulation?” Richard cast back. Especially manipulation by one so practiced as Wickham.
“And I thought Mrs. Younge a better operative,” Padgett continued over him. “I believe it is only your sterling character that caused her not to raise the alarm. Thinking Mr. Wickham was you, she did not see the danger Miss Darcy was in.”
Richard’s eyebrows climbed. “Pardon me for not having a less savory reputation.”
With a negligent wave, Padgett brushed aside Richard’s sarcasm and met his gaze squarely. “I apologize, Fitzwilliam. I made a rare miscalculation.”
He held Richard’s gaze for a long moment.
Finally, Richard sighed. “Apology accepted, General.” As if there was aught else Richard could do.
“Now, may we return to the case at hand?”
Richard blinked. “The case at hand? We have apprehended the owners of B.B.B. Shipping & Co., and brought in any of their staff we deem may know of their clandestine doings. They are being questioned now, and the offices and homes of the two men scoured.”
“And the third? The nephew? Must I again remind you, there are three Bs in B.B.B. Shipping & Co.”
“The third B, as you call him, was bought out of the business when he was twelve, sir.”
“But you did look into him? Assess if he has any involvement?”
Richard frowned. “I assure you he does not. He is not the sort, and he has nothing to do with his father’s business. Even when his father was alive, Bingley was being groomed as a gentleman.”
“And you do not protest his innocence out of some misguided sense of loyalty?” General Padgett’s eyes bored into Richard. “I am aware that Charles Bingley is a close associate of your cousin’s.”
Richard drew his shoulders back, affronted. “Did we not moments ago discuss my sterling character?”
Padgett still scrutinized him. “These are the questions I must ask, Colonel.”
Shaking his head, Richard reiterated, “Charles Bingley has nothing to do with his uncles’ business. He has had nothing to do with B.B.B. Shipping & Co. since his twelfth year, and has not been seen at any of the warehouses, or even in the company of his uncles, in years.”
“Then you are certain?”
“I am.”
The intensity left Padgett’s gaze. “Very well. Mr. Charles Bingley will be left out of any further inquiries into this matter.” He tapped the pages he held on the desk, ordering them. “Now, for your next assignment.”
“Next assignment?” Was the general mad? “I must go north, to assist Darcy.”
Padgett shook his head as Richard spoke. “No. You must continue to do your duty. Mr. Darcy believes you to be on the Continent and will have the situation in hand.”
“As he had halting this tragedy in hand?” Did Padgett not realize that Georgiana’s life hung in the balance? Her entire future? Why, they were already days behind her and Wickham. It would take every effort, every resource, to overtake the two and stop their union.
“There is nothing you can add to what Mr. Darcy will already be doing,” Padgett said calmly. “He is capable, motivated, possessed of considerable financial resources, and,” Padgett held up a hand when Richard would have interrupted, “I see I must reiterate, believes you to be on the Continent.”
“He will have written to me. Surely it would not surprise him were I to rush back to England.” Even as Richard said the words, he knew he’d lost. Padgett may have excused his earlier anger, may even feel remorse and responsibility for what was at this very moment befalling Richard’s cousins, but he would insist Richard do his duty.
More than that, he was likely right. Richard would simply be another person riding madly about the Scottish countryside with the barest hope of finding Georgiana before it was too late.
“Smith will have the paperwork for you,” Padgett said, apparently reading Richard’s capitulation on his face.
“As always, once you have committed the details to memory, burn what you are given. It is a simple task, here in London. Nothing so elaborate as infiltrating B.B.B. Shipping & Co. was.” Padgett offered a slight, mirthless smile as he added, “In case you do, indeed, need to put in an appearance here in England, I do not want you too deeply entwined.”
That was better than Richard had hoped for, and went further by way of apology even than Padgett’s sincere words of earlier. Richard nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“I truly am sorry, Colonel. I do not enjoy seeing such a fine family name sullied, and I regret the, admittedly small, part I played.”
“Yes, sir. That is appreciated.” Anger still simmered in Richard, but there was no point in antagonizing Padgett.
“You are dismissed. See Smith on your way out.”
“Yes, sir.” Richard saluted, then left. He took the thin file Harold Smith proffered, and tried not to grind his teeth as he made his way out the back entrance of the firm of Watson, Hastings, and Vane.