Chapter 23 #2
Again, a sense of injustice washed over Georgina.
She directed her attention out of the window now.
“Yes. A spike, spear, lance. I did not specify which sharp weapon to use,” she lied.
If Elizabeth was going to think the worst of her, then she was not going to correct her.
“But preferably mounted outside my house for all to see.”
The carriage rocked from side to side. The clatter of hooves on the cobbles and the general hum of the streets outside filled the rich silence between them.
“Joshua?” Elizabeth murmured.
Georgina nodded, unable to resist dragging her eyes back to meet Elizabeth’s gaze.
She was staring at her earnestly now, her frown softened. “What happened to your neck?” Elizabeth shuffled forward on the carriage seat. “Did the officers do that to you?”
Georgina touched her throat. She had neglected to replace her cravat when she walked out of the jail. She shook her head.
“An accident that happened a while ago.”
Elizabeth eyed her with disappointment. “Why are you lying to me, Georgina? Have you forgotten that I had very close proximity to you only last night and saw no such injury?”
Georgina clenched and released her teeth. “Someone set upon me. They mugged me, after the masquerade.”
In a rustle of fabric, Elizabeth moved to sit beside Georgina. “I should have taken you home.”
“That would not have prevented what happened, believe me.”
“And is this how you came to find yourself in such a place? Were you looking for the person who accosted you?” A furrow had formed in Elizabeth’s brow. “Or is this to do with Mr Coombes? Georgina, please tell me. I want to help you. I can help you.”
How could she explain what occurred in a manner that would not be absurd to someone as discerning as Elizabeth?
She would never have found herself in such a scrape.
And while she sounded earnest, Georgina could not forget she had been alongside Mrs Gardner throughout so much of this.
To trust Elizabeth now would have felt like sacrificing a part of her soul.
Exhaustion overcame Georgina. Every limb grew heavy with fatigue.
“It was just a footpad.”
The carriage pulled up outside her residence, and Georgina flung the door open before the groom had a chance to even climb from his chair.
“Thank you, Elizabeth, for assisting me out of my difficulties. I apologise for any embarrassment I may have caused you. I shall endeavour not to trouble you again.” She snapped the carriage door shut and strode up the stairs to her front door.
***
Seated at her desk, Georgina frowned. Rays of sunlight stretched into the room from the open window behind her, casting gentle warmth onto her back and a golden glow over her rich furniture and carefully arranged books. It was a stark contrast to the dank jail cell.
She summoned her father to join her and prepared to deliver the news that would signal yet another change in her father’s routine, one he would likely resist.
He came into the room with a jaunty spring in his step and his newspaper folded under one arm. He greeted her affectionately, and once he had settled down on the other side of her desk, she commenced her prepared request.
“Papa, I need to ask a favour.”
“Oh, yes? You name it, my dear.”
“I need you to return to Yorkshire for me.” She braced herself for the inevitable resistance. He could not dislike the country more, and it would particularly disgruntle him if he were to miss any of the amusements of the season.
The pallor of Silas’s face darkened to an unattractive tone of beetroot. “What? Damn and blast it all, George. We only just got back here. You can’t make me trek the whole way back up to the estate again!”
“I do not ask it of you lightly, love.”
“Fudge. What silly notion have you taken into that brainbox of yours now?”
Georgina considered telling him the truth, but she wished to spare her father any unnecessary aggravation. She therefore settled upon a harmless fabrication.
“I received a letter from Miss Nelson advising the situation between our steward and cook has descended into utter disarray, and they require immediate oversight.”
“What?” he roared.
She picked up a blank sheet of paper and recited fluently, “‘If Mr Pace does not come at once, I fear we shall lose Cook to the Telfords, who are presently in search of a new cook.’”
Silas’s eyes almost popped from his head. “After everything we have done for that family. They should not be so treacherous.”
“We cannot well stop the cook from leaving our employment if they are experiencing poor treatment at the hands of our steward,” Georgina reasoned.
“The onus is on us to rectify it. And I doubt you will find someone as skilled at making such a sumptuous caper sauce as Darcy.” She hoped the tantalising memory of his favourite meal would melt his apoplexy.
She folded the paper quickly and stowed it in her desk, before her father asked to read the evidence for himself.
“Can you not go? I am not skilled in these affairs, after all. I think you would handle it much more efficiently, my dear.”
She reached across the desk and squeezed her father’s hand.
“I wish I could go, Papa. I do. But I am currently tending to several time-consuming matters here that I cannot think you would prefer.” She slid a random ledger to him, as well as a pile of bills.
“There is the financial situation to tend to, but also Joshua to induct, and some civil unrest of our own.” She lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I heard a rumour that Jarvis has been considering a position elsewhere.” This was a complete work of fiction.
However, she needed to act drastically to convince her father that Yorkshire might be the easier burden of the two.
“I fear I may need to placate him a little.”
Silas wrinkled his nose. “Good grief. I had no idea.”
Georgina shrugged. “That is why it is so important to stay abreast of these things.”
“Indeed, yes. Right, well, I daresay I can go to Yorkshire, though not directly. Allow me at least another day or two. I have a few matters to resolve myself before I rush off again.” His colour had risen once more, and Georgina suspected these matters had something to do with his secret romantic entanglement.
As long as he left by Sunday, he should remain safe.
Georgina wanted to whisk him away immediately, but she knew this would be an unreasonable expectation to put on her father. She undertook to commence making the arrangements for his departure.
He removed his glasses and tilted his head to one side.
“There’s something else amiss, isn’t there, George?
What scrape are you in? Tell your Papa. I can’t bear to think of you shouldering whatever burden this is on your own.
I have noticed you acting rather odd lately,” he went on.
“Going to art galleries, staying out at all hours, introducing little boys to the staff.”
“Only one little boy,” Georgina insisted. “And he is a dear little soul. I am glad to have him, for all his meddlesome ways.”
Silas chuckled. “Indeed, he frequently sidles into my book room to ask me the most remarkable questions. Today he asked me if I ever dreamed of moving to the Americas. He volunteered to plan the trek for me, so long as he might come along for the ride. Quite the adventurer, I think.”
“He does not lack spirit. You can take him to Yorkshire with you if you like.”
He winced. “Good grief, no. I think I could do with fewer tales of blood and gore. I suspect he enjoys shocking me.”
Georgina laughed, but until she had dispelled the shadow cast by Ellis and Montgomery over Arthur and her father, her tone lacked true gaiety. She would feel much more content when Silas was safe in Yorkshire, Arthur’s vowels were back in his hands, and the criminals were stripped of all power.
***
After Georgina reassured herself that no harm had befallen her household during the hours she spent at his Majesty’s pleasure, she retired to her room to freshen herself with a bath and a light repast on a tray.
Once Mr Walker, her father’s valet, had removed the remains of her food, Buckby and Joshua joined her.
“I’m relieved you both made it home,” Georgina said, allowing them into her dressing room and bidding them to sit. “Whatever happened to you, Joshua?”
Buckby shook his head ominously.
“First, I hid behind the newspaper stand. When you was carried off, I watched Mr Buckby circle by twice. I was being careful-like because them Runners oft keep a lookout around the streets. So, when he goes by a third time, I jumped in behind him and told him to get a move on.”
Georgina’s lips twitched. She could imagine her faithful retainer fearing the worst and his reluctance to follow any instructions from the young fellow.
“He pulled on the reins,” Buckby informed, his face twisting in utter distaste at such poor horsemanship. “I tried to get him to tell me what was amiss, and where he had lost you, Miss Georgina, but he would say nothing until we left the area.”
Georgina nodded. “And right he was too.”
“Finally, when we was well out of danger, I tells Mr Buckby everything that happened. Including that bit about you wanting to spill their claret.”
Buckby rubbed his chin.
“I said they have took the Missus to Bow Street, and Mr Buckby clipped the street post with the carriage.”
“My curricle?” Georgina demanded.
Buckby blushed. “’Twas a shock, Miss Georgina. Told the little scamp that I knew his rum dealings would land you into trouble, and that it’d likely be the death of Mr Pace when he learned of it.”
“And I told Mr Buckby that we couldn’t snitch to the guv’nor. It’s not the way,” he imparted wisely.
“Very correct, Joshua,” Georgina affirmed. She rubbed his head. “I am so proud of you. Really, Buckby, you of all people should know not to upset my papa.”
Buckby looked aggrieved.
Joshua swelled up at this. “I then hatched a plan to rescue you.”
Georgina sat down on the sofa and crossed her legs at the ankles. “Indeed, I am interested to hear how Lady Mortimer became involved in this escapade.”
“I remember the fine Lady M from when you both rescued me, Miss Pace. Knew she was a good sort, and a chum of yours. Also, reckoned she’d be able to spring you from Bow Street, right and tight.
Also, looked mighty plump in the pocket, so if she had to drop some blunt to get you out, she’d be good for that. ”
Buckby’s eyes bulged.
“You supported this plan?” Georgina asked him.
He shrugged. “He did not use those words exactly.”
Georgina chuckled, despite herself. Knowing Joshua, she could believe that. If there was one positive to have come from this frightful mess, it was making the acquaintance of this boy.