Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
As soon as the storm ended, James and Evie returned to Bottoms House. He sent word to the others that Evie was with him and safe. As he had kept her awake—and vice versa—most of the night, he was feeling sleepy. Before he could suggest a quick nap, Gigi and Godwin arrived.
“Thank heavens you are back!” Gigi hugged Evie.
“I am sorry to have inconvenienced everyone,” Evie said sheepishly. “It was inconsiderate of me to wander off without leaving word. I was waiting out the storm in the hermit’s grotto when James found me.”
“Never mind, we are just relieved that you are well.” Gigi paused for a heartbeat. “All is well, I trust?”
In answer, James held out a hand to his wife. She took it, her glowing smile affirming what was in his heart.
“All is well,” she said.
“Well, we had quite an adventure of our own,” Godwin said. “We were checking roadside inns when the storm struck. We ended up taking shelter at a rustic place off the beaten path, the Stag realizing that he and Evie had skipped several meals, James gratefully accepted.
When the food arrived—a generous spread of roast beef smothered in gravy, mashed potatoes, and herbed carrots, accompanied by thick slices of bread—they both ate heartily, washing it down with strong tea.
“The pair of you have worked up quite an appetite.” Godwin smirked as he buttered his bread. “Busy night, Manderly?”
Luckily for Godwin, the arrival of Mr. Rudwick prevented James from responding.
James introduced himself and gave the story he’d prepared, which adhered to the facts as much as possible.
He said that Merrow had robbed his wife and was part of a criminal organization based in London that preyed on unsuspecting country folk.
He was looking for clues that might enable the authorities to locate and capture Merrow’s gang.
“I would be glad to be of service, my lord,” Mr. Rudwick said at once.
“I never liked the look of that Merrow fellow. He had a shifty way about him and bothered my barmaids. If you don’t mind my saying, it is about time someone took the interests of country folk to heart, and you’ll find me on your side at the hustings. ”
James thanked him, and the innkeeper showed them the chamber that Merrow had occupied.
Another guest had stayed there the night before, and a search yielded no helpful clues.
Then Mr. Rudwick led them to his office, a cramped closet off the taproom.
He took a basket off a shelf and set it on his desk.
“These are Mr. Merrow’s belongings,” he announced. “I meant to sell them to settle his account.”
“Allow me to compensate you, sir,” James said.
After Mr. Rudwick left them to their privacy, the group began sorting through the basket. James started with the battered leather satchel, which held a change of clothes, a cracked shaving kit, and a familiar item.
James held up the single glove. “It bears the stamp of Perry & Morris and matches the one I found by the gate. It’s evidence that Merrow collected the pearls.”
“So is this,” Evie said.
Her eyes wide, she showed them what appeared to be half of a pawn ticket. The voucher was smudged from handling and torn along the right edge. Luckily, the red stamp on the corner could be read in its entirety:
Doolittle’s Emporium of Wonders, Whitechapel, London.
A clerk’s neat hand noted the pledged item, and even though half the description was missing, what was there was enough: Necklace, pearls, gold filig—.
Evie’s bottom lip quivered. “He pawned my mama’s pearls.”
“You will have them back, my love,” James promised. “My guess is that Wilmington was using the necklace as payment. He gave Merrow half the ticket, promising the other half when the job was complete.”
“What other infamy did that bounder have in mind?” Evie clenched her hands. “How much did he think he could bleed from me?”
“You were not the only one paying him.”
This came from Godwin, who was reading a letter he’d sifted from the pile.
“You’re not going to like this,” he said, passing it to James.
James read the message aloud:
Dear Mr. Ryerson,
I pray the information you purchased has served you well. Give the other half of my fee—five hundred pounds—to my man, Merrow, as you did before. In return, he will furnish you with the rest of the details, and the scandal will destroy your opponent once and for all.
Yours,
C. Wilcott
Scarlet flared in James’s vision, and he had to restrain himself from crumpling the note.
“Ryerson purchased filth from this C. Wilcott—who must be Wilmington using an alias—to destroy my campaign,” James clipped out.
“He didn’t have all the details yet, which was why the gossip was vague.
The fact that Merrow was still in possession of the note suggests that he hadn’t delivered the rest of the information to Ryerson. ”
Evie placed a hand on his arm. Her eyes were as furious as his.
“Think of it as killing two birds, darling.” His lady scientist spoke coolly. “When we bring down Wilmington, we will also expose Ryerson’s corruption. The world will soon see their true villainous colors.”