Page 117
“Which is precisely why it works.”
She looked up. “You sound pleased.”
“I am pleased.”
“You are pleased that innocent people may be carrying treason?”
“No. It pleases me that we have finally found something capable of being followed.”
He was right, and Judith was surprised by the small thrill of satisfaction that accompanied the thought.
Baines had sent word to Renforth through the arrangement at the Black Lion. By evening, an answer had returned. Fielding was to investigate Bellamy’s Newcastle connections, while Stuart would join him under the entirely plausible guise of a gentleman interested in purchasing horses and the considerably less plausible guise of a gentleman who knew anything about jewellery. Chum would take the northern route if the trail divided towards Berwick or Edinburgh, while Manners and Renforth would remain outside Blackthorn and coordinate what information returned.
It was an efficient arrangement. It was also a sign that their investigation was approaching its end.
Judith pushed the thought away because she had no reason to regret it. Indeed, she ought to welcome the prospect of Blackthorn returning to normal. The house-party would end. Lord Cranford would depart with his florid opinions; Lady Dunsmore would return to Scotland with her infernal spaniels; the Pembrokes would go home to Hertfordshire; and Lady Stanhope would eventually gather up her embroidery and her expensive shawls, thence to torment someone else’s cook.
Major Baines would return to London. Judith pressed the nib of her pen rather harder than necessary against the paper.
“Careful,” Baines said. “The account book has done nothing to deserve that.”
Judith relaxed her grip. “I was thinking.”
“Violently, apparently.”
“I shall endeavour to think more gently.”
“I should be grateful. Your thoughts have already uncovered secret passages, clandestine correspondence and a possible network of treason. I fear what may happen if you become enthusiastic.”
She kept her eyes upon the page.
Baines remained silent long enough that she became conscious of his attention.
“Have I offended you?”
“Must something always have happened?”
Judith looked up.
His smile appeared, but there was uncertainty beneath it, and she chastised herself a little for noticing.
Simmons entered, carrying a folded note upon his salver.
“Major Baines, this has just arrived.”
Baines took it, examined the small mark upon the outside and broke the seal. Judith watched his expression alter as he read, then handed her the paper.
“It is Fielding’s hand.”
Judith had met Captain Fielding only briefly, but his handwriting seemed entirely suited to him: firm, legible and without unnecessary ornament.
Bellamy innocent so far as can be determined. Parcels collected twice weekly by carrier serving Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick routes. Stuart has identified intermediary who remembers several small packages redirected before reaching original destination. All were collected under written authority by a gentleman’s servant. No name given.
PS-Chum has gone north after the carrier. You owe me a decent dinner.
Judith read the final sentence twice.
“Captain Fielding appears to have a peculiar understanding of official correspondence,” she remarked before returning the message. “We seek a gentleman’s servant.”
