‘So, my bishop has become a knight, eh, Tom?’
Thomas stared at him, impassively. ‘I would rather remain your butler, Sir.’
‘Nearly feckin’ shat meself, Archie,’ Silas moaned. ‘Why the feck didn’t you tell us what you were planning to do?’
‘An excellent question, Mr Hawkins.’ James looked accusingly at the viscount. ‘Why all the mystery? Was it some kind of test?’
‘No. I didn’t want…’
‘Did you not trust us?’
‘Of course, I do, Jimmy. I don’t know… I…’ Archer rattled his head and took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t know, that’s the point. I didn’t know the best way to take Smith out. I didn’t know how I was going to deal with Quill, but I did know that you would find a way. Alone, I was unable to think what that way might be. It’s a poor excuse, but I followed my gut while knowing that you would follow your heads. I acted too rashly and without thinking. That’s all I can say.’
‘Aye, well, I can say I thought you were fecking done for,’ Silas complained.
‘I would have been had it not been for someone called Giacomo Torelli.’
‘Who the feck is he?’
‘According to Jake, the man who invented the contraption that allows men to fly across a stage. Had it not been for young Jake’s knowledge and Seignior Torelli’s harness and wire…’ Archer turned to Fecker and took his hand. ‘You rigged it well. You should have worked in the theatre.’
‘Huh,’ Fecker grunted and squeezed Archer’s fingers. ‘And you, Geroy? You bring a sword that doesn’t kill.’
‘That was the idea,’ Archer said. ‘I hoped Quill would think Crispin was dead and give himself up.’
‘Naïve,’ was Thomas’ blunt verdict.
‘Instead, he went berserk.’
‘Well, what did you expect?’ Thomas admonished, holding a cold cloth to Archer’s ribs with slightly too much force.
‘How a man might die and yet still live?’ James queried with a raised eyebrow.
‘Another of Jake’s theatrical deceptions,’ Archer explained. ‘A collapsible swordstick and a bladder of pig’s blood. They used it in a production of Carmen, apparently. So realistic, half the audience fainted.’
‘Like I nearly did when I saw Silas had been shot,’ James said.
‘Is it bad, Silas?’
‘Ach, a scratch.’ Silas winced as he took Archer’s hand and kissed it.
‘Feels like you’ve cracked two ribs.’ Thomas gave his diagnosis before helping Archer back into his clothes. ‘I’ll bandage you back at the inn, and I think we should head there as soon as possible. Someone might have heard those gunshots, and we can’t be found here.’
‘Quite right, Tom.’
‘Right.’ James stood decisively and nimbly, his hand in a bandage and Danylo fussing at the scrapes on his face until he was swatted away. ‘Fecker? Take whatever it was you used to keep this madman from killing himself. Danylo, can you help me gather the lanterns and any other evidence?’
‘We find crazy man’s gun and kick into pit,’ Fecker said, wiping blood from his hair and flicking it on the grass. ‘If they find him, they say he shot himself.’
‘Good idea, Fecks.’ James pointed at Archer. ‘Then ride the viscount to a doctor. There will be one in Bakewell…’
‘No,’ Archer stopped, struggling to his feet on weak legs. ‘You three are more injured. When we’re ready, Fecker and Silas can go east to the next village. Find a man there, tell him it was a coach accident, or something believable, and both have yourselves treated. Your head doesn’t look too happy, Andrej. I am quite alright, just a little stiff and overcome.’
‘My arm is fine, Archie,’ Silas insisted, but the blood soaking through the makeshift bandage, and the pain on his face told a different story.
‘No, Silas. For once you do as I say. Jimmy, you’re also worse for wear. Go east with Tom on the other horse and do the same. You all have money I assume?’ When they confirmed they had, Archer continued, ‘Danny and I can walk back to the inn, collect our things and travel to Bakewell. The rest of you, arrange to have the horses returned in the morning, and make your separate ways home. We will meet in London tomorrow. Do we agree?’
They did, and hurried away to remove all trace of their presence from the scene.
‘I have a confession to make,’ Archer said, when he was alone with Silas and holding him tightly. ‘Quill didn’t take me, but he took Simon’s ring. It came free when you shot him.’
‘I had no choice.’ Silas said, turning his identical ring with his thumb. ‘You weren’t going to let him go.’
‘I was.’
‘No, you weren’t. You’re too bloody soft. Anyway, I didn’t mean you weren’t going to let go of Quill. I meant Simon Harrington.’
‘What?’
‘You can let him go now, Archie, but only if you want. There’s nothing to remind you of him except this copy of his ring, and no-one’s going to rip that off me. But, if you want to carry Simon around in your heart, that’s fine, as long as it doesn’t bring you any more pain.’
Archer thought on the kindness of the words. ‘You know?’ he said. ‘That’s exactly what I was thinking as I was hanging there; that my past was finally leaving me. Everything below was death and anguish, but above, there was you and the others, our friends. You’re right, of course. I must set it all adrift, and I have often tried. Now Quill is gone, I can.’
‘Good lad.’ Silas gave him a cheeky nudge.
‘On which note, these last few days have made me think about the future, but for now, go with Andrej and have yourself looked after.’
They said their farewells at the gate, Fecker behind Silas on one horse, James and Thomas on the other. Danylo carried the bag of equipment and waited obediently for Archer to say goodbye to his men in turn.
‘It’s the end of it,’ the viscount said, when all was done. ‘Ride quickly and carefully, and have your injuries treated. Say nothing. In fact… Andrej? Speak Russian, be polite and they’ll be fine with you.’
‘Da. And you? You look after my brat. No killing him.’
‘No more killing,’ Archer agreed. ‘I shall be safe with Danny and him with me. We shall all be safe, together, bonded by all that has happened. Know this, men, I love each of you, and live my life to protect and benefit yours. As Danny would say, I would fuck pigs for each of you.’
‘What the…?’ James shuddered. ‘Sorry, Archie, but… Ew, that’s nasty.’
‘It means,’ Danylo explained, ‘that His Lordship would do anything for you, and the sentiment goes both ways, My Lord.’
As the others stole into the night, the last thing Archer heard was Thomas’ voice. ‘I would fuck pigs?’ the butler repeated with disdain. ‘Now that is what we call a skank.’
‘Come, Danny.’ Archer put his arm around the man and turned him towards the moor. ‘Keep our eyes open and our wits sharp. The last thing we need is to be caught at this late hour.’
‘Yes, Sir.’ Danylo snapped his heels.
‘Archer, please.’
‘Yes, Sir.’
‘No. Archer.’
‘Yes, Sir Archer.’
‘Oh, for pity’s sake.’
They walked in silence, Danylo with the stealthy steps of a trained soldier, Archer as if he was walking on the mist rather than through it. His head was light and free from his past. The only thing that tainted his euphoria was a blemish of guilt now polished to a stain by sadness, but nowhere was there regret.
‘I hope we are not too late for supper,’ he said, forcing himself into normality as if they were taking a stroll in the park.
‘You would eat with your gamekeeper?’ Danylo asked. ‘I am no longer your brother, Sir.’
‘You will always
be my brother,’ Danny, Archer replied, stopping and facing Danylo. ‘The one I always wanted. And that is why you must call me Archer. Do you promise?’
‘To call my commanding officer by his first name?’
‘Yes. Please.’
‘You are my employer,’ Danylo said, considering the request. ‘And you are my master and a man of title. It is not done, but… Agreed, Sir. I will obey your orders as you wish and call you Archer.’
‘Thank you, Danny.’
‘You’re welcome, My Lord.’
Again, Archer’s eyes ran with tears. They could have been born from Danylo’s stubbornness, which he adored, or they could have been for the injuries suffered by his friends on his behalf, and at the extreme, they could have been for Quill, but the main reason he let the tears fall unashamed, was because they sprang from joy.
‘So,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘Once we are washed and changed, and have burnt that mask, will you take supper with me?’
‘It would be an honour, Sir. Thank you.’
‘No, thank you,’ Archer said. ‘And now, let us advance. At your pace if you will, Lieutenant Kolisnychenko.’
‘Certainly, Lieutenant Clearwater.’
Together, they trod homewards through the dark as equals.
Twenty-Eight
A rhythmic tapping on the bedroom door woke Archer from his first untroubled dream in a fortnight. The click of the handle, the swish of the door against the carpet, and the soft tinkling of china told him Thomas had arrived, and he opened his eyes. Daylight fingered its way around the drapes, until Thomas pulled them back, his stately frame silhouetted by the sunlight which caught his auburn hair and the thread of his jade waistcoat when he returned to place a tray across Archer’s lap.
‘Good morning, My Lord.’
‘Morning, Payne.’
‘How did you sleep?’
‘I am pleased to say the nightmares have abated, thank you. You?’
‘The same, My Lord. Finally.’
‘Excellent news.’
‘Your coffee, Sir.’ Thomas poured Archer’s favourite Turkish blend and set the pot beside the bed. ‘The morning papers are in the breakfast room with the first post. You will be breakfasting alone this morning.’
‘Jolly good,’ Archer replied. ‘Sit a moment, would you?’
‘Shall I draw your bath first, Sir?’
‘No, I’ll do that. You and Mrs Norwood have too much to do this morning. Now sit.’
Thomas’ impassive face broke into a smile, and he dropped his butler’s pretence, to sit beside Archer and pour himself a cup of coffee. It had become a ritual since the incident at the mine, initiated by Thomas after Archer’s first nightmare.
‘It’s good to see the demons are leaving us, Tom,’ the viscount said. ‘Are you and Jimmy well in that respect?’
‘We weren’t the ones dangling over that drop,’ Thomas smiled, sipping. ‘We have no regrets at what we had to do, but it will take some time before the guilt of setting fire to a man leaves me. If it ever does.’
‘Not a man, a monster. Two.’ Archer shifted his legs to allow his friend more room. ‘And you saved Jimmy’s life. Silas feels the same, as do I. That the guilt will pass, and there’s nothing we can do to change things, so we move on.’
‘We do,’ Thomas agreed. ‘And we have a new start.’
‘Indeed. But before that… ‘ The viscount arranged the pillows behind his back so he could sit up straighter. ‘I need to know that you and Mrs Norwood are still happy with the new arrangements.’
‘We are,’ Thomas said. ‘Everything’s taken care of.’
‘And Jimmy?’
‘Still in the dark about it.’ Thomas grinned, and his eyes twinkled.
‘You seem excited.’
‘Enthusiastic, yes. Excited? Well, it is not exactly how Mr Tripp taught me a butler should live, but it’s what you want.’
‘Is it what you want, Tom? That’s my main concern. It’s not too late for you to change my mind.’
Smiling wryly, Thomas poured more coffee into Archer’s cup and set down the silver jug, before replying. ‘You once asked me something, Archie,’ he said. ‘“Why can’t a man have it all?” You remember?’
‘Distinctly.’
‘You meant, why couldn’t you have Silas and me.’ The butler blushed, but kept his outward appearance of consideration intact. ‘You can,’ he said. ‘You have Silas, and you have me. Two loves, both different, both as permanent. I would say you have achieved what you always wanted.’
‘But you, Tom?’
‘I have what I always wanted too.’ Thomas removed the tray to a table before resuming his place. ‘I only ever wanted to be a butler, and despite the fact I am breaking every convention in domestic service by lounging beside my master on his bed, here I am. I could never have imagined I would be butler to Master Riddington, the boy who preferred to play below stairs, and no other servant could dream of having a master such as you. So, in that regard, I have more than I always wanted.’
‘Don’t flatter me,’ Archer chided gently. ‘And please, I really don’t want you to think of us as master and servant.’
‘Oh, but I must,’ Thomas protested. ‘And what’s more, you allow me to, and that shows me respect. Now, with your new plans about to be announced to the staff, you are showing me something beyond respect, and I love you more for it as my friend. As will Jimmy when he hears the news. Thanks to you, I am also a man who has it all.’ Patting the bed, he stood and adjusted his tails, the intimate conversation over. ‘And now, My Lord, we must prepare. Mr Hawkins and Mr Wright have had their breakfast and left early for Greychurch with Mr Andrej, as you instructed.’
‘Did they question the orders?’
‘Not exactly, Sir. Mr Wright said something about being kept out of the way as if he suspected we were up to skulduggery.’
‘Oh, dear.’
‘Not a worry. I simply quoted Tennyson at him. “Ours not to reason why…” I also suggested he would find it interesting to attend Mr Hawkins’ weekly meeting with Doctor Markland at the Foundation, and accompany him to Mr Marks for other business. I think I covered myself, and Mr Hawkins also thought it a good idea. Neither suspects a diversion.’
‘And you think Jimmy will agree when I make the announcement?’
‘Oh, yes. For certain.’
Thomas was unable to hold back his excitement, and for a moment, Archer saw the boyish enthusiasm of his youth twinkle in his eyes. He shared it with a knowing smile.
‘And Mrs Norwood?’
‘Will be taking Mr Danylo to the railway station at ten.’
‘It’s been good having him here,’ Archer said. ‘But Larkspur needs him, and I must see him before he leaves.’ He set aside his coffee cup and pulled back his sheets.
Thomas was unmoved by the viscount’s nakedness as he glanced at his bruised chest.
‘Doctor Markland is coming to check up on you this evening,’ he said. ‘Shall I lay out your day suit, My Lord?’
‘No, Payne. You’ve enough to do.’
‘Very well, Sir. Then I shall see you in the breakfast room.’
Later that morning, Archer said his farewell to Danylo in the porch, insisting that the man leave by the front door. Danylo carried messages for Mrs Baker and the staff at Larkspur and a letter to Archer’s mother, promising to visit her soon.
‘Thank you, Danny,’ Archer said. ‘For everything.’
‘No, thank you, Sir,’ he replied. ‘You know where I will be if you need me.’
‘Digging potatoes and shooting vermin,’ Archer grimaced. ‘Are you sure that is what you want?’
‘I am, and I couldn’t be happier.’
Archer regarded his eyes sadly. T
hey would remain as a constant reminder of Crispin, but the affection the Ukrainian reflected, was also a reminder that Archer had another comrade, and more importantly, another loyal friend.
‘May I enquire after your brother, Sir?’ Danylo asked.
‘Of course. On Markland’s advice, Crispin has been moved to a hospital in Switzerland. They have far greater security and far better facilities. I’m afraid he will never recover, and I probably shan’t see him often, which is a blessing, but he will be better cared for.’
‘That’s good to hear.’ Danylo pointed to Mrs Norwood, standing proudly by the carriage. ‘My ride is waiting.’
‘Yes, of course. Have a safe journey. Here, let me get the door for you.’
‘An assistant gamekeeper doesn’t sit inside a nobleman’s carriage,’ Danylo chided gently. ‘With permission, Sir, I will ride beside the… The housekeeper?’
Archer chortled. ‘Clearwater House runs to its own rules, Danny,’ he said. ‘Whatever you wish.’ Approaching Mrs Norwood and admiring her driving clothes, he confirmed that she understood her instructions.
‘Indeed, Sir,’ she replied. ‘I know who to collect and when. Mr Payne has been explicit and provided me with descriptions.’
‘Not a word to Mr Andrej or the others.’
‘Not a word, My Lord,’ Mrs Norwood agreed, helping Danylo up to the front bench. ‘I have become accustomed to mysteries and playacting of late, and rather enjoyed both.’
‘Good to hear. May I ask how things are with… With your situation?’
‘Oh, that,’ the housekeeper huffed. ‘I had a word with Mr Hawkins.’ Lowering her voice, she leant to whisper. ‘Let’s just say, I now have the written evidence I need, and Mr Norwood is probably still trying to work out how his love letters vanished from a locked bureau.’
‘We shall say no more.’ Archer winked. ‘I will see you at one o’clock.’
Artful Deception (The Clearwater Mysteries Book 6) Page 31