On the way, she practised walking with her head high as though she owned the street, and tried to ignore the butterflies that were having a party in her stomach. She had no idea how she would secure Beth’s release if she was still in Newgate. If she was still alive. She would worry about that later. First things first.
When she arrived at the keeper’s lodge, which was on the opposite side of the road from the actual prison, she stopped for a minute to gather her wits, coughing as the greasy smoke from Tom’s torch blew in her face. Then she stepped forward and hammered loudly on the door.
A few moments passed and then a small hatch slid back and a face appeared. The owner of the face looked his visitor up and down and then the hatch closed, and the sound of bolts being drawn back told her that she clearly looked respectable enough for the keeper to consider her worth speaking to. The door opened.
“Can I help you, madam?” the man asked politely.
“Mr Jones?” The man nodded. “I am here to visit a prisoner,” Sarah said.
“It’s too late for visitors now, madam. If you come back tomorrow…” His voice trailed off as Sarah moved forward slightly and the coins in her pocket jingled merrily.
“I understand it’s a little late,” she said, reaching inside her pocket and drawing out a shilling, which she handed to him, “but I have been in the country for some months and have only just discovered that my dear friend is here.”
He assessed her with expert eyes, and she knew that it was going to cost her everything in her purse to see Beth tonight. But it would be worth it and more to know she was alive.
“It’s most inconvenient to admit anyone to the cells at this time,” he said. “The prisoners will all be settled down for the night.”
This was an obvious ploy to extort money from her; it was highly unlikely the prisoners would all be asleep at eight o’clock in the evening. Now was not the time to argue though. If she was going to discover Beth’s whereabouts she would have to play along.
“Oh, I’m sure we can come to some agreement,” she said. “Come a little closer, boy, so I can see what I’m doing,” she demanded imperiously of Tom, who obligingly moved forward, lighting up both the coins in her hand and the keeper’s face. She placed another shilling in Mr Jones’ palm.
“Maybe we can. And who would this dear friend be?” he asked, smiling.
“Her name is Elizabeth Cunningham,” said Sarah.
The smile vanished and Mr Jones’ face closed down immediately.
“We don’t have anyone of that name here,” he said. “You’ve wasted your time.”
“You might know her as Beth,” Sarah persisted. “Small, with long –”
“I told you, there’s no one of that name, of any of those names here.”
“Oh, how disappointing. Perhaps she has now been moved elsewhere?” Sarah said.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had anyone here by that name, or that looked like that.”
“But I haven’t told you what she looks –”
“Goodnight to you,” he interrupted and stepping back, rudely shut the door in her face.
She stood for a moment in the street, and then turning, started to walk back the way she had come.
“I’m sorry, Miss,” Tom said after a moment. “I was sure Ned said that it was Mr Jones who was the keeper, but maybe he got it wrong. He was very upset.”
“Ned didn’t get it wrong,” Sarah said. “Didn’t you see his face? That’s why I told you to come closer. I don’t need to see a coin to know what it is. I wanted to see his reaction when I mentioned Beth’s name. He was frightened. And for the keeper of Newgate Gaol to be frightened, he must have been given his orders by someone important.”
“Like who, Miss?”
“I don’t know.” She stopped again, and came to another decision. “But I’m going to find out. Are you in the mood for a walk, Tom? I’ll pay you for lighting my way.”
“I’ll walk wherever you want, Miss. I don’t want no pay for this.”
“Very well, then. Come on. I’ll get Mary first. I can’t leave her alone for long. Damn. I should have done this in the first place. I’ve warned him now. That was stupid. I just hope she’s home.”
Tom looked at her, clearly at a loss as to what she was talking about.
Having made her decision she set off at a brisk pace, Tom following, trailing a cloud of greasy smoke from the rush light behind him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Caroline was sitting in her cosy cream and blue decorated parlour with her feet up on a footstool, reading a book and sipping a glass of wine. She had just returned from a tiring but pleasant two weeks at Summer Hill, where she had overseen the final touches being put to the ballroom and three of the bedrooms and had had a long discussion with William Kent about the design of the gardens. She’d returned a day earlier than expected and was relishing an evening alone. Edwin was at his club and would stay overnight, having a long session in parliament tomorrow. She couldn’t wait to tell him about the gardens. She had a copy of the plans all ready to show him. Maybe they could go there together soon. Spend Christmas there, just the three of them. She smiled to herself and moved the cushion supporting her back a little to the left. She would finish this chapter and then have an early night.
There came a soft tap on the parlour door. She waited a moment, and when no one came in she knew who was standing outside.
“Come in, Toby,” she shouted, knowing he wouldn’t hear her otherwise. The elderly manservant was becoming increasingly deaf, which was useful if you wanted to chat with friends about something confidential while he was tottering about the room serving tea, but not very useful when you had to startle said friends by bellowing at him to fetch some cakes from the kitchen.
The door opened, Toby walked in and bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, my lady,” he began, “but Miss Browne is here to see you.”
Caroline glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. Toby, who might have been deaf but could still see a fly on the wall at fifty paces, correctly interpreted the gesture.
“She said it is most urgent, my lady.”
“It must be for her to call at this late hour. Very well, Toby, send her in.”
There was a pause, in which Caroline placed her bookmark at the page she’d been reading, closed the book and placed it on the table, while Toby continued to stand in the doorway. She sighed.
“Send her in!” she yelled.
He must have heard her now, but instead of doing as she bid, he took another step into the room. Really, she thought, we have to pension the poor man off. This is ridiculous. She took a deep breath, readying herself for another attempt.
“She has a…personage with her, my lady,” he said.
Caroline looked at him. His face wore an expression of the utmost disgust. She turned in her chair so he would see her face, and hopefully be able to read her lips.
“What kind of personage?” she shouted.
“A link man, my lady.”
“Very sensible of her,” Caroline commented. “Show Miss Browne in and allow the link man to warm himself in the kitchen. Keep an eye on him,” she added.
“Er…Miss Browne insists you will wish to speak to this…creature, my lady.”
Caroline was intrigued. Sarah’s visits could be interesting, for want of a better word, and this one had potential.
“Well then, send them both in. Now,” she added when Toby, clearly horrified, was about to object. He shuffled off, returning a couple of minutes later with Sarah, who was cradling her sleeping baby in her arms and who looked very worried, and the ‘personage’ who looked absolutely terrified.
“I’m sorry to bother you at this time of night, Caroline,” Sarah said, “but I didn’t know who else to come to. This is Tom. He used to be Lord Edward’s coachman.”
Caroline looked at Tom. “Toby told me you were a link man,” she said. To her surprise the ragged young man blushed to the roots of his hair.
“I am, milady,” he said, addressing the floor.
“I’m sorry, Tom, but I’ll have to tell her so she’ll believe that what you told me about Beth is the truth,” Sarah said to him. Caroline’s face changed. Her gaze moved to Sarah then to Toby, still hovering at the door, clearly unwilling to leave his beloved mistress alone with a ruffian.
“That will be all, Toby!” Caroline bellowed. Sarah flinched, accustomed to Toby’s deafness but Tom jumped a foot in the air and looked round in panic, clearly intending to flee. Sarah laid a placating hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry,” Caroline said as the door closed behind the reluctant Toby, “I should have warned you Toby is deaf. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Sit down, both of you. You have news of Beth?”
Tom looked wildly at the couch, then at Sarah, who gripped his arm more tightly.
“Caroline is a friend of mine, Tom. And she was a friend of Beth’s too. You can trust her.” She cast a pleading look Caroline’s way.
“That’s right,” Caroline said. “I was a friend of Beth’s, and if you have news of her, then I would like to hear it. I can see that you are a little down on your luck at the moment, but you clearly take pains with your appearance.”
“I does, milady,” Tom said to the rug. “I looks after my clothes as best I can, and I washes every day. And I ain’t got no vermin, neither,” he added with some pride.
Caroline repressed a smile.
“Sit down,” she repeated gently. “And tell me what you know about Beth. Sarah seems to think it very important.”
They sat down, and with occasional prompting from Sarah, Tom told his story, and then Sarah added her account of her visit to Newgate and the reception she’d received.
“I realise that I shouldn’t have gone,” Sarah finished, “because I’ve warned him now. I should have come to you first, but I didn’t want to involve you.”
Caroline sat back in her chair and closed her eyes for a minute, while the other two waited anxiously. Then she opened them again, and looked at Tom.
“You used to be Lord Edward’s coachman, you say. Are you good with horses, then?” she asked.
“Yes, milady,” Tom said hesitantly, clearly having expected Caroline to comment on the situation with Beth, not on his prowess with animals. “I was a stable boy for four years, before I started learning to drive. I love horses, milady, I’ve been around them all my life, until…” His voice trailed off, and he looked down at his hands.
“Well then,” Caroline said briskly. “I have a country house, Summer Hill, at Twickenham, and I am in need of reliable, trustworthy staff. Are you interested?”
Tom abandoned the scrutiny of his hands and instead stared at Caroline as though she’d just grown another head.
“I…I…” He stopped, swallowed, and tried again. “I am, milady, but I haven’t got no character. Lord Edward, he said –”
“Never mind what Lord Edward said,” Caroline interrupted. “I’ve seen enough of your character this evening to know that you are both loyal and courageous. If you are hard-working as well, I will give you a chance. Go home and gather your belongings. In the morning, call back here and I will give you a letter recommending that you be taken on as a stable man. We will see how things go from there. It will be up to you to prove yourself. What do you say?”
“I…but…”
“We all make mistakes, Tom. I have made many myself, and I am sure I will make more.” Probably this very night. “But the important thing is to learn from them.” She waited.
“Say yes, Tom,” Sarah prompted.
“Yes,” Tom said obediently. “Milady. Thank you,” he added hurriedly.
“Excellent,” Caroline said, standing. “You need not wait for Sarah. I suspect we will be some time.” She bent and lifted the bell from the table, and then sighed and replaced it. “I will see you out myself,” she said. “My throat is already strained.”
She returned a few minutes later.
“That was a kind thing you did,” Sarah commented.
“Nonsense,” Caroline replied. “If he lives up to his promise, I will be the winner. Edward is a pompous idiot with no sense when it comes to hiring servants. A character from him would be a deterrent to me rather than a recommendation. Now,” she continued, “I’ve called for tea and a cold collation, and for the bed to be made up in the green room for you and Mary. Let us formulate a plan. There’s no point in my going to Newgate and demanding to see Beth, because as you said, the keeper is forewarned.”
“I’m sorry,” said Sarah.
“No, it could work to our advantage,” Caroline said, “because if he refused good money and denied Beth had ever been there, then it’s likely he’d have said the same to me, but more politely. His instructions have probably come from someone in high office. It’s strange that Beth would be in Newgate, though. Important or titled prisoners are usually lodged in the Tower.”
“Do you think she might be in the Tower, then?” Sarah asked hopefully.
“It’s worth asking, certainly. It’s possible that she was in the Tower, refused to say anything and then was moved to Newgate to be questioned, but…I still can’t understand it. Prisoners of importance, male or female, if not lodged in the Tower, are kept in messengers’ houses.”
“Messengers?” Sarah asked.
“Yes. Messengers are paid handsomely to securely lodge prisoners in their own houses. Some of them treat their charges well, others not so well. But I never heard of a high-born lady being put in Newgate. I’ll start at the Tower tomorrow, see what I can find out. I must send a message to Anne, too.”
“I haven’t seen her in months. Is she still at your Aunt Harriet’s?” Sarah asked.
“Yes, she is. She’ll be very relieved to know Richard’s in Scotland. She hasn’t heard from him since…no, it’s not possible,” Caroline said. “No, I can’t believe William would allow such a thing.”
“William?” Sarah asked, puzzled.
“The last time Anne saw Richard, he told her he had an important job to do for the Duke of Cumberland. But I can’t believe William would order Richard to torture any woman like that, let alone Beth. He was very infatuated with her.”
“I could believe it,” Sarah said. “They’re calling him the Butcher, you know.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that, and there have been criticisms of the way the rebellion was put down in Scotland,” Caroline said. “But you have to remember that for many of the rebels, this is not an isolated act of treason. The same clans came out in 1715, and no doubt would rise again if they got the chance. It’s William’s and the king’s belief that this rebellion only took place because the rebels were treated too leniently after the ’15. His methods may seem brutal, but none of us want to see the country plunged into another civil war, like it was a hundred years ago. It’s necessary, Sarah.”
“It’s not just in Scotland, though,” Sarah said. “The Manchester men were treated terribly too.”
“Ah, you mean the executions we saw. Yes, that was harsh. But I think they were made an example of to stop the English from rising too. This confines the unrest to Scotland, and –”
“It’s not the executions. It’s the way the prisoners are being treated, starving and chained like dogs, and left to lie in their own filth. Some of them are children, babies even. John said –” Sarah stopped abruptly and reddened.
“I don’t want to know about the man who came to the execution with you, Sarah. We’ll call him your brother. But you must be careful. I know how close you were to Beth, and I know what she did for you. But she would be the first to tell you not to put your life at risk for her or anyone else.”
“But you are going to help Beth, aren’t you?” Sarah said fervently.
“I’m going to find out what’s going on if I can, yes,” Caroline said. “And if she’s alive and I find her, I will do what I can to help her. But I won’t put my life or anyone else’s at risk for her. She’s a traitor, Sarah, her and Antho
ny both. You must remember that. And you must think of your niece too, now. She depends on you.”
Sarah nodded.
“I do remember that, and Mary is dearer to me than my life,” she said. “I don’t know much about politics like you do. I don’t care who’s sitting on the throne, and I wouldn’t raise a finger to fight for or against any king, because they don’t give a damn about me or people like me. But Beth did give a damn about me - she was the first person who ever showed me any kindness. Everything I have today is because of her. I’d most likely be dead by now if she hadn’t helped me. When Mary grows up I’m going to tell her about Beth, and I won’t be able to hold my head up if I’ve left her to rot and die in a cell somewhere when I could have done something about it. So if she needs more help than you can give her, you tell me.”
* * *
Tower of London
“No, I haven’t heard of an Elizabeth Cunningham, my lady,” the young yeoman warder said. “She’s certainly not lodged with us now, hasn’t been since I’ve been here.”
“This seems like an excellent position for a smart young man like yourself,” Caroline said, smiling at the freckle-faced youth. “How long have you been here?”
“Since September, my lady,” he replied, beaming.
“Well, I wish you the very best. Thank you for your time. I did not wish to inconvenience Thomas with my little query, busy as he is, but I think I shall have to.” She pressed a coin into his hand and started to turn away. The warder looked at the coin and his eyes widened.
“Thomas, my lady?” the enterprising young man asked, clearly wondering if he could inconvenience this Thomas fellow on her behalf and earn himself another sovereign for his pains.
“Yes. Ah…of course you won’t know him by his Christian name…the Duke of Newcastle. I’m sure he will know where my dear misguided acquaintance is. Although of course I would be most grateful if I didn’t have to bother him with such a trivial matter. But there it is. Good day to you.”
She made three steps before he called to her.
“It is possible that she was held in Mr Carlton’s house, across the green. He sometimes takes care of particular prisoners, although he has none lodging with him at present. Would you like me to enquire for you?”
Pursuit of Princes (The Jacobite Chronicles Book 5) Page 38