Page 101 of No One's Bride
“You mean bribed.” Mr Daventry relaxed back in the chair. “You gave Hibbet this apartment when you persuaded him to work for you. Doubtless Mangold’s interest in the occult gave you the idea of using a grimoire to deliver your coded messages.”
A sly smile darkened Mr Chadwick’s features. “Hibbet convinced me he was my son. That’s why he had the apartment.”
“That’s not what he wrote in his confession.” With languid grace, Mr Daventry pulled his watch from his pocket and glanced at the time. “By now, your daughter and butler will be under arrest for high treason. When faced with the gallows, you’d be surprised how quickly a knot of secrets unravels.”
The lie had a marked effect on Mr Chadwick. With a growl of frustration, he pulled a pistol from his surtout pocket and cocked the hammer.
“They won’t find my butler at home. My daughter will have taken her nightly dose of laudanum and won’t hear a thing.” He took aim. “Other than a spy’s confession, you’ve no proof I’ve committed a crime. All I need do is shoot you, steal your gold watch and throw you into the alley.”
Mr Daventry didn’t even flinch. “Then before you pull the trigger, explain what made an upstanding citizen betray his country.”
Believing he had the upper hand, Mr Chadwick gave an arrogant shrug. “Money. What else? I’ve no loyalties to the Crown.”
“And you killed Hibbet because he developed a conscience.”
“I killed Hibbet because he took my money while stabbing me in the back,” he snapped, his anger rising like a tempest. “He’s been planning my downfall for months. There’s nothing as contemptible as a deceitful friend.”
Had Mr Hibbet been prepared to die?
Why did he not write a confession and flee to America?
Perhaps because the police force had to investigate a murder.
“Why feign illness?” Mr Daventry seemed eager for answers but was struck by a moment of clarity. “Ah, I understand your reasoning. Murden manages the auction house. He’s the one who sold the grimoire. How could you have known about it while delirious and confined to your bed?”
Mr Chadwick snorted. “Murden’s a fool. He’s auctioned four grimoires this year and never questioned where they came from or why Mangold purchased every copy. And then Mangold holds meetings with his sorcerer’s apprentices, not knowing a French spy is amongst them analysing the text.”
Mr Daventry laughed. “You’re the fool. You’ll leave this room dead or in shackles. When the authorities have the list, they’ll arrest your colleagues.”
Mr Chadwick appeared confused. “How do you plan to achieve this impressive feat when I’m aiming a pistol at your head? With magic?”
“With logic. Only a fool would presume I’m here alone.”
Mr Chadwick jerked and stepped back while scanning the shadows. His gaze came to a crashing halt at the closed curtain, sending Ailsa’s heartbeat skittering.
“Then perhaps I’ll shoot your colleague.”
Before the villain came closer, Ailsa slipped out from behind the curtain, her pocket pistol raised. “Put yer pistol down, sir, or I will shoot.”
Mr Chadwick took one look at the small pistol and laughed. “You couldn’t kill a cat with that thing.” His tone turned sinister. “You will give me the list and let me leave, or I will shoot her.”
Events took a sudden turn.
Everything happened simultaneously.
A book came hurtling through the air, catching Mr Chadwick by surprise. He instinctively fired, the lead ball blowing a hole in the ceiling. Mr Daventry threw a dagger, the blade hitting the devil in the leg. Ailsa fired, the small lead ball striking Mr Chadwick in the upper arm, causing him to drop his weapon.
Like a panther in the darkness, Mr Chance came charging out of the bedchamber. He leapt onto the desk and launched himself at the blackguard, one punch knocking Mr Chadwick out cold.
Ailsa expected a moment of calm to catch her breath, but an agitated Mr Daventry raced to the window and stared out onto Broad Street.
“What is it, sir?”
Was he looking for the watchman?
Having the power of second sight, had he arranged for the magistrate to arrive with ten blue-coated constables in tow?
“We need to leave. We need to leave now.” The panic in his voice made her blood run cold. “We’ll bring Chadwick with us.”
