‘I am sure she does, but whether her testimony would acquit or damn me I cannot say. I will have to talk to her again.’
Lady Phyllida had been sitting silently beside her husband, but now she leaned forward.
‘You must have a care, sir.’
‘I am always careful.’
‘Not careful enough.’ She handed him a folded newspaper. ‘There is a piece here about you.’
Wolf read the report, his frown deepening.
‘It claims you have been sighted in town,’ said Richard. ‘It also says the reward still stands. With such an incentive to find you, it can only be a matter of time before posters for your arrest are seen on the streets again.’
‘You are quite right.’ Wolf threw the paper aside. ‘My guess is that Urmston has a hand in this. For all his weasel words to me I believe he wants me hanged.’
‘What will you do?’ asked Phyllida.
Wolf shrugged. ‘If it was not for my daughter I would return to France now.’
‘And leave Arrandale without a master?’
‘You could fulfil that role, Richard.’
‘Dam—dash it all, Wolf, I do not want it!’
Phyllida laid a hand on her husband’s arm as she turned to address Wolf.
‘Let us help you, sir, for your daughter’s sake.’ She added quietly, ‘Little Florence is a lovely child and she looks a great deal like you.’
‘You have seen her?’ said Wolf eagerly.
‘Yes.’ Phyllida nodded. ‘We have been to Chantreys to visit the Davenports.’
‘And...’ Wolf bit his lip ‘...is she happy?’
‘She would be happier if she knew her papa, I am sure.’
Wolf stared at his sister-in-law. He did not want to involve them, but what choice did he have? At last he nodded.
‘Very well, Richard. Write to Lady Hune, let her contact her lawyers, but if they say there is no hope then I will leave England. I would prefer to end my life in exile than on the gallows.’
* * *
It was gone midnight when he left Richard’s house and hailed a hackney coach. He instructed the driver to drop him on the corner of Bench Lane. Halfway along the narrow passage the lights of the tavern were still burning. Muffled in his greatcoat and with his hat pulled low over his brow, Wolf entered and sought out the landlord. A short while later he was making his way to his lodgings, a folded note in his pocket and the first stirrings of hope that his luck was about to change.
