Page 72 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“My men haveinterviewed the fishermen who found the body and the witnesses who watched them bring her in,” Wooten said. “I’ll wait here for the coroner’s man, but the lot of you might as well go home. The landlord says there is a livery down the street. They likely have a traveling carriage big enough for you to get the ladies home in better comfort than the police wagon.”
“It’s a good idea,” Niall said with a nod. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
In less than an hour, they were all bundled in a relatively roomy coach and heading west again. Kara fell asleep at once, her head on his shoulder. Beth stared stonily out the window while Gyda kept a watchful, assessing eye on her.
They went first to Lake Nemi. The sun was high and the morning half gone by the time they arrived. Kara stirred awake to bid the others a good day’s rest. Rob handed both Gyda and Beth out of the carriage. He paused to turn back while the women headed for the door. “I’m going to stay here,” he said quietly to Niall. “Gyda thinks we both need to keep an eye on Beth. She’s going to clear it with Emelia.”
“It’s not a bad thought,” Niall mused. “We’ll go to Adams Street for a few hours’ rest, then we’ll meet you all back here so we can decide our next course of action.”
Beside him, Kara had leaned forward to stare out the window. “There is someone in the servants’ stairway.”
She still sounded sleepy. Niall glanced past Rob’s shoulder. Gyda had gone into the house, but Beth had paused on the walk, glancing back at them, perhaps waiting for Rob. Niall noted the gray tweed cap of the man climbing out of the servants’ stairwell entrance and rounding the corner at the top with his hand on the railing. “It’s likely a grocer, isn’t it?” he answered his wife. “Speaking with the cook, perhaps.”
But Kara was suddenly alert and awake, leaning out to push Rob aside, staring at the man in the cap, who had turned to approach Beth.
Niall saw Beth stiffen at the same time he heard Kara gasp.
“It’s him!” She gave Rob a push. “Help her! That’s Royston!”
Rob whirled as the man in the cap grabbed Beth’s arm and started to pull her back the way he’d come, away from the carriage.
“Holy Mother of—” Rob shouted, and started to run. “Oi! Get your hands off her!”
Frantically, Niall pulled Kara out of the way and leapt out, setting off after his friend.
Royston tried to pull Beth into a run, but she dug in, dragging her feet and screaming curses at him. With a shout of frustration, he flung her away, snarling at her, then turned to flee.
Rob pounded after him.
Niall paused to steady Beth on her feet. “Are you all right?” At her breathless nod, he let go and set off in pursuit of the other two.
Odin’s arse, Royston was faster than Niall would have suspected. He’d pulled ahead of Rob as they ran down the pavement on New Street.
Niall realized why as Royston plowed through a group of nannies and their charges, and Rob was left to dodge through the confused, irritated crowd. Niall veered around them and was on Rob’s heels as Royston turned right into St. Martin’s Lane.
They followed, pulling up a bit as they hit the increased traffic,both pedestrian and in the street.
“Where is he?” gasped Niall.
“There!” Rob pointed.
Royston had darted into the street. He danced in the road, ducking between carriages and wagons, suddenly disappearing as he dodged through a break in the traffic.
Rob followed. Niall was forced to draw back to avoid flashing hooves and flaring nostrils as a brewer’s wagon barreled by. He dashed on as the vehicle passed, only to find Rob on the pavement on the other side, casting about with frantic movements.
“Damnation,” Rob cursed. “Where has he gone now?”
Niall searched left and right, then suddenly spun around, examining the traffic again. “There he is,” he called, spotting Royston hanging on to the high, slatted side of the brewer’s wagon.
It was a strategy that might have ended the chase, had the driver not slowed to make the turn onto New Street, heading for the slight veering onto King Street and the taverns of Covent Garden beyond. Rob and Niall dodged back through traffic again, bursting across as the wagon made its turn and picked up speed, carrying Royston at a clip along the same road he had just run down.
Niall put his head down and ran faster.
“Wait! Look, Niall,” Rob said, breathing hard. “Here comes another!”
Turning his head, Niall saw another brewer’s wagon making the turn, then picking up speed. He gestured and slowed up a little, waiting for it to pass. “Now!” he shouted. He and Rob both ran into the street, then leapt, reaching out to grab on to the wooden slats. He scrambled to get his feet a solid purchase, then heaved a sigh of relief.
He hung on, breathing heavily and offering up a reassuring wave as they passed Lake Nemi, where Kara, Gyda, Beth, and Emelia stood, perplexed, on the walkway before the club.
