As before, Rainham sent Harry Finch ahead of him to the Woolpack and sauntered into the taproom himself some half hour later. There were three or four faces he remembered from the previous evening … and two he didn’t, apparently engrossed in a game of dice. Rainham ordered ale and occupied the same discreet corner as last night. Then he settled down to wait, mulling over whether or not to use any of the day’s fresh information. The ale, as he’d noticed the night before, was particularly good here so by the time Erasmus finally put in an appearance nearly an hour later, he was broaching his second mug.
Erasmus remained at the counter, chatting to the innkeeper for several minutes before crossing to take the stool opposite and set down two small tankards of brandy. Pushing one of them towards Rainham, he said, ‘I have passed on your suggestions. But I am instructed to see Raven’s despatch before any decision can be made.’
‘Don’t mess me about,’ growled Rainham, ignoring the brandy in favour of his ale. ‘You seen enough of it already to know what it is. And if you think I’m letting you get your hands on it without I get what I want first, you got another think coming.’
‘That is unreasonable. I’m hardly going to bring Edgerton-Foxe here, am I?’
‘Never expected you would. But you can tell me where he is, can’t you?’
‘Hardly. I have no reason to trust you. For all I know, that packet you gave me a glimpse of last night is a fake. I need to see it properly to make sure it isn’t.’
‘Well, I ain’t opened it, so you aren’t going to neither.’ He pulled the despatch from inside his coat and waved it before Erasmus’s eyes so he could see the unbroken seal. ‘I’m not having anybody thinking I know what’s inside and might’ve passed it on.’
‘If you want your hundred pounds, I suggest you think again. Those pages could be someone’s letter to their mother. They could even be blank.’
‘Oh that’s likely, isn’t it? Raven got sent off with empty sheets of paper? I don’t think so – and neither do you.’ Rainham frowned, tapping the packet against his free hand as if considering the matter. ‘All right. Suppose I agree to let you take a look. Got your word you’ll swear the seal weren’t broken till now, have I?’
‘If that’s what it takes, yes. Hand it over.’
‘Oh no. I think I’ll keep hold of it, if it’s all the same to you. You can see it well enough from there.’ Rather more clumsily than he’d intended, Rainham shattered the seal, unfolded Camilla’s neat pages and held them up, muttering, ‘Bloody hell. Is this supposed to make sense?’
‘Not to you.’ Leaning forward, Erasmus took a close look. Then, nodding, ‘All right. It looks genuine but my principal won’t agree to your terms until he’s seen it for himself.’
‘Which he ain’t going to do till I see Edgerton-Foxe,’ retorted Rainham, refolding the pages and stowing them back inside his coat. ‘Did you think I come down with the last shower? I didn’t. I want to know where the boy is and I want to know he’s still breathing or it’s no deal. Got it?’
‘Yes. And it can be arranged.’
‘Good. ’Cos in case you ain’t noticed it, time’s running out. Them reward posters’ve spread like weeds since yesterday – and the boy’s sister has got the redcoats out looking for him. If you dither much longer, neither of us is going to get what we want.’
‘Understood.’ Erasmus reached for his so far untouched brandy and gestured for Rainham to do the same. ‘Shall we drink to a speedy and mutually acceptable resolution?’
‘Why not?’ grunted Rainham, picking up the tankard and tossing its contents down his throat. ‘Tomorrow night. And come with the right answer. I’m done with tripping back and forth to no good purpose and want an end to this business.’
‘As do I,’ replied Erasmus agreeably. ‘And doubtless Mr Edgerton-Foxe is equally eager to return home. I fear he has not found his captivity comfortable.’
‘So long as he leaves it in one piece, I don’t care if you’ve kept him chained in a kennel.’ Rainham pushed to his feet and reeled slightly. Mentally castigating himself for downing the brandy too fast, he took a steadying breath and fumbled for the coins he knew were in his pocket but which seemed to be eluding his fingers. Then, finding them, he tossed them on the table, nodded a careless farewell to Erasmus and headed for the door.
Erasmus sat back, unhurriedly sipping his brandy. The dice-playing men on the far side of the room finished their game. One remained in his seat … the other said something about needing a leak and sauntered after Rainham.
Outside, the cool night air hit his lordship like a blow, causing him to stagger. Righting himself with a muffled curse, he thought woozily, Am I drunk? I shouldn’t be. Unless –
And that was as far as he got before a hefty shove knocked him off his feet, completing his disorientation. A body landed on his back, shoving him face down in the dirt and holding him there; a second pair of hands reached inside his coat; Rainham swore and tried to stop them but couldn’t get his hands free.
Then someone yelled, ‘Sarge! Out here! To me!’
And another body landed on top of the first, driving the breath from his lungs. Beyond the roaring in his ears, came the sound of running footsteps. He hoped it was Finch.
And then, without warning, he found himself suddenly free. Struggling to his knees, his head swimming unpleasantly, he saw four men – none of whom was Finch – grappling with each other. The pair he thought looked vaguely familiar already appeared to have the upper hand; the other two were seemingly more intent on getting away than continuing the fight. Rainham wasn’t sure who was on his side and who wasn’t. So he sat back on his heels, swaying slightly, and waited for whatever was happening to resolve itself.
It didn’t take long. Three minutes later, the men he hoped were rescuers rather than attackers had the others pinned down and immobile.
‘You all right, sir?’ asked one of them breathlessly.
‘More or less. Who are you?’
‘Sergeant Fisher and Trooper Ellins, sir. The lieutenant sent us in case you had trouble.’
‘Right.’ Rainham’s brain wasn’t working any better than the rest of him but he looked around, saying, ‘And where’s bloody Finch?’
‘Here, sir.’ Emerging from the tavern, Finch was holding Erasmus in an arm-lock and had a knife pointed at his ribs. ‘He was trying to slope off through the back door. I thought it’d be better if he didn’t.’
Forcing down an insane desire to laugh, Rainham concentrated on hauling himself to his feet and very nearly fell over again. The dreadful hairy hat had fallen off during the struggle and lay on the ground a few feet away. He pushed back his own hair, rubbed a hand over his face and tried to pull himself together.
‘Not yourself, are you, sir?’ asked the Sergeant sympathetically. ‘I reckon you’ve been given a dose of summat … but we need your orders, see.’
‘Orders?’
‘Yes, sir. What d’you want doing with these three?’
He breathed deeply and attempted to think. It wasn’t easy. Finally, he said, ‘The two you took down … and my thanks for that, by the way … they’re un-un --’He stopped and tried again. ‘They’re not important. The other one is.’
‘So we should let these two go?’ asked Trooper Ellins, plainly disappointed. ‘Now?’
‘Might as well. If you take them to the lock-up they’ll be gone by morning.’
He watched as the soldiers reluctantly released their grip and allowed the captives to take to their heels. Erasmus, he noticed, was staring back at him, white-faced and tight-lipped. Somewhat distantly, he supposed that wasn’t surprising … and, not without difficulty, remembered what he’d been about to say.
‘I’m not at my best right now and I can’t risk losing our friend here, so your escort as far as New Romney would be welcome. And Harry …?’
‘Sir?’
‘Knock him out, tie him up and load him on to his horse. He’ll be less trouble that way.’
‘Wait a minute!’ protested Erasmus, opening his mouth for the first time. ‘I can’t fight all four --’ Which was as far as he got before Finch’s fist dropped him like a stone.
‘That was for the drugged drinks,’ Finch told him. And to Rainham, ‘Where are we taking him?’
‘Dragon Hall. It’s presumably got a secure cellar and I want a word with Mr Brandon.’
Before dinner, Adam and Camilla had studied Corbeau’s despatch in detail. After it, Camilla suggested they might begin decoding it themselves whilst waiting for a reply from Goddard. Adam merely sat back nursing a half-full glass of wine and nodding occasionally.
‘These groupings of numbers are probably names,’ she said firmly. ‘Vincent told me that’s a frequently used device in codes.’
‘Mm. He told me the same thing.’
‘It’s the same two groups, over and over – so a lot of this concerns the same two people. Both names are eight letters long and have three letters in common.’
‘So they do. And you think that will help?’
‘Don’t you?’
‘Not really. However … how do you suggest we proceed with the rest of it?’
‘Vincent says the most often-used letter is E.’ She shot a glance at him. ‘Don’t say it. I’m sure he told you that as well.’
Adam shrugged. ‘Probably. But your memory is better than mine.’
‘Much better,’ she retorted. ‘At least you remembered that.’
‘I remind myself of it constantly. However … going back to the letter E?’
‘Yes. Well, I suppose we could try and work out which letter is used most often in the code. Perhaps if we took a paragraph each and listed all the letters of the alphabet and then put a mark beside each one as it occurs …’ She stopped, looking discouraged. ‘It could take forever, couldn’t it?’
‘It could.’ He sat back and stretched out his legs, looking totally relaxed. ‘Also – if you’ll forgive me mentioning it – you seem to have overlooked a trifling detail that is likely to prove an added complication.’
Camilla frowned. ‘And what is that?’
‘Think about it for a moment.’ He grinned provokingly. ‘I’m sure you’ll figure it out. In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t already.’
The frown became a scowl. ‘There’s no need to be so smug.’
‘I’m not being smug. I am merely being – as you pointed out earlier today – a man.’
That nearly won him a laugh but she held it back.
‘You’re certainly doing your best to be annoying.’
‘Oh I can be much more annoying than this,’ he assured her. And thought, Yes, sweetheart. While you’re busy being irritated you aren’t worrying about Guy and I’m not struggling to keep my hands to myself. ‘Come on, Camilla. What haven’t you considered?’
She stared down at the coded sheets with such fierce intensity Adam was surprised they didn’t burst into flames. Finally, she threw herself back in the chair and said crossly, ‘I don’t know – which is hardly surprising when I never claimed to be an expert at this.’
‘No more have I. And it isn’t about that. Think about what else you know.’
‘Such as what? Oh – just tell me, will you?’
‘You’ll kick yourself.’
‘No. I’ll probably kick you. What am I missing?’
He grinned at her and shrugged. ‘You’re forgetting where the despatch came from.’
‘It came from a spy known as Raven,’ she began. And then stopped, groaning. ‘Oh God. It might be in French. It probably is in French.’
‘Je dirais presque certainement, Mademoiselle.’ Adam tilted his head invitingly. ‘You do speak French, don’t you?’
‘Yes. But not half as well as you, I’m sure.’
‘No. I wouldn’t think so.’ He laughed and held up one hand in a fencer’s gesture of surrender when she gave him a look that would have curdled milk. ‘I’m sorry. Over the last few years I’ve spent a lot of time in France --’ He stopped as the door opened and Rainham strode in with Coombes hovering helplessly behind him. Rising, he said, ‘What’s happened?’
During the ride from Brookland, Rainham had largely recovered from whatever drug he’d ingested. It helped that he was feeling inordinately pleased and optimistic with the way the evening had turned out. He said, ‘Come downstairs, Adam. I’ve brought someone with me and he’s not really fit for Millie’s parlour.’
‘Neither are you,’ observed Camilla trenchantly, ‘yet here you are anyway.’
Adam smothered a laugh. ‘I think you’d better explain.’
‘Very well.’ Turning, Rainham shut the door in Coombes’ astonished face. ‘Thanks to your two troopers, we still hold the fake despatch. Thanks to Finch, we now hold something even better.’ He grinned, his teeth flashing white in his filthy face. ‘Erasmus … alias the Captain … alias Mr Wilson – which is a name I was given at Rye gaol this morning. He’s currently in the hall, bound and under guard by Finch and the footmen.’
‘That,’ said Adam, ‘could change everything.’
‘Precisely. We’ve now got two options. We can try to prise information out of him. And we can coerce him into giving us Guy in exchange for his own freedom.’
‘And if he refuses or doesn’t know where Guy is?’ asked Adam.
‘We gamble on his employer being a member of the Blane family and offer them the exchange,’ shrugged Rainham. ‘It may not be so much of a gamble. One of the valet’s murderers threw up when Blane’s name was mentioned.’
Camilla looked at Adam, her face bright with hope. ‘What shall we do?’
‘Exactly what Rainham has suggested.’
‘Thank you,’ murmured his lordship sardonically. Then, ‘Is there somewhere we can talk to him privately – by which I mean out of earshot of the servants?’
Camilla nodded. ‘There’s a small room off the hall that was supposed to be a place for visitors to wait but is actually never used. And my people do not listen at doors.’
‘Excellent,’ said Rainham. ‘Adam – let’s go.’
‘If you think,’ replied Adam, offering his arm to Camilla, ‘that she is going to stay here with her hands folded in her lap, you are either an idiot or you don’t know her at all. What’s more, I’m fairly sure she’s as capable of putting the fear of God into Erasmus as either of us.’
At the bottom of the stairs, watched by both footmen, Finch had one of Rainham’s pistols pointed at the prisoner. Nodding cheerfully at Adam, he said, ‘The troopers you sent came in handy, sir.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Camilla …?’
‘Through here,’ she said, throwing open the door of a sparsely-furnished room. ‘Candles please, Thomas. And Coombes, assure the household that there is no cause for alarm and that everyone can retire as usual.’
Not looking at all convinced, the butler said, ‘But shouldn’t one of us stay to --?’
‘No. Mr Brandon’s man will be more than sufficient, thank you.’
Inside the dismal little parlour, Rainham pushed Erasmus into a chair and set another one for Camilla some distance away; Finch lounged by the door, Adam perched on the corner of a table and Rainham occupied the space before the empty hearth. Throughout all this Erasmus said not a word.
When the door had closed, silence lingered for a moment or two. Then Adam said, ‘Perhaps we ought to begin with introductions. I am Adam Brandon; the lady, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, is Miss Edgerton-Foxe; and you’ve already met my colleague, Mr Gilbert. Which of the three names we have for you would you like us to use?’
Erasmus said nothing but wariness flickered in his eyes.
‘You weren’t aware that we knew anything about you? No? Then let me enlighten you. Recently, you’ve been calling yourself Erasmus. But you’re also known to some as the Captain and … what was that other name again, Gil?’
‘Wilson,’ came the laconic reply.
Wariness became alarm but still Erasmus said nothing.
‘That’s right. Wilson. And we know this because …?’
‘One of the fellows he sent to murder the late Lord Wingham’s valet told us,’ said Rainham obligingly. ‘Reluctantly, of course … but he got around to it in the end.’
‘Can we please put the civilities to one side and get to the point?’ demanded Camilla. And to Erasmus, ‘I don’t give a fig who you are. I just want to know where my brother is. And unlike these gentlemen, I have very little patience and even fewer scruples.’
‘Did you know,’ murmured Adam to Rainham, ‘that she has a way with kitchen utensils that would make your hair curl?’ And to Erasmus, ‘Do I have to spell it out? No one who might help you knows where you are and you’re going nowhere until we have Guy Edgerton-Foxe. Silence isn’t going to help you; only information will do that. Where is he?’
Erasmus swallowed and finally said, ‘I don’t know.’
‘That won’t help you either,’ said Rainham bluntly. ‘But perhaps you’re forgetting a few things. As of now, we can get you charged with the abduction of the Earl of Alveston’s nephew, complicity in the murder of Lord Wingham’s valet … and, thanks to Raven’s despatch, treason. All three carry the death penalty – even without adding smuggling. So let’s try again, shall we? Where is Guy Edgerton-Foxe?’
Erasmus started at the suddenly harsh tone but said stubbornly, ‘I don’t know.’
Seeing Camilla’s mouth open on some hasty remark, Adam gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Her brows soared but she remained silent.
‘I heard those three words a good many times from Thompson and Sedge before they finally recognised the futility of them,’ Rainham was saying coldly. ‘Since I don’t intend to repeat myself, I suggest you listen very carefully. We know Guy has been helping the smuggling fraternity. We also know you became suspicious of him when Tranter told you about Mr Brandon’s meeting with the Riding Officers at Audley Court and added that the presence of Miss Edgerton-Foxe’s mare in the stables suggested she’d been party to it.’
‘What?’ gasped Camilla. She stared at Erasmus. ‘You decided Guy had betrayed you because somebody saw my horse? Is that really all it took? No other explanation for my presence occurred to you?’
He shifted uneasily and wisely kept his mouth shut.
‘Idiot!’ she snapped. ‘Mr Brandon escorted me to Audley Court so that I might visit my friend, Lady Wingham. As for Guy’s smuggling activities, the first I knew of them was when I received your damned letter. You’ve kidnapped my brother for nothing – because if someone did betray you it certainly wasn’t him!’
‘Which is what I tried to tell you last night,’ said Rainham. ‘But you jumped to conclusions, set someone to watch Guy … and at the first sign of dragoons during the last run, you had him snatched. Wherever he is now is where you had him taken. Make no mistake, sooner or later you will tell us where that is.’
There was a long, eviscerating silence. Finally Adam said idly, ‘This is the point where I’d have thought any sensible man would be proposing a bargain. Something along the lines of ‘Let me go and I’ll give you what you want,’ perhaps?’
‘That assumes both logic and intelligence,’ remarked Camilla acidly. ‘On present showing, he doesn’t have either one.’ She stood up. ‘I’ve had enough of this. I’m going to fetch the cheese-grater.’
Adam stared at the floor, clearing his throat.
God, he thought. Is there another woman anywhere as marvellous as this one?
Erasmus, who presumably had an active imagination, turned a shade or two whiter. He said, ‘Supposing I could tell you where the boy is … would you let me go?’
‘Immediately?’ asked Rainham. ‘Not a chance. Not until we have proof that he’s alive.’
With a tiny, strangled sound which effectively banished any desire Adam might have had to laugh, Camilla subsided into her chair. He stretched out a hand to her and said softly, ‘He had to say it. You know that.’
She nodded and her fingers clung to his for a moment. As soon as she let go, Adam stood up and gestured to the swelling bruise blossoming on Erasmus’s jaw.
‘Your handiwork, Gil?’ he asked.
Rainham shook his head. ‘Much as I’d like to take the credit, it was Finch. He laid our friend here out cold for nearly an hour. Nice job, I thought.’
‘Mm.’ Adam summoned a slow, grim smile and loosened his sword in its sheath. ‘Is Edgerton-Foxe alive? You have five seconds to tell the truth … or trust me, the cheese-grater is going to be vastly preferable to what I’ll do to you.’
‘Yes,’ choked Erasmus, less, Rainham suspected, on account of the sword under Adam’s hand than the look in his eyes. ‘That is, yes – so far as I know he is. Nobody’s been told to – to get rid of him.’
‘Pray you’re right,’ advised Adam. ‘And now tell us where the hell he is. Do not, if you want to end today with all your parts intact, even think of saying you don’t know. You have no idea how much I’d enjoy hurting you.’
Erasmus shut his eyes and gave up. ‘He – he’s on Denge Marsh.’
Camilla was on her feet in an instant. ‘Where on Denge Marsh?’
‘I don’t know.’ And very quickly, ‘I really don’t know. Somewhere near the Pitts to begin with but they’ll have moved him by now. And even if they haven’t, I probably couldn’t be more exact. If you know Denge Marsh, you’ll understand why.’
Adam and Rainham both looked at Camilla. Rainham said, ‘Does that make sense?’
‘Yes.’ She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and then, opening them again, said, ‘The bulk of it lies beyond Lydd. And the only landmark is Lamplough’s Tower at --’
‘What is that?’ asked Rainham.
‘The lighthouse. It stands on the marsh’s furthest extremity. The rest of it is a vast area of nothing. Just clumps of weed growing out of the shingle and the occasional fisherman’s hut. It’s as bleak and ugly a place as you could find. The fishermen sometimes stay there overnight but nobody actually lives there.’
‘Perfect for their purposes, then,’ said Adam. ‘In the morning, I’ll see that the dragoons and anyone else who’s been heading a search party is told where to concentrate their efforts.’ He smiled at Camilla. ‘With luck, we might have Guy home in time for dinner.’
‘I hope so.’ She gestured to Erasmus. ‘What shall we do with him?’
‘Lock him in the cellar till morning,’ said Rainham. ‘I have quite a few more questions for him … beginning with his full name and that of the person he’s working for.’
Alarm flickered behind Erasmus’s eyes.
‘You won’t get that from me – not ever!’
‘We’ll see … tomorrow. You might want to use the night to contemplate the fact that, in order to hook a really big fish, the law is sometimes inclined to let the minnows slip through the net. Not always, of course – but sometimes.’
It was no surprise to find Thomas sitting on a chair in the hall. As soon as Camilla appeared, he rose saying, ‘I waited up in case you needed anything, Miss Millie.’
‘Thank you. As it happens, I do. We need secure accommodation for the man Mr Gilbert brought here. It doesn’t have to be comfortable.’
‘The small cellar, maybe? There’s not much in there barring a few empty boxes. It’s a bit damp but it’s got a stout door and a lock – and the only way out is through the kitchen.’
‘Perfect. Show Mr Brandon and Mr Gilbert the way, please.’ She turned, and finding Adam at her shoulder said, ‘Ought someone to keep watch – just in case?’
‘Perhaps. But leave Rainham and me to worry about that. Why don’t you go to bed? You look exhausted.’
‘I am tired,’ she admitted, ‘but I don’t think I could sleep.’
‘Then at least sit down with a glass of wine. I’ll join you when our guest is safely bestowed.’
‘If Rainham wants to stay the night or leave your man here --’
‘Thomas and I will see to it. Just go.’
For possibly the first time ever, Camilla merely nodded and did as he told her.
Adam didn’t know whether to be glad or worried. As he had done earlier, he found himself dwelling on her courage and remarkable strength of character. She had lost her parents in a freak accident and spent the last forty-eight hours knowing that she might lose her brother as well. Most ladies would have given way to fear and confusion by now. They wouldn’t have concentrated on forging a French despatch or gone running across a muddy field to rescue a sheep or let him provoke a ridiculous argument. Camilla Edgerton-Foxe’s spine had as much steel in it as his sword … and that made her unique.
When he entered the drawing-room some half hour later, she was curled up on the sofa but still wide awake. She said, ‘What’s happening?’
‘Rainham has left – mostly in order to shed those disgusting clothes. He’ll be back early tomorrow. Finch is staying and he, Thomas and I will share the night watch. There’s nothing for you to worry about and nothing at all for you to do … so give your busy brain a rest. Or, if you can’t, tell me about Denge Marsh.’
She blinked. ‘There’s very little I can usefully say. There are one or two hamlets inland of Lydd but on the main expanse towards the sea, aside from the brick kilns, there’s nothing. Just a vast area built up over the centuries from the accumulated silt and shingle brought in by periodic flooding. And it’s prone to fog.’
‘It sounds charming.’
She gave a weak laugh but said, ‘It’s not. But … do you really think we might find Guy tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow might be a bit too optimistic but soon, I hope. First thing in the morning, I’ll speak with Lieutenant Prentiss while Rainham visits the magistrate and the Lord of the Level. Then both he and I will spend another hour or so questioning Erasmus before going out ourselves. Everyone will be told to report any findings to you here.’
‘I’m not superfluous, then?’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘Rainham thinks I am,’ she grumbled. ‘He’d keep me out of this whole affair if he could and wouldn’t have even let me in the same room as Erasmus if you hadn’t made him.’
‘He can’t help it. His instincts and his upbringing are both geared towards shielding ladies from anything remotely unpleasant.’
‘And yours aren’t?’
‘Mine are more flexible. Not all women flourish inside a protective shell. You wouldn’t.’ He hesitated and then, with a hint of mordant humour, added, ‘But obviously I’d prefer you didn’t court serious risk … if only in the interests of self-preservation.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning that, if necessary, I’d put my body in front of yours,’ he said matter-of-factly. ‘But naturally I’d rather not have to.’