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“And when he declined?”
“I persuaded him.”
Judith would ordinarily have found the exchange amusing. At present, however, she was too concerned about Baines to appreciate it. “Where is Mallory now?”
“In the old steward’s room,” Renforth replied, “being questioned by Baines, Stuart, and Cholmely.”
Judith paced back and forth in front of the desk.
“Would someone please explain what happened?”
Before they could answer, Judith turned as the door opened and Baines entered. His coat was dusty at one shoulder, and a small tear marred the cuff of his sleeve. Otherwise, he appeared unharmed.
Judith’s relief was so immediate that it made her angry. “Major Baines.”
He stopped upon seeing her. “Miss Finch.”
She looked at his torn sleeve.
Baines followed her gaze. “It is nothing.”
“Then may I presume Mallory’s appearance is considerably worse?”
Fielding smiled. “He objected to being detained.”
“And Major Baines objected to his objection?”
“Something of that nature, miss.”
Baines’ expression became serious. “He maintains that he was engaged by an agent of the Crown. He has never met the gentleman, and all instructions arrived through intermediaries.”
“Does he know the gentleman’s name?” Judith asked.
“No.”
Judith looked towards the papers covering her Uncle’s desk.
“How were the instructions delivered?”
“Via coaching inns or taverns. On other occasions, he collected a packet from a specified place.”
“Did he never see the person who left it?”
“No.”
“Yet he believed himself employed by the government?”
Baines gave her a rueful smile. “Apparently the prospect of performing a secret service for the Crown proved irresistible.”
Judith considered this. “Did he receive payment?”
“Yes. A guinea for each report.”
Sir Lionel made an indignant noise. “The fellow has been receiving more for spying upon my guests than some of my servants earn in months.”
“What persuaded Mallory that the instructions were genuine?”
“He says he was given information concerning Lord Cranford and several other gentlemen which appeared to come from official sources.”
