*
“How could you be so foolish!” exclaimed Dr. Cleaver to Jane, once again in the room at the Fish and Feather.
“I only thought…”
“That was not a question,” rebuked Cleaver, levelling a violent stare at her. “I sent him here in order to be secluded from the Manor. And the first day he’s here, you arrange tea with the newest member. Incomprehensible!”
“I was only trying to use him as a way to gain more information from Pierce. I thought it would put him at ease with another person in the room. I was there the whole time and Lodge never tried to deliver a message of any kind. He simply sat there, mostly silent.”
“And what pray tell did your little scheme pry from Pierce?”
“As before, he still plans to flee the Manor at the first opportunity. Apparently his pack did not greet him well, in fact they almost took up arms against him.”
“Really? Well that is encouraging.”
“He is also convinced that his valet is stealing from him,” continued Jane, warming to the subject.
“Hmm. I suppose you haven’t bungled things completely. Though I’m sure you could have gained this information without involving Lodge and putting the entire plan at risk. If Lodge had been able to get a message to Pierce…”
“But he didn’t! I told you I was in the room the whole time. They didn’t even come in physical contact with each other,” she pleaded.
“Very well. Despite your error in judgement,” he said raising a hand to stop her rebuttal, “we have some useful intelligence. However Lodge must be moved from this location. Small though the chance might be, he could still get a message to the Manor from here. That is a chance I simply can’t take. All signs of his existence here must be removed.”
“I will take care of it,” Jane pronounced, seeing the look on Cleaver’s face and trying to mitigate his judgement of her. Having Pierce meet Lodge had been foolish, but necessary in the end. When Lodge had asked to meet the newest member of the Hunt, she’d decided that she could comply and potentially end up allied with both him and Cleaver. It had been a dangerous gamble, but she didn’t want to simply choose one side of this subtle battle. What if she chose the losing side?
She began to feel slightly more at ease as Cleaver sat in the brown leather club chair.
“Start the preparations immediately. I will remain here,” he stated, his calm precise demeanour returning. “Have some food sent up and when you are finished we shall have some tea together and discuss the next stage.”
Jane nodded in assent and quickly left the room. She first went down to the kitchen and made Dr. Cleavers order. She then climbed the stairs to the top floor and Lodge’s suite.
When she entered, Lodge was sitting in a straight backed wooden chair, gazing out the window upon the square below.
“I think I’ve spent too much time secluded in the Manor. I never realized the stimulation provided by the casual comings and goings of the villagers of Rooks Bay.”
Jane didn’t respond, but began gathering the few items that had accompanied Lodge on his journey. When this was accomplished she began tidying the room.
“I take it I won’t be able to continue my observations and am being forced from my perch?”
Jane’s silence was all the confirmation Lodge required. Watching her, he deduced her troubled feelings.
“It will be fine,” he assured her. “It was the only way for me to meet Mr. Pierce and it had to be done. I’m sorry to have put you in this position, but you needed to choose a side, the right side. Cleaver still needs us, so we should be safe for the time being.”
“I’m not so sure. I can’t deny I’m worried, but hopefully that will steady me and keep me focused.” She had meant it as a lie until she realized how disposable she really was to the Master of the Hunt. Suddenly her worry was no longer an act.
“I’m not concerned my dear. That’s why I chose you; you have a bright mind and unyielding determination. Plus your ability at, shall we say, deflecting the truth? I’ve known Dr. Cleaver for many years and we’ve been playing this game for most of that time. I always come out on top. That’s not idle boasting, but simple fact.”
This small speech lightened Jane’s demeanour and she left the suite, ready to continue her work and report to Cleaver. She passed the guard on the second floor landing, having moved up from the ground floor to increase security. She let herself in to the room Cleaver occupied without knocking.
“How is he?” inquired Dr. Cleaver as he prepared tea for them.
“He knows he’s moving.”
“Of course he does. The man is an incredible intellect; otherwise I would have disposed of him ages ago.”
“I don’t believe he suspects I’m working for you,” she continued accepting the cup of tea he offered her.
“I find that hard to believe, but perhaps not,” he replied smoothly. “He seems to have lost a step, so it may be possible.”
“What is the plan now? Shall I return to the Manor or stay here in the pub?”
“Drink your tea,” Cleaver responded gently, as he sipped from his own porcelain cup.
Jane peered over her cup as she blew on it, observing Dr. Cleaver. He was also watching her, but more serenely, almost nonchalantly. Although she had been initially alarmed by his presence at the pub, that feeling was subsiding. Perhaps he continued to trust her and had not discovered her shifting alliances after all.
“Now, as for the future,” he continued as they drank their tea, “you cannot stay here. Returning to the Manor is also out of the question.”
“As you say, my Lord,” she concurred, starting to feel slightly tingly from the tea. “Then where shall I go?”
“You will go with Lord Lodge.”
“I don’t understand…” she uttered as the tingly feeling quickly turned to disorientation. Her heart started pounding with fear as Cleaver’s face started to blur and blend into the spinning room
“You have outlived your usefulness here,” stated Dr. Cleaver has he stood up.
Finally understanding the danger, Jane tried to stand up and attempt an escape. However there was no feeling in her legs and she simply toppled onto the floor. She tried to speak but began to lose consciousness.
“You silly little girl,” taunted Cleaver as he calmly finished his tea.
Behind him Malicio appeared out of the shadows, his black coat and dark hair menacing and demon-like.
“Take her and Lord Lodge to the carriage,” ordered Cleaver. “It’s late enough no one should see you. I shall return to the Manor, you continue on to the Crow’s Nest.”
A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1) Page 31