“What difference does that make? I'm a parliamentarian's daughter. Do you think I don't know how to make political gain? To twist things to my own purposes? A word in the ear of a tavern owner, a whisper to a newspaper owner, and soon we have scandal that benefits me immensely.”
“Miss WhâMrs. Stirling, how could a scandal involving Mr. Boyce possibly benefit you? Presumably you don't even know him.”
“No, but I did know you. And I knew from Wesley that you were squiring about with him. He was with you at my Wesley's end, wasn't he? So to ruin him would be to ruin you, a most agreeable outcome. Combined with my other actions against you, well, something was sure to work and lead to your arrest.”
“My arrest for
what?
”
“Why, for your involvement in the Cato Street Conspiracy. What the authorities didn't understand is that you pushed Wesley into it, and allowed him to take the blame for
your
activities.”
“What you're saying is completely false. I knew nothing of Wesley's involvement with Arthur Thistlewood.”
Darcey lifted a shoulder. “No matter. I just needed others to know the truth of the matter. Although thus far nothing has worked properly. Which is why I had to come visit you myself.”
“I don't understand. Why did you need me wrongly implicated in the Cato Street affair?”
“Wrongly, dear sister-in-law?” Darcey's smile was that of a demon. “My life was ruined when Wesley went to jail. I wanted you to hang, so that you would have the justice you deserve for throwing Wesley to the hounds and not bringing your supposed influence to bear in getting him released from Newgate.”
Belle was speechless.
Darcey's voice dropped to nearly a whisper. “Not only that, I am laying claim to this lovely shop for myself as the nearest Stirling kin. A suitable inheritance, since Wesley didn't see fit to leave me his pipe. I must speak to him about his oversight when I meet him later for supper.” She sighed. “But as I was saying, others have refused to take the action I have been calling for. You aren't arrested, you aren't on trial, and you most definitely are not hanged. And I intend to correct matters. Now.”
Belle changed her mind.
This woman was dangerous.
And no one in the world knows that I'm trapped in here with her.
Â
Put turned, the long compartment still in his hand.
Lord Harrowby. Couldn't the man have stayed away just ten more minutes?
“I asked, who are you, and what the devil are you doing in my home? Quickly, before I have you arrested.”
“I'm Putnam Boyce, sir. I'm the cabinetmaker who was contracted to build this secretary.”
“What of it? How dare you skulk your way into my home and paw through my desk. You'll be fortunate if you're not on the gallows by morning.”
“Yes, sir. I'll be on the gallows anyway if I don't clear my name of the Cato Street Conspiracy. I made the secret compartment of this desk and I simply need to check it to ensure there aren't any secret documents in it that might exonerate me.”
“Lord Liverpool and I have already thoroughly searched out the desk, and found the compartment you're holding. Look inside, you'll see that it's empty. All the documents held in the desk were presented as evidence in court.”
Put looked down. The main opening was, indeed, cleared of its contents.
“Yes, sir. Howeverâ”
“I can't understand why everyone is still so blasted concerned about Cato Street. First that street woman, now you.”
“What street woman?”
“Some vagrant. Never gave me her name, but made reference to one of the conspirators. Let's see, which one was it? Shipley? Sparling? No, Stirling, it was Stirling. Now I remember. She said that Stirling was actually an innocent, having been goaded into the conspiracy by his sister. I rightfully dismissed the woman as being mentally unsound. She insisted on this sister's guilt, though. You say you were the cabinetmaker Stirling contracted to make the secretary. Do you know this sister?”
“I do.”
“Could she be guilty?”
“No, my lord. It is impossible that Annabelle Stirling be guilty of anything.”
“Is that so? And you claim innocence for yourself, as well? Very convenient for a man who has used subterfuge to enter my home. Poisonous varnish, wasn't it?”
Put sensed that this board could warp in either direction. It was up to him to make sure it lay even. Calm and steady pressure was required.
“My apologies, Lord Harrowby, for my intrusion. However, I ask your indulgence. If you would kindly extend me just one more moment of grace while I examine the rest of the secret compartment, assuredly I can put your mind at rest.”
“But I've already told you, Lord Liverpool and I emptied the compartment. It's empty.”
“If I may?”
Harrowby nodded at him impatiently.
Put held up the box and slid up the secret back panel that revealed the long, narrow space beneath the emptied section. Harrowby gasped. “It would seem I was mistaken.”
The closest Put would get to an apology from an aristocrat.
Inside was a sheaf of tightly rolled paper. Put fished it out, struggling to work his large index finger into the narrow space. He finally got a corner pulled out, and the rest followed easily.
Placing the secret compartment on the floor, he unrolled the papers out on the desk, holding them flat with his hands. “My lord, this is what I was hoping for: Wesley Stirling's journal. Shall we read together?”
“Yes, yes, of course. Let me light a lamp.”
The cabinetmaker and the earl stood shoulder to shoulder and read Wesley Stirling's final writings.
It was a long chronicle detailing Wesley's struggles, disappointments, fall into opium addiction, his love affair with a woman named Darcey White, and his ultimate entanglement with Arthur Thistlewood at Miss White's behest.
But it was the end of the journal that concerned Put the most.
... Dââis consumed with the notion that Belle is the source of my difficulties. When we are together after indulging ourselves with opium, I can believe it to be true. But when I separate myself from Dââ, I wonder if, in fact, my sister isn't necessarily the harpy Dââenvisions her to be.
It is very confusing sometimes.
My great hope is that Mr. Thistlewood's plan succeeds, and that a new government is formed in which I will be his trusted advisor. I will finally be my own man, and perhaps Dââwill be content to stop her persecutions of my sister. Only then will I decide if I can live with her as man and wife.
If our plan fails, and I hesitate to look into my future if it does, I worry that Dââwill attempt something vindictive against Bââ. Yet I cannot warn Bâânow, lest I place Dââin trouble.
Dââhas been to the shop to covertly visit Belle. I'm not sure I approve of Dââinspecting my sister without her knowledge. Dââis capable of great hostility, I believe, and I dread to think of what she might do under failed circumstancesâ
“Good Lord,” Put said. “This woman is unhinged. She must be the source of all the rumors. Miss Stirling might be in grave danger at this very moment.”
“I'm afraid it's going to be of no concern to the government, Boyce. We achieved our aim of destroying the conspiracy, and no one will take up the cause of a quarrel between a conspirator's doxy and his sister.”
So that was how the board was warping. Very well. When could a peer be trusted either for payment or for justice?
To his credit, Harrowby flinched under Put's hard stare. He held up his hands. “I can't help you, Boyce. My regrets.”
Put got up wordlessly, folded the papers, and pressed them into Harrowby's hand. “Have my tools sent back to my shop on Curtain Road,” he barked at the Earl of Harrowby, who meekly nodded.
Once again, Put fled into the streets of London, where it was now raining with malicious force. Ignoring the soaking downpour, he ran like an overflowing river, jumping over and around anything in his path on his way to Oxford Street.
Â
Darcey could hardly believe her moment had come. The flicker of fear in Annabelle Stirling's eyes was a glorious sight to behold.
“What do you want from me?” Belle asked.
Yes, there was fear in her eyes, but not enough of it to suit Darcey. Wesley's sister had always been too uppity, too sure of herself. She had to be brought to her knees first.
“I want you to beg for your life before I kill you.”
Belle's gaze shifted to the other end of the counter and back to Darcey. This wouldn't do at all. Belle Stirling wasn't nearly frightened enough.
“I'll not beg anything from you,” Wesley's sister said. Spat, was more like it. It was time to get this arrogant biddy under control.
“You'll do as I say. Everyone always does, eventually.”
“I've never paid attention to foolishness, and I don't intend to start today.”
How dare she accuse Darcey of being a fool. “Do you think I'm not intelligent enough to bring you grief? Who do you think left that stinking pile of garbage in front of the shop, and hired those boys to smash your windows? Who would have suggested that you be recruited by other groups wanting to overthrow the government? They were all my brilliant ideas, you know.”
“You're insane.”
“I'm as sound as anyone, and certainly more so than a feather-brain who couldn't figure out how to save her brother.” Ha, what a fine dig at Wesley's sister.
“You know nothing of my relationship with Wesley. And I prefer to know nothing of yours.”
“Then perhaps I should give you deep, intimate detail. About our long nights together at the Horse and Groom. And how I had him completely at my mercy. He did whatever I told him to do.”
“Stop this, now.”
“In fact, no act was too dangerous for my Wesley when it came to my desires. I held complete power over his weak mind.”
“Don't you dare speak ill of my brother.”
At the loud crack that rang in her ears, Darcey stopped, stunned. It was unbelievable. Wesley's sister had just struck her in the mouth with her fist.
Darcey put a hand to her lips and looked at her fingers, which came away bloody. “How dare you! You nasty little drab. Killing you will be my greatest happiness.”
“This will not be my last day on the Lord's earth.”
“That's a lot of bluster from someone who isn't the one holding this.” Darcey held up the blade and pointed it at Belle, smiling.
Belle took a step backward. Much better.
“I'm going to slice out your guts and feed them to my dog. I'm going to cut off your head and carry it through London on a pike. I'm going toâ”
Darcey was so busy enumerating her planned acts of humiliation for Belle's dead body that she didn't notice the draper pick up a large wood spindle from the counter until it was too late. Belle swung it at her, but missed, and it fell to the ground.
How dare this twit attempt to strike Darcey White, twice?
Darcey shoved the knife back into its pouch. Why hurry things?
She picked the spindle up. “Your aim is off.” She swung it herself, with much better accuracy. Belle's head hit the counter with a satisfying crack before she crumpled to the floor.
But before Darcey could finish her off with the knife she intended to plunge as far into Belle's heart as she could, she was distracted by a terrible clamoring at the door behind her.
Go away,
she thought.
The Stirling Drapers shop is not open for business
.
But the banging went on endlessly, distracting her from her important task with the prone figure before her.
She tucked the knife back in its pouch once again and turned to see who was creating so much fuss. At that moment, the door crashed open and a thoroughly soaked man came barreling inside.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
“Wesley, sweetheart! I didn't expect you to meet me here. I'm almost finished with matters here, and then we can sup together.”
Wesley looked at Belle's fallen form, then back to Darcey. She smiled and held out her arms. How proud he must be of what she'd accomplished here thus far.
“Kiss me, love. Ignore that little bit of nastiness on my mouth. Your sister here”âshe nudged Belle with her footâ“was a little spirited and thought she could best me. But we see who is more powerful now, don't we?”