Nathaniel arrived at home, agitated. After handing his coat and hat to Brooks, he headed toward the library. He hoped a book would calm him enough to get some rest tonight. Tomorrow promised little rest and a dinner in the evening. Lady Amanda would be in attendance. He must get some small bit of sleep tonight if he was going to manage the day successfully. Candlelight flickered in his study. His senses swung into high alert. Creeping to the door, the hallway darkened in his vision as the light inside the room became brighter. The hair on his neck stood on end as he peeked around the corner. No servant would have need to be in his study at this hour.
Alarm filled him. Charlie sat in a chair, reading Nathaniel’s correspondence, several pieces in hand. If those were the wrong letters, Charlie could be a real danger to the Liberty Seekers. He strode across the threshold shouting, “What is the meaning of this?”
Charlie shot to his feet, startled, grabbing the letters on his lap, crushing them to him in a jumbled heap. “Lord Nathaniel. I’m glad you are home.”
He blinked. Was Charlie smiling at him? He blinked again. Yes, smiling, and not just a small grin. The man looked almost foolish, showing all his teeth in the widest smile Nathaniel had ever seen. He stopped short of fisting Charlie’s shirt in his hands and tossing him from the room and instead stared him down.
“What are you doing here?” His eyes flew over the letters in Charlie’s hands and froze as he saw the broken seal of an eagle in flight. His spy now sat in the gravest danger. If Charlie were ever to take this knowledge back, the Eagle in Flight would be killed immediately. Nathaniel positioned himself to block any exit from the room and stepped closer, breathing down Charlie’s chest. Nathaniel would guard knowledge of his informant with his life.
Charlie’s expression clouded with confusion. His legs pressed up against the chair, and his upper body leaned back to put more distance between them.
Nathaniel leaned closer, nearly forcing Charlie back into his seat. He pointed a finger at the letters clutched to Charlie’s chest. “Where did you get those?”
Charlie looked at the letters he had crushed to his chest and then he looked back up into Nathaniel’s face. He smiled again.
Dashed ridiculous. “Stop smiling, lad, and answer me.”
Charlie said, “They’re mine, my lord.”
“I recognize the seal on them. Obviously not yours. Have you read them?”
“Would you mind if we sat? I have much explaining to do.”
Nathaniel huffed in frustration but pulled a chair to sit in front of Charlie between him and the door. Then he leaned forward and waited.
Charlie looked at the door and said softly, “I am your Eagle in Flight.”
Nathaniel stared for a moment, digesting. He gestured impatiently with his hand. “You had better keep talking, and make it good.”
“I can prove it. I am your man. I brought this correspondence with me today. The last letter I wrote to you talked of July 23.”
Nathaniel breathed out a sigh of relief. If he spoke the truth, Charlie had not betrayed him. On the contrary, he was one of his most trusted allies. Nathaniel leaned back, suspicion remaining. “What is my pseudonym?”
Charlie leaned forward. “Red.”
Nathaniel grunted. “What is my signet?”
Charlie said, “An eagle’s profile, the eagle at rest, you call it—that is you. I am the Eagle in Flight.”
“What was in the last correspondence you received from me?”
When Charlie again answered successfully about his last correspondence with detail, it was Nathaniel’s turn to smile. He felt a rush of intense relief and euphoria. Where he had moments ago been devastated, he now felt as high as the Tower of London. He stood and pulled Charlie up and slapped him on the back, pumping his hand with vigor. And then he laughed. “My stable hand. I have hired one of the bravest men in all of England as my stable hand. Smoke is one lucky stallion.” All his dark feelings from earlier disappeared. Joy filled him, loosening all the tightly wound muscles.
“I enjoy horses, my lord. I have been a stable hand since I was a boy.”
“Ah yes.” At Lady Amanda’s stables. “When you worked for the Duke of Cumberland.”
Charlie nodded but did not elaborate. “It was Bender that arranged for me to fill this position with you.”
Nathaniel sat back down thoughtfully, a worried expression crossing his brow. “Did he? Well, that is concerning, but right now, we have more pressing matters to discuss. The first of which—what have you to tell me about your meeting with Bender this very night?”
Charlie’s eyes widened, and he too reclaimed his seat. “How could you know about that?”
As Nathaniel watched closely, another emotion crossed Charlie’s face.
Would he admit to Lady Amanda’s company? Nathaniel continued. “I had a tip that he would be at that church. We have been anxious since your last correspondence.”
Charlie nodded grimly. “I was meeting Bender to pick up letters to deliver for him. His plan moves forward as we speak.” Charlie continued talking, detailing everything he knew.
Nathaniel clenched his teeth while he listened. “This is dire news indeed. Where are the letters?” He held his hand out to receive them. “Let us see if there are any clues as to how we can stop this plan from actually taking place.”
Charlie shifted uncomfortably. “I believe I know the contents of the letter, but I left them in a safe location until tomorrow when I plan to pick them up again. I got into a tight spot while they were still in my possession.” Charlie looked him in the eye, but his face flushed.
“What is it you assume the letters say? I need to know the exact contents as soon as possible, of course.”
Charlie nodded. “They likely detail a secret meeting to be held in Cato Square. Bender plans to give out all the details of the attack at this meeting. This much I already know: the murders will take place at Lord Liverpool’s dinner party with the cabinet and their wives. It is my hope the letters explain the exact day and time of the Cato Square meeting.”
Nathaniel nodded. “That would be fortuitous. In the meantime, I will warn Lord Liverpool. We will see if we can get them to change the day and location, or better yet, to cancel the dinner altogether.”
Charlie nodded. “I will get you the contents of those letters as soon as I am able. Tomorrow, if at all possible.”
Nathaniel knew the letters must be with Lady Amanda. But Charlie said nothing more. His jealousy tried to come forward full force, but he pushed it back, allowing gratitude and admiration to replace it. He had been wrong about more than one thing this night. The happy relief that Charlie and Lady Amanda were not in league with Jack Bender overshadowed his other concerns for the moment. “Charlie, are you still safe in your position with Bender?”
Charlie snorted. “Safe is not a word I would ever use where Bender is involved, but he is not suspicious of me, no.”
Nathaniel smiled grimly. “I don’t know how I can ever thank or repay you for all you are doing.”
Charlie sat taller and pulled his shoulders back. “I do not desire repayment. It is for freedom that I risk myself. I find I am in your debt, actually.”
Nathaniel raised his eyebrows, waiting for Charlie to continue.
“It is because of you and the Liberty Seekers that England has any chance at all for a free society.” Charlie gripped Nathaniel’s shoulder. “Were it not for you, a member of the nobility, taking a stand on this issue, exerting your vast resources for something so honorable—well, I would have lost hope years ago.” Charlie stood and the men gripped each other’s hands with a fierceness befitting their gratitude.
Nathaniel said, “For freedom.”
“For freedom,” echoed Charlie.
As Charlie looked into his face, Nathaniel saw his loyalty. The man would do anything to set England free. Nathaniel felt his own doubts dissolve, his own soul recharging with energy and reigniting to the cause. He promised himself yet again to do all that he could to peacefully bring about a change in England.