‘Yes, and I think I know by whom, although I cannot prove it while I am locked in here.’
‘Then we must do it for you,’ declared Grace.
Her vehemence touched him, but he hid it behind a rueful smile and a light word.
‘I fear I have led you woefully astray, Miss Duncombe. What would your fiancé say if he knew you were here?’
‘He would want justice, as I do.’
‘But not at the expense of your reputation.’
‘At any expense!’
She looked so resolute that his heart swelled.
‘Why were you both at Vauxhall last night?’ he asked.
‘Miss Duncombe suspected a trick.’
A tinge of colour stole into Grace’s cheeks. ‘Your note said Annie Meesden had sent you word, but I distinctly remember she cut you off before you could tell her how to contact you.’
‘Yes, I realised that, too, but only later, after I was locked up. A stupid error on my part.’
‘So who did know how to contact you?’ asked Richard. ‘Apart from myself?’
Wolf met his eye. ‘Sir Charles Urmston. I foolishly thought he might have information that could help me, so I told him how to reach me.’
‘By Jove, that makes perfect sense!’ exclaimed Richard. ‘But how did he know where to find the woman?’
‘I am not sure,’ said Wolf slowly. ‘I know he was looking for Annie Meesden, because he asked me if I knew anything of her. I did not tell him and I made sure we were not followed when we went to see her the other day. So either he picked up her trail or—’
He broke off, but it was too late.
‘Or someone told him her direction,’ said Grace. She put her hands to her face, a look of horror shadowing her eyes. ‘If only I had not pressed you to set up a pension for her.’
Richard looked from one to the other. ‘What is this?’
‘After we had seen Meesden I persuaded your brother to arrange a small annuity for her,’ explained Grace. ‘For that he had to tell his lawyer where she was living.’
‘There is nothing to say Baylis passed on that information,’ said Wolf quickly.
Grace shook her head. ‘You said yourself this man, Urmston, first came up to you directly outside the offices of Baylis & Thistle and at that stage—apart from Aunt Eliza and myself—the only person who knew you were in London was your lawyer. Perhaps it was inadvertently done.’
‘Whatever it was I think the Arrandales will be finding themselves another lawyer,’ exclaimed Wolf wrathfully.
‘Yes, well, I have been thinking that myself,’ said Richard. ‘I have suspected for years that Baylis has been creaming off the profits from your estate but nothing could be proved, and with you still nominally head of the family I couldn’t turn him off, either. I will deal with him, don’t worry, but for now we need to get you out of here.’
‘You won’t do it. Hatcham as good as told me last night I am here until my trial.’
And he expects me to hang.
He stopped himself from saying the words aloud and he met Richard’s eye, sending him a silent message not to give Grace any more reason to worry.
His brother nodded. ‘We shall make enquiries on your behalf, Wolf. Our first call will be Meesden’s lodgings. Miss Duncombe has a gown to collect and we shall see if we can learn anything there.’
‘Good,’ said Wolf. ‘You had best find Kennet, too. He will be at my rooms in Half Moon Street. Tell him what has occurred and ask him to bring some money. At least I may buy some comforts in this hellhole.’
He was giving them directions when a burly turnkey came in to tell them their time was up.
