Chapter Twenty-Nine

Upon Raven’s return to the manor house, Randall informed him of a message from the Prime Minister. They went to his study where one of his tenants and his son awaited him. Raven greeted them then offered the men a seat.

“Thank you, Your Grace, but we will stand. You remember my son, Adam? He came into port yesterday on his ship.”

“Hello, Adam. It’s good to see you safe and sound.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. Home is always a good place for me.”

His father prompted him, “Tell His Grace the story.”

The young man took a deep breath. “I stopped at a pub for a tankard of ale. I heard someone at the next table mention your name and the estate. So I listened with great interest. The man offered ten pounds to anyone who would give a small package to someone in the kitchens. He said it contained a spice to improve the taste of beef. I got up and asked why the sailor wouldn’t deliver it himself. He smirked and said he must leave on a ship in the evening and didn’t have the time, but promised his cousin he would take care of the matter.”

Raven listened in silence before he spoke, “Would you prefer to sit, Adam? I believe you and your father would be more comfortable, but continue.”

They sat.

“It seemed strange to me for a man dressed in unfamiliar sailor’s garb. Then he mentioned the name of the ship, and I knew it left the dock already bound for India.” He looked at his father, who nodded. “I told them I was on leave about to see my parents here, I could deliver the package and could use the money. He gave me a shifty look, but asked me how he would know if I did deliver it.”

The young man appeared ill at ease, and Raven offered him a drink. He nodded and asked for water. He drank a large gulp from the glass. “I told him I would take half of the amount at once, and he could leave the balance with the innkeeper for when I returned in two days.”

“Did he agree?” asked Raven.

“Yes, he did. He gave me the package and told me to leave it outside the scullery door behind a potted plant.”

“Did you do so?” he asked the young man.

“No, Your Grace. It all seemed odd to me. When I came home, I spoke to my dah. We have the package.”

Raven extended his hand, and Adam gave the pouch to him. The burlap sack contained a paper package with markings that read Conium Maculatum. The small dried white flowers sat on purple mottled stems. Every instinct told Raven not to touch the contents. Instead, he excused himself and went through the connecting door to a library shelf and removed a book entitled, Poisons of the World. He moved to the section, which started with C and found conium maculatum listed as Poison Hemlock.

Raven returned to them and motioned his majordomo to read the information. Randall blanched. “Your Grace…” he started to speak.

Raven silenced him with his hand. “Adam, I seem to remember you wanted to study to become a Leftenant in His Majesty’s Navy. How have you progressed?”

“I have to serve three more years before I can go further up the chain of command.”

“I thank you for your information. Randall and I will handle the matter. You and your father are commended. I would like to support you in your endeavors to obtain a commission and will make inquiries on your behalf. It is not wise to go back to your ship for it might be dangerous and the louts might look for you. I will speak to the Admiralty’s Office and arrange for your new commission.”

“Your Grace, I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You already have, Adam. However, don’t mention this to anyone. It would require intense explanation.” Raven shook the young man’s hand as well as his father’s and gave them a casual smile. He took deep breaths and tried to ignore the abdomen turmoil in his entrails.

“Randall, send a bottle of my best brandy home with these fine men and tallow for their candles, and of course, tea for his mother.” Raven added, “Come back to me when you have finished.”

They left, and soon with the tasks accomplished, Randall returned. “Your Grace, I’m appalled. The book states the hemlock causes paralysis, convulsions, and eventual death.”

“Yes, it’s not a pleasant way to die.” He rewrapped the package and secured it back into the cloth sack. “Ask Cook Phoebe to attend me.”

In a few moments, Randall returned with the cook. Raven asked him to stay.

“Cook Phoebe, sorry to interrupt you at such a busy time, but we need to ask if there is anyone new to the kitchen that you have not known?”

Cook Phoebe, under stress in so many ways, wrung her apron with her hands. “Yes, Your Grace. Unknown to me, one of the lesser cooks engaged a young lady to assist in soup and gravy preparation. When I did find out and started to question the girl, she seemed nervous and frightened. I got a queasy feeling about her and looked for Mr. Randall, but I couldn’t find him. So I waited for him to return to the kitchen. Then he came for me.”

“Where is this girl now?” Raven asked the terrified cook who seemed about to cry.

“Gone, Your Grace.”

Raven turned to his cook and spoke to her in soft and calm tones. “Now, Cook Phoebe, you did well to question this girl. Give Randall a detailed description of what she looked like and what she wore. If you need to replace her with someone else, send to the village for two girls with whom you are acquainted, perhaps Malford’s daughters, so we can get this fine meal you prepared ready for our guests. You have done well, rest assured.”

“She couldn’t have gotten far, Your Grace,” Randall replied. “She will be found.”

He handed the cook two gold coins. “I’m most pleased.”

Cook Phoebe hesitated to take the generous offer.

He smiled and pressed the money into her hand. “Now be gone with you. I’m hungry already.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you.” She scuttled off with her hand held tight around the precious coins.

Raven shook his head. “That was a close call, Randall. You know what to do. If you find this girl, detain her in a locked room with no windows.”

“What are we to do with the package?”

“Inform Seigfreid. Have him burn it in an open fire away from the manor. I would not want it to fall into anyone’s unknowledgeable hands. Save the burlap and markings after the contents are disposed of so I have evidence. Warn him to make sure he is downwind and take care not to inhale the smoke. Suggest he uses a handkerchief over his nose and mouth.”

Randall nodded at the instructions, left the room holding the dangerous package with care as if it were a bomb about to explode.

After he had departed, Raven arose from his chair and went to the table where the brandy resided. He took a large snifter, filled four fingers of liquor, and gulped it down.

It would indeed be a long night. He would need a suitable diversion.

****

Still in his study a couple of hours before dinner, there was a tap on Raven’s study door. “Enter,” he said.

“If you have a moment, Your Grace…” Winston awaited permission to speak.

“Yes, I have a few minutes. What is it?” and gestured for him to sit all the while he kept his disciplined air about him.

“I wish to inform you that my sister has invested a sizable sum of money into my share of the cartel. Samantha assures me she has not spoken to anyone besides myself and my aunt.”

“If you are satisfied, it’s sufficient for the moment. I do have a question for you.”

“And that is?”

“How well do you know Lord Dudley?”

Raven withdrew a card from his drawer and handed it to Winston.

He raised his eyes from the card to Raven. “How did you get this?” After careful thought, he added, “Do you suspect me of betrayal? There is no good I could derive from such a thing. You’ve given me an opportunity to soar with eagles. I can’t believe you would think I would repay you with treachery.”

Raven’s fist clenched at the wound he’d inflicted on the young man and its necessity tested his resolve. “Someone has given out the information and now the entire venture is in danger. Winston, part of my responsibility is to the people I convinced, by my word, to join the cartel. If one of us has betrayed the others, I have to know. My duty is to ask difficult questions. I’m serious when I say lives are in danger, and, in particular, mine.”

Raven rose from the chair and came forward toward the young lord. “At this juncture, without me, the cartel will dissolve. I don’t say this with conceit or arrogance. I’m an obvious target and became aware this could be a possibility when I started. It’s imperative that I know whom I can trust.”

“If you have to ask whether you can trust me.” Winston’s eyes glistened in obvious pain, “You are an unfortunate man. I wanted to emulate you from the first moment I met you. That is why I adopted your quizzing glass and sartorial style. You are a man who commands attention, and I would follow you without question in all things—even to hell. I would not betray my mentor and the man I admire most.” Winston said in a loud voice, “Yes, I’m afraid, but fear is not a crime.”

He stood. “You have maligned me and mine beyond all measure.” Winston paused. “As for that card of Lord Dudley’s, he gave it to my sister at last week’s ball. He wished to call upon her. She became upset and placed it in my pocket. I forgot about it since it held no importance to her or me. That is the truth. You might choose to ask Samantha, if you dare.”

“Winston,” he called. “Responsibility can cause us to hurt people for whom we care.”

With his back to his mentor, the young noble turned. “I’m wounded, Your Grace, and would like to withdraw to my room.”

“As you wish,” said Raven, angry with himself.

So he was no nearer to the identity of the culprit and had alienated those he cared about most. Damnation.

He was now totally convinced Winston’s youth and inexperience didn’t make him guilty. Raven peered out his study window and his heart strings thrummed at the sight of the sun’s radiance on Samantha’s copper hair. A voracious hunger encroached for him to hammer a love song from his heart, to take her in his arms and hold her close, although he knew he could not.

So he just gazed at her for a long time. His mind ached at the pain he inflicted upon the sister and brother. This week was supposed to be of familiarity, intimacy, and jovial tenderness and it had become a disaster. There was nothing more he could do at the moment, but his resolve firmed, as did his manly parts.