Chapter Nine
The officers in the prison were surprised to see Grace and Richard back again so soon, but a few coins slipped into waiting palms gained them immediate access. This time they were escorted to the cells, ranged along a corridor with numerous heavy wooden doors on one side, each with a small grille through which the prisoner might be observed.
‘Welcome to my new abode,’ said Wolf, when they were shown in and the door firmly locked behind them. ‘Did you see Kennet on your way in? He left only a short time ago.’ He looked about him. ‘An excellent valet. He brought me fresh clothes as well as my purse, which has purchased me this cell. It isn’t a palace, but at least it has a window and blankets on the bed. And I have a table and chair, so pray be seated, Miss Duncombe. Perhaps I could see if they can provide tea...’
‘Stop playing the fool,’ said Richard impatiently. ‘We do not have time for this.’
‘No, of course.’ Wolf sobered immediately. ‘Did you discover anything at Meesden’s lodgings?’
Wolf listened intently to his brother’s recital of what they had found and at the end his countenance was forbidding.
‘I am more than ever convinced that Urmston is behind all this,’ he muttered.
‘I am certain of it,’ retorted Richard. ‘We have just seen him coming out of the coffee house with the magistrate. They looked as thick as thieves.’
‘Well, that explains why he lured me to Southwark to meet Meesden,’ said Wolf. ‘He wanted me delivered up to Hatcham, whom he could trust to keep me locked away until the trial. That way I have little chance to prove my innocence.’
‘Then we must do so,’ said Grace. ‘We could advertise, put up bills asking for witnesses to the murder, offer a reward.’
‘I doubt you would have any success,’ Wolf replied. ‘We would need nothing short of a full confession from the real killer for a jury to find me not guilty.’
‘We are pretty sure who it is, so I will extract one from the villain!’ was Richard’s savage response.
Wolf shook his head. ‘Urmston will have thought of that. He will be on his guard, ready to use any attempt to intimidate him as further evidence of my guilt. By heaven, I begin to think it will take a miracle to extricate myself from this fix!’
Richard laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘We shall get you out of here, Wolfgang, never fear. I expect our great-aunt Sophia to be in London very soon.’
‘That is good news,’ declared Grace. ‘The support of the Dowager Marchioness of Hune can only help our cause.’
She looked so much more cheerful that Wolf kept silent, but he doubted even Lady Hune’s money and influence could help him now.
‘If only we knew who stole the diamonds,’ he exclaimed. ‘That would be one less charge to contend.’
‘But Meesden said they werenotstolen,’ Grace reminded him.
‘Aye, so she did.’ Wolf paced the small cell, his brow furrowing as the thoughts chased through his head. ‘Perhaps...’
‘Perhaps they are still at Arrandale,’ said Grace, her face lighting up.
‘But if Meesden knew where, Urmston may have forced her to tell him,’ argued Richard.
‘There is that,’ said Wolf. ‘But he won’t have had a chance to get them. Richard, you must go to Arrandale immediately. Urmston will remain in town until his tame magistrate has committed me for trial, but once he knows I am safely locked up he will go in search of the necklace.’
Richard shook his head. ‘I need to be here with you. I’ll ask Lady Hune to go directly to Arrandale.’
‘By heaven, Richard, you cannot do that, Sophia is an old lady.’
‘But she is indomitable, Brother, and she has a large and impressive retinue to protect her. If I explain everything, she will keep the villain out.’
The distant chime of a clock floated in through the unglazed window. Wolf looked up.
‘Is Phyllida waiting in the carriage, Richard? You should go. Do not worry about me, there is nothing more to be done tonight.’
Grace rose and held out her hand. It fluttered like a wild bird in his grasp.
‘I shall come back tomorrow, sir.’
‘You would be advised to stay away.’ He saw the obstinate set of her mouth and added, ‘Truly, such attention would give rise to speculation. I would not have you become the subject of such gossip.’
