Lucasta

by Melinda Hammond

  ‘I left the necklace in Miesel’s room.’ She gripped his arm. ‘How would it look if we took it and said where we had found it? Miesel could deny it and say we were trying to put the blame on him.’

  ‘So what do you think to do now? If we tell anyone where it is Miesel is just as likely to say we put it there!’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, nodding vigorously. ‘That is why we have to be even cleverer than Miesel. We must set a trap for him.’

  ‘Oh? And just how do we do that?’

  She did not appear to notice his sarcasm but continued to walk beside him, shoulders hunched and a frowning look upon her face.

  ‘Just at present I do not know, but once I have spoken to Lord Kennington—’

  ‘Heaven and earth, you ain’t going to tell ’im we searched Miesel’s rooms?’

  ‘But of course!’

  ‘Then you don’t tell ’im I was helping you! If his lordship knew I had let you put yourself in so much danger—’

  ‘Well he cannot do anything to you since he does not know where you are,’ reasoned Lucasta.

  He gave a groan.

  ‘The sooner I get you home the better, miss.’

  ‘Yes, I think so, too,’ came the sunny reply. ‘The only thing is, well, would you mind coming to the back of the house with me? You see, I used an upturned pail to get over the wall, and I do not think I can get back in without help.’

  ‘It must be near midnight,’ whispered Lucasta, as they walked along the alley at the rear of Sophia Street.

  ‘I hope you are keeping count of these houses,’ grumbled Jacob. There’s no telling which one is which from this side.’

  ‘Oh you need not worry, I left a lamp burning in my bedroom window – look, there it is.’ She hurried on a few more paces and stopped. ‘This is where I climbed over. Help me up, Jacob—’

  ‘Oh no you don’t!’

  Lucasta gave a little scream as the strange voice boomed out of the darkness.

  ‘What the— Who’s there?’ demanded Jacob, moving closer to Lucasta.

  ‘More to the point, who have we here?’ demanded the voice and Lucasta gave another little cry as a heavy hand fell on her shoulder.

  ‘What in— Get your hands off me!’ cried Jacob, struggling with the dark figure.

  ‘Oh ho, don’t you try to resist arrest, my man. I’m taking you back to Bow Street.’

  ‘A Runner!’ exclaimed Lucasta. ‘But – but you cannot arrest us! We have done nothing wrong.’

  ‘That’s humbug, when I’ve seen you with me own eyes!’

  ‘You couldn’t have done!’ exclaimed Jacob wrathfully.

  ‘That’s where you are wrong. I’ve been following you from Cheapside where I saw you, me lad, cutting a sham with the widow lady while your young accomplice here did a spot o’ breaking and entering.’

  ‘That’s not true because there was nothing to break,’ retorted Lucasta, wriggling again to try to shake off the restraining hand. ‘The doors were not locked.’

  ‘Now don’t you try to get clever with me, my lad. I’m an officer of the law.’

  Lucasta stopped struggling.

  ‘Who set you on?’ she demanded.

  ‘That, my lad, is none of your—’

  ‘Was it the Duchess of Filwood?’ asked Lucasta, ignoring him. ‘She said she would appoint someone. You may as well tell us, for it cannot be a secret.’

  ‘As a matter of fact, it was on her grace’s orders …’

  ‘I knew it!’ exclaimed Lucasta, clapping her hands. ‘So you can release us now, sir, for you are on our side.’ The heavy hand on her shoulder did not lift.

  ‘The law,’ said the voice impressively, ‘does not take sides.’

  Lucasta gave a sigh of exasperation. ‘I am Miss Symonds and well acquainted with her grace – she may even have told you about me. And this is Lord Kennington’s groom.’

  ‘Ah. Now I recall there was some mention of a groom.’

  At last the grip on her shoulder relaxed, but rather than showing gratitude, she demanded angrily, ‘So why are you here with us, instead of watching the true culprit?’

  ‘Well, miss, maybe that’s because I ain’t yet sure who is the real culprit. You see, I was down in Cheapside, keeping an eye on a certain Mr Miesel when I sees you two coming to his abode and acting most suspicious. So when you leaves, I follows you, see and finds you acting even more suspicious here.’

  ‘But I live here,’ explained Lucasta.

  ‘Then why don’t you go in by the front door, like any Christian lady?’

  ‘Well – well, I do not want anyone to see me dressed like this.’

  ‘And there’s another question.’ The voice was beginning to deepen again. ‘What is a young lady doing dressed in those togs?’

  ‘I think this is going to be a long story,’ put in Jacob. ‘Do you think we could find somewhere else to discuss this?’

  ‘Aye,’ growled the voice. ‘I think I had best take you both to Bow Street.’

  ‘No, I have a much better idea,’ said Lucasta, thinking quickly. ‘We should all go inside. I could order you a hot drink, or a jug of ale,’ she added persuasively.

  ‘And just how are we to get in, miss?’

  ‘Why over the wall, of course.’

  The shadowy figure drew itself up to an impressive height.

  ‘It would not be conducive with my calling for me to be climbing over walls.’

  ‘Well, how would it be if I climbed over the wall and you and Jacob could call at the front door? By the time you have been shown in I will have changed into a gown and be fit to receive you. What do you say?’

  ‘That sounds like a very good plan,’ said Jacob, whose injured thigh was beginning to ache.

  The voice was not too sure.

  ‘How do I know you will not run away again?’

  ‘Because I live here,’ she said patiently. ‘Besides, even if I did run away you would still have Mr Potts, now, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘No.’ The voice was suddenly decisive. ‘I don’t think I can do that, miss. I have only your word that you lives here: I might be helping you to commit a felony.’

  She bit back a sharp retort.

  ‘Very well,’ she said, ‘we must all go to Filwood House!’

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Thus it was that at some few minutes to midnight, The duchess’s astonished butler opened the door to find three strange men on the doorstep, demanding entrance. He was about to say that her grace was not at home when the largest of the men stepped forward.

  ‘If you would be so good as to tell her grace that Mr Loughton is here to see her – from Bow Street.’

  Oozing disapproval, the butler ushered them into the library and bade them wait there while he informed his mistress of their arrival. A footman was lighting candles around the room and Lucasta kept to the shadows until he reluctantly withdrew, then she turned to take her first good look at a Bow Street Runner.

  He was a large man dressed unobtrusively in a brown jacket and breeches with a heavy surcoat over all and a shallow crowned beaver atop his own unpowdered hair. His craggy face was set in sober lines but she thought she detected a gleam of humour in his sharp eyes. A long-case clock in one corner chimed the hour.

  ‘Midnight,’ remarked Mr Loughton. ‘I do hope her ladyship ain’t one for early nights.’

  ‘Fortunately for you, Mr Loughton, I am not!’

  They all turned as the Duchess of Filwood came into the room, followed closely by Lord Kennington.

  From her shadowy corner Lucasta watched as the viscount’s eyes swept around the room. For a moment he held her gaze, his face impassive, before moving on. He saw his groom and strode across to grip his hand.

  ‘Well, Potts, so we have found you at last! How is the leg?’

  ‘Not too bad, sir, if I am allowed to rest it now and then.’

  ‘Then let us all sit down,’ said the duchess. ‘Perhaps someone will explain to me just what is the meaning of this in
vasion.’

  ‘Mr Loughton wanted to arrest us,’ said Lucasta, taking off her hat and shaking out her hair. ‘For acting suspiciously.’

  The duchess’s lips twitched.

  ‘Good heavens.’

  ‘Aye, Your Grace.’ Mr Loughton stepped forward. ‘This – um – this young person says she is a friend of yours, ma’am, and this – er – gentleman claims to be his lordship’s groom.’

  ‘He was going to take us to Bow Street,’ explained Lucasta, ‘so I suggested we should come here instead. It is very late, and I am sorry, but I could not think what else to do. I thought you could vouch for us, Your Grace.’

  ‘Well I can vouch for Potts,’ put in the viscount, ‘if not the – er – young person.’

  Lucasta threw him a fulminating glance and the duchess shook her head at him.

  ‘Pray do not be provoking, Kennington. Miss Symonds is indeed known to me, Mr Loughton, although why she is dressed in that strange garb I am at a loss to understand.’

  ‘I went with Mr Potts to Miesel’s lodgings,’ said Lucasta. ‘I had to leave the house without being seen, which meant climbing over the back wall and I could not possibly do that in a gown.’

  ‘No. I quite see that,’ murmured the duchess, her eyes twinkling.

  ‘I knew you would understand, Your Grace. We were looking for any clue that would help Lord Kennington.’

  ‘And did you find anything?’

  ‘As a matter of fact, Your Grace—’ Potts began, but Lucasta interrupted him.

  ‘No. We found nothing.’ She cast what she hoped was an appealing look at the Runner. ‘So, no harm done?’

  He wagged an admonishing finger at her.

  ‘Well, not this time, but if you wants to stay out of trouble, miss, I suggest you leave this investigation to me.’

  ‘Yes indeed you must, my dear,’ her grace agreed. ‘It is Loughton’s job to prove my godson’s innocence.’

  The Runner coughed.

  ‘In actual fact, ma’am, my job is to find a certain emerald necklace and to find Sir Talbot Bradfield’s murderer or murderers, whoever they may be.’

  The duchess put up her brows.

  ‘Indeed? Well the reward I have put up depends upon Kennington being found not guilty.’

  Mr Loughton looked apologetic.

  ‘Forgive me, Your Grace, but there is still General Bradfield’s reward of one hundred guineas, whosoever is found guilty.’

  The viscount laughed.

  ‘It seems you cannot lose, then, Mr Loughton.’

  A reluctant grin creased the Runner’s face.

  ‘Indeed I cannot, my lord, although I don’t mind saying I am hoping the guilty party won’t turn out to be your lordship.’

  ‘I am very glad to hear you say that, Mr Loughton,’ remarked the duchess, ‘but perhaps I should tell you that while you have been chasing around London after my young friend here, there has been a development.’

  ‘Oh, Your Grace? And how came you to know about it so soon?’

  ‘Because I am paying a great deal of money for the services of you and your colleagues,’ she retorted.

  ‘But what is this … development, ma’am?’ Lucasta stepped forward eagerly. ‘Has a witness come forward? Is Lord Kennington cleared?’

  ‘No.’

  Lucasta could not read the strange look that accompanied this monosyllable. After a moment the duchess said slowly, ‘They have found young Mr Smith.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Lucasta stared.

  ‘But that is impossible!’

  ‘Yes, it would seem so,’ remarked Lord Kennington. Especially when we all thought he was going into the north country, but we have had word that he had been arrested at Bromsgrove and has been brought to Newgate.’

  ‘But it cannot – I mean—’ She stopped. ‘How can they be sure it is the same man?’

  The duchess flicked open her fan and waved it gently.

  ‘Apparently, he answers the description given by the landlord at the Pigeons.’

  ‘Well, well, here’s good news indeed!’ cried Mr Loughton, rubbing his large hands together. ‘Perhaps now we shall have some answers.’

  ‘I would certainly like to talk to Mr Smith,’ murmured the viscount.

  Mr Loughton drew himself up to his full and impressive height.

  ‘Now that, my lord, is quite out of the question, seeing as how you and Mr Smith could be accomplices in this crime. I must give you a word of warning, sir, that you is not to make any attempt to see the prisoner. You have been bailed, sir, but you could be clapped up again very easily, you know.’

  ‘Thank you, Mr Loughton, for that timely reminder.’ Lord Kennington bowed. ‘Now, may I suggest that you return to your duties?’

  ‘Aye, I think I had best look in at Bow Street to find out the latest news.’ The Runner rubbed his chin. ‘I seem to recall that the Justice of the Peace wants to question Mr Potts….’

  ‘Yes, yes, but surely he will not wish to do so at this time of night,’ put in the duchess. ‘I would suggest, Mr Loughton, that you leave Mr Potts in my care. The magistrate may question him whenever he pleases.’

  ‘Thank you, Your Grace. That I will.’

  ‘Good. And before you go, Mr Loughton, perhaps you would like some refreshment after all your trouble,’ The duchess waved one regal hand. ‘Show him out, Kennington, and tell my people to take him to the buttery for some bread and ale.’

  The Runner made a low bow.

  ‘Well, that is very generous of you, ma’am, very generous indeed. A little drop o’ something would set me up nicely.’

  They watched in silence as the viscount accompanied Mr Loughton out of the room. As the door closed behind them Jacob gave a noisy sigh of relief.

  ‘Well that was a close one! I was sure he would take me off to the lock-up.’

  ‘Now that you have been found, Potts, I think we must keep you here,’ said the duchess. ‘My lawyers shall begin working on it in the morning. I see no need for you to be locked up.’

  ‘Good God no,’ added the viscount, coming back into the room. ‘I have done without your services long enough, Jacob, it would be most inconvenient if they were to put you in gaol.’

  Potts grinned. Lucasta, frowning, exclaimed, ‘But what of this Mr Smith they have arrested? What are we going to do about him?’

  ‘The report we received says he was caught trying to sell a snuff-box of Sir Talbot’s,’ said the viscount. ‘It appears General Bradfield posted notices everywhere, including Hansford Common and someone was sharp-eyed enough to spot young – er – Mr Smith.’

  ‘But we know he cannot be – I mean—’

  ‘We certainly need to know how he fits into this tangle,’ agreed the duchess. ‘We need to talk to him. Lucasta, my dear, I think you must go to Newgate again.’

  ‘Me?’ squeaked Lucasta.

  ‘No!’ said the viscount explosively. ‘It is far too dangerous. I am surprised you can even suggest it, ma’am.’

  The duchess did not look at all put out.

  ‘You are obliged to remain here, Adam, and I cannot go, I am far too conspicuous, but there is no reason why Lucasta should not go to the prison, in a charitable capacity, of course. We could send Mr Giggs, of course, but I do not wish to take him into our confidence unless we have to.’

  Lucasta looked up quickly.

  ‘Mr Giggs is here?’

  The viscount nodded.

  ‘Yes. Unfortunately he arrived late this afternoon.’

  The duchess shook her head at her godson.

  ‘You are so uncharitable, Kennington. You need not worry about Mr Giggs, Lucasta: he is such a heavy sleeper he will know nothing of your being here.’

  Lucasta swallowed.

  ‘I am quite ready to go back to Newgate, ma’am.’

  ‘Good girl.’

  ‘And I tell you we should not send Miss Symonds to such a place,’ declared the viscount.

  ‘Potts will accompany her, she wi
ll be perfectly safe.’ The duchess smiled at Lucasta. ‘I shall give you a purse, my dear, for you will have to pay the gaolers, and you had best take a hackney carriage: it would not do for you to arrive in my coach. Now, do you think you can do it?’

  ‘Yes, indeed, ma’am. I am so pleased to be able to help.’

  ‘Well, I am not!’ declared the viscount. ‘And we have not yet heard why the devil you thought it necessary to prowl around Cheapside in those clothes!’

  ‘I knew you wouldn’t like it,’ muttered Jacob with grim satisfaction.

  ‘Like it? Of course I don’t like it! Bad enough, Jacob, that you should be keeping an eye on Miesel, but that you should encourage Miss Symonds—’

  ‘Now that I never did!’ exclaimed Potts, putting up his hands. ‘I couldn’t rein her in, my lord: she threatened to go it alone if I refused to help her!’

  ‘Yes, you must not blame Jacob,’ put in Lucasta. ‘I was determined to search Miesel’s rooms and—’

  ‘You actually broke into his rooms?’ The viscount clapped a hand to his head. ‘Of all the foolish things to do—’

  ‘No I did not break in. I did not need to because there is no lock on his door.’

  ‘But did you not think what might happen if you had been caught?’

  ‘No, I was too busy thinking of you!’ she retorted, angry colour springing to her cheeks.

  ‘Very laudable I am sure but what if Miesel had come back?’

  ‘Well he didn’t and I found the emeralds!’ At last she had silenced him. ‘I f-found the necklace hidden under the floorboards.’

  ‘May I ask why you did not tell Mr Loughton this?’

  His cold tone depressed her. She suddenly felt very tired. Jacob came to her aid.

  ‘We thought he might suspect us of putting it there,’ he said. ‘Now we know Miesel has it, Miss Symonds thinks we should set a trap for him.’

  ‘An excellent idea,’ agreed the duchess, ‘but it is far too late to do any such thing now. Potts, we shall have a room prepared for you. And Lucasta, would you like to stay here? I have no doubt we can find some excuse to offer your mother in the morning.’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am, but I think I must go back before I am missed.’