Chapter 22 #2
Mrs Ulrich nodded slowly. “Yes, ma’am. On the steep south-eastern terraces? Shall I inspect the contents?”
“If you would be so kind.”
The housekeeper inclined her head and vanished again. Judith sighed and sat back, letting her mind stew over the puzzle of Sgt Finlay’s death as a distraction from her vigil. She felt as if she should be able to put the pieces together by now, if she were not so taken up by Dacian’s plight.
On the one hand, she had discovered how Sgt Finlay had returned to the mainland through the underground tunnel, dragged part of the way by Cador.
Who had left the soldier there in the passageway?
Considering how battered his body had been, he might have been dragged there shortly after his death.
Who had the strength to do that, except Trebellow?
Perhaps Kynver and Kade together could manage it, though they were individually slight—but they would have to move single file through that narrow tunnel.
The baron was not bulky, but he was tall and might manage it.
Then she had another thought: the wheelbarrow she had seen in the upper cellar that first night.
Could someone have hauled Sgt Finlay’s body into it, and then pushed it along the tunnel?
This would work up until the drop-off into the lower passageway.
If the killer had tipped the body down the hatch, that would explain the dirtied clothes.
Such a feat could be managed by even a woman, straining. Miss Onslow, then, or Miss Isla. Or the slender baron. Judith was considering these unlikely suspects when her son abruptly appeared in the drawing room.
He materialised by the far window, just as she had asked, and stumbled slightly.
As he righted himself, she examined him with a rush of affection and relief.
His face was browner than at her last sight of him, and a faint bristle adorned his cheeks, giving him an unkempt look.
His sailing clothes consisted of white pantaloons, a linen shirt, and a loosely knotted blue cloth posing as a cravat.
He looked round, blinking, then his eyes lit upon her.
“Mother! What’s all this now?”
She crossed over and clasped him close, tears starting in her own eyes. “Perry, my dear boy. How are you?” She held him at arm’s length. “How is your arm? Is it healed?”
He patiently allowed her embrace. “Oh, God, yes. My ankle is more of a bother lately—I twisted it on those dashed cliffs at Sark, though I’ve had some Healing to sort it out. We’ve had all kinds of adventures, I tell you!”
Judith wanted to hear all about it, but first there was a more important question. “Where’s Marigold? Is she all right?”
Perry plucked a bat out of his pocket. “Here she is. Right as rain. Bossy little thing, isn’t she? Almost as bad as Miss Zooth.”
Judith put her hand out for the precious burden and then stroked Marigold’s furry bat head. “Thank you so much, dear Marigold. Such a Herculean task.” She looked up at Perry. “How is Elinor? Did you find the roost?”
“Yes, all found. Elinor is safe, though she is not suited to the sea, I’m afraid. Always moaning and groaning about the waves.” Then he added, “Beresford almost died, but he has recovered now. Luckily, Elinor is such a queasy-guts, otherwise Miss Zooth would have her hands full chaperoning them.”
Judith pursed her lips. “It sounds as if you have lots to tell me.”
Perry spotted the plate of food and stalked over to help himself to a chudleigh.
“Mmm, I’ve missed these. But tell me your news first.” Munching, he threw himself into the chair that Judith had occupied.
“Your bat told me a garbled account of some duke being in prison, but I want to hear it from you.”
Marigold transformed in Judith’s hand, irate and naked. “It was not garbled!” she said indignantly. “I explained the matter quite succinctly.”
Perry averted his eyes and ladled a spoonful of cream onto his food. “Yes, but you said that Mother wants to conduct a prison break.”
Judith winced. “That is, in fact, what I intend to do.” She avoided his gaze, busying herself with tucking the lavender kerchief around Marigold.
Perry stared. “But who is this precious duke?” he demanded, around a mouthful. “I mean, I’ve heard of Sargen, but I thought he was abroad. Isn’t he the one who duels all the time? The confirmed rake? Wouldn’t think you’d approve of him, Mother.”
Judith sat down opposite Perry and began the difficult task of explaining.
It took a while, as it required an overview of the whole Garvey affair, and Perry was slightly Bemused from his big jump.
Judith did not delve too much into her own history with Dacian, simply stating that she had thought the worst of him and been proven wrong, and now owed it to him to conduct a rescue, given how he had been manipulated into violence.
“If you say so,” said Perry doubtfully. “But to go against the carriage of justice doesn’t sound like you, Mother.”
“I am not obstructing justice! Quite the contrary. They are not giving him a fair trial, or indeed any trial! They intend to send him on a suicide mission to Austria.”
“Austria?” Perry tutted. “It will be freezing there. And Frenchmen everywhere. Not safe at all.”
Judith, not wanting to dwell upon the possibility, pulled out the topaz ring that she had been keeping in her skirt pocket.
The dull blue stone seemed almost black, the gold tarnished.
Dacian had worn it the whole time he had been in exile: a gift from his old schoolfellow, from a family of Travellors.
Now it would be the first step to his freedom.
“This ring,” she said resolutely, “will Travel right into Captain Drumpellier’s office in the Pendennis Tower.
All you need to do, Perry, is go there and spy the lay of the land, so you can Travel back at will.
” He would not be able to Travel into it, sight unseen.
“Best to do it now, while it is so late, and unlikely that the captain will be at his desk.”
Marigold sniffed. “He might have put a guard on it. He’s not stupid, old Drumpy.”
“Yes, you must be very quiet,” replied Judith.
“Ltn Greene could be on watch outside the door—I doubt Drumpellier would let him stay inside his private office, as it is full of coded messages. Or someone else could be on guard. We must hope they are drowsy by now, but Perry, you mustn’t leave the room—simply look out the window and learn the lay of the fort and barracks.
That way you can Travel in again later, to somewhere Drumpellier doesn’t expect.
” Judith leaned forward with entreaty. “Don’t take any risks.
Just gather information. When we make our proper attempt, I will come too, with the ring, and distract the guards. ”
Perry grimaced. “Mother, really? Let me do it without you.”
“No, you couldn’t,” she said sharply. “It’s crawling with soldiers. We shall have to be very clever to even have a hope of succeeding.”
An odd smile came onto his face. “Ah, but I have a secret weapon.” He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out an object, triumphantly holding it aloft.