John Duck and his wife were delighted to have Sally back in the fold again. Mrs Duck was a warm, motherly woman who fussed over her sister-in-law, finding a thick blanket to wrap around her, for the walk through the streets had left Sally drained of what strength she possessed and she had slumped against Bess in the hackney they had finally found. The kindly woman led her through the long room where her husband tutored his pupils while maintaining a constant flow of reassuring chatter. The fencing master remained with Flynt, Gabriel and Bess, tears shining as he watched his sister gave him a wan smile at the door leading to the private apartments at the rear before she vanished, Mrs Duck’s arm around her offering both support and protection.
He stared at the doorway for a moment, then turned to Flynt and held out his hand. ‘I was wrong about you, Mr Flynt. I thought you to be a villain.’
Ignoring Bess’s sharp little laugh, Flynt accepted the man’s grip. ‘You may not be wrong, Mr Duck.’
‘You bring me my sister, safe and sound. You’re no villain and we’ll be eternally grateful for the service you have done my family this night.’
Bess interjected, ‘Don’t deceive yourself, mister, for he don’t do it out of the goodness of his heart. He wants what Sally knows, he does.’
‘I regret that Bess speaks the truth, Mr Duck,’ Flynt admitted.
Duck displayed neither surprise nor disappointment, for Flynt had already stated such that afternoon. ‘Mr Templeton, correct?’
‘Aye. And I would have words with her now, if I may.’
‘Does it have to be at this moment?’
‘Time is short, Mr Duck. We’ve dealt with the brothers you’ve already encountered, but they may not be the only ones seeking Mr Templeton. If Sally has any knowledge of his whereabouts, I must have it if I am to save him.’
Duck gave the doorway another glance. ‘She is tired, undernourished. I see the terror still burns in her eyes. She needs care and attention right now.’
‘I understand that, but though she’s warm in the bosom of your family, she’s not yet secure.’
The fencing master frowned, still unconvinced. ‘Do you really believe she knows where he is?’
Flynt was truthful. ‘Perhaps not. Mr Templeton may have urged her to hide herself as a precaution. But if she does know his present location, if she even has some minor indicator, then other men will come after her. You said you will gather forces here to protect her, but the best protection she can have is if I find him. After that, the enemy will have no interest in your sister.’
‘I would listen to Jonas, Mr Duck,’ Cain said. ‘He has your sister’s interests at heart…’
That brought another disdainful snort from Bess, provoking a glare from Gabriel. Duck looked at Cain as if noticing him for the first time. His eyes narrowed. ‘I do not believe I know you, sir, but feel I have seen you before. Have we met previous?’
‘I’ve not had the honour, Mr Duck, but I’m no stranger to these streets, though I have been absent from them for some time. Gabriel Cain is my name, at your, and your sister’s, service.’
Duck tilted his head, as if still trying to place him. ‘You assisted in finding my sister?’
‘I played but a small part, Jonas here was the driving force,’ Cain said, with uncharacteristic modesty. Flynt knew why – Duck had to trust Flynt, so he was playing down his not inconsiderable role in the affair. He bowed his head slightly in his friend’s direction.
Duck gestured to the dried blood on his shoulder. ‘You are wounded?’
‘A trifle,’ Cain said, glancing towards Bess. ‘I’ve been far more wounded by a woman’s tongue.’
‘And with cause, I’ll wager,’ Bess snapped.
That drew Duck’s attention to Bess. ‘And you are Sally’s friend?’
Bess puffed herself up. ‘I is the only friend she has here, apart from you, of course, sir. You wants my advice, don’t be trusting this pair. They will tell you what you wish to hear, show concern for Sally’s wellbeing, but they is in this for themselves.’
‘That is true, Mr Duck,’ Flynt said, ‘I seek this information because I’m being paid to do so. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that Mr Templeton is in danger and by extension your sister.’
‘From whom?’
‘That’s what I must find out from Mr Templeton. But the danger is very real, on that I pledge my oath.’
Duck’s teeth worried at the side of his mouth as he looked from Flynt to Cain and Bess, then to the door through which his wife had taken Sally. Finally, he reached a decision with a nod.
Mrs Duck may have been kindly, but she was also formidable. She opposed her husband’s decision to allow Flynt to speak with Sally but he assured her that it would only be for a short while. Finally she accepted it but stood on the other side of the small bed in a little room at the rear of the building and warded Flynt off with a look that rivalled cannonade for potency.
Flynt perched on the edge of the bed. Sally had been dressed in a clean nightgown and her hair had been brushed.
‘I will be serving her some broth soon,’ said Mrs Duck to her husband, but the words were for Flynt’s benefit. ‘And then she needs to rest. She is wore out, she is, the poor lamb. She don’t need to be kept awake answering no questions.’
Flynt looked directly at Sally and got straight to the point. ‘Sally, I’ve done what I promised to do, brought you to safety. Now you need to tell me where Chris is hiding.’
Despite being in her brother’s care, she remained frightened. ‘I don’t know, honest I don’t.’
Flynt knew she was lying. He could tell by the way her eyes couldn’t settle on him. Yes, she was scared, but that was an evasion. He struggled to keep his voice soft. His normal course of action in such situations was to take a more direct, often physical approach, but he couldn’t apply such measures here, even if he wanted to. ‘Sally, he must have told you something…’
A shake of the head. ‘No, he said I must hide myself ’cos there would be men who would want to use me to get to him and he had to take himself away, to think, is what he said.’
‘And he gave you no clue as to where?’
‘He said it best I didn’t know.’
Flynt still didn’t believe her. ‘I must know, if I am to assist him…’
Mrs Duck’s voice was firm. ‘She’s already told you, sir, she don’t know where he is. Now leave her be.’
Flynt paid the woman no heed and added some steel to his voice. ‘Chris will be killed, Sally. They will find him and they will kill him and they will not be gentle about it. And before that, they will come here and they will kill you and they will kill John and they will kill Mrs Duck.’ When Mrs Duck began to object Flynt held up a hand. ‘I apologise for my bluntness but that’s the way of it. The Trasks are out of it now but I told you there will be others and they won’t show mercy. They won’t stop, believe me. The only way to prevent it is if I find Chris and take him to safety.’ He returned his attention to Sally, who had listened wide-eyed, the terror having returned full strength. His conscience stirred but he had little time to tiptoe around her. ‘Your brother understands this, which is why he’s allowed me access to you, and I need you to understand it too.’
Her eyes dropped from him to the quilt covering her and idly picked at a thread.
‘I want you out of here, sir,’ said Mrs Duck. ‘Leave the girl be. She don’t have nothing to say, don’t know what you need to know. Give her peace.’
Flynt stared at Sally, willing her to break her silence, but she did not. He felt John Duck’s hand on his shoulder. ‘Come, Mr Flynt, you will not get what you want this night.’
He rose and allowed the man to guide him to the door. He gave the young woman one last intense look but she hadn’t moved, all she did was stare at that bed covering as though it held secrets worthy of study by the Royal Society.
John Duck closed the door gently and motioned Flynt away from it. They were almost back at the fencing school when he stopped and said, ‘Let me speak with her, Mr Flynt. If she has the information you require I will get it.’
‘How?’
‘I’m her brother, and once we were close. I raised her when our parents died. She has become a poor creature but my sister Sally lives in that body still, of such I am certain. I will reach her, I assure you, and if she knows where Mr Templeton is then I will discover it.’
Flynt was aware that he had little choice so he nodded his agreement. ‘I’d move her from that room into the centre of the apartments, if you can,’ he advised. ‘It’s too close to the rear of the building, and that small window is a defence weakness, so if there is any attempt to gain access she is vulnerable.’
Duck saw the sense in the strategy. ‘I will have her moved into my own chamber. It has no windows and one strong door.’
‘That will be easier to defend. Have you others coming to assist?’
‘Word has been sent. My wife’s brother and his two sons will be here presently. They’re strong lads, worthy lads, and I’ve tutored them myself in the use of blades long and short. Believe me, Mr Flynt, they’re more than capable of keeping her safe.’
Flynt believed him. Despite what he had said in that room, Sally was far safer from any further attempts against her wellbeing than she had ever been. He told John Duck where he could be reached and rejoined Cain and Bess. He was tired and needed rest but he had another call to make before he could lay down his head.