The Amorous Nightingale (36 page)

    'I
was a fool,' he confessed. 'Martin Eldridge tricked me. While I was waiting for
him to fetch that letter, he was legging it down the street. Blackie made sure
that I couldn't pursue him immediately.'

    'What
do you conclude, Mr Redmayne?'

    'That
the slippery actor is embroiled somehow in this affair.'

    'But he's
a close friend of Mrs Gow's. You said yourself that he spoke very warmly of
her. Why should he want to harm a lady he obviously cared for, Mr Redmayne?'

    'Why
should he take to his heels and run?'

    'That
still doesn't make him party to a kidnap.'

    'No,'
agreed Christopher, 'but it does put him on the list of people I'd like to
question. Only next time, I'll have the sense to stand between him and the
door.' A self-deprecating smile. 'And to take a bone with me for Blackie.'

    'It's
been a day of exchanges,' mused Jonathan.

    'Exchanges?'

    'Yes,
sir. We lost one suspect - Mr Gow - and gained another in the person of Mr
Eldridge. We lost one villain - this man called Ben - and traded him for an accomplice
who made the mistake of attacking me.'

    'But
why, Mr Bale?'

    'I've
been wondering about that.'

    'How
did they know who you were and where you lived?' said Christopher, running a
hand through his hair. 'My brother Henry was more visible. He was seen making
enquiries at the theatre. But you've been far more discreet. How did they know
you were working with me?'

    'I'll
ask this fellow, Ben, when I catch up with him.'

    'It's
almost as if someone is
watching
us.'

    'Mr
Eldridge, perhaps?' 'No, someone else. It unsettles me.'

    'What
next, sir?'

    'You
pay a visit to the Hope and Anchor while I try to find a missing actor. I won't
let him slip away again, I promise you.' Christopher rose to his feet then
paused. 'I've just had a curious thought.'

    'What
is it, Mr Redmayne?'

    'Why
was the ransom note sent to His Majesty?'

    'The
King is not unknown to Mrs Gow,' said Jonathan with evident distaste. 'And who
else could command that amount of money?'

    'Oh,
there are gentlemen in her life with wealth enough to pay such a demand. Yet
they, as far as we know, were not approached. The kidnap was arranged with the
express purpose of embarrassing His Majesty.'

    'So?'

    'Three
separate intentions may lie behind the abduction.'

    'What
are they?'

    'First
and foremost, to secure the ransom money.'

    'They'll
obviously kill to get that,' said Jonathan ruefully. 'Five thousand pounds is a
vast figure. It could set someone up for life.'

    'Let's
move on to the second intention,' advised Christopher as he cogitated. 'Someone
wishes to strike directly at His Majesty, to hurt his feelings and to wound his
pride by seizing his favourite companion from right under his nose.'

    'If
only it was simply the royal nose she was under!'

    'Now,
now, Mr Bale.'

    'Truth
will out, sir.'

    'Ours
is not to pass moral judgements.'

    'Perhaps
not. What is the third intention, Mr Redmayne?'

    'The
most intriguing in some ways.'

    'Why?'

    'Because
it doesn't concern money at all. Perhaps not even revenge. It turns on one
avowed purpose. To bring a decisive end to the friendship between His Majesty
and Harriet Gow.'

    'An
end?'

    'The
lady will hardly wish to continue a relationship which has brought her such
suffering. And I suspect that His Majesty will wish to disentangle himself as
well. What I believe,' said Christopher, 'is that we're looking for a man with
a passion for Mrs Gow that's been over-shadowed by her involvement with the
King. The obvious candidate was the embittered husband.'

    'Bartholomew
Gow can be acquitted. I'm certain of it.'

    'That
leaves us with another man who's enjoyed her favours but who, since His
Majesty's interest was sparked off, has been pushed completely into oblivion.'

    'What's
his name?'

    'I've
already told you,' said Christopher. 'Martin Eldridge.'

    Roland
Trigg was in conciliatory mood for once. Confronted by an angry visitor at the
house in Rider Street, he did his best to pacify the man. They were in the
stable at the rear of the property. The coachman had been grooming the horses
when he was interrupted.

    'Calm
down, Mr Eldridge,' he soothed. 'Calm down, sir.'

    'How
can I be calm at a time like this?'

    'I
know how you feel, sir.'

    'Who's
behind this kidnap?' demanded Martin Eldridge, shaking with fury. 'Tell me, Mr
Trigg.'

    'If
only I could. I'd like his name so that I can get my own back for this,' he
said, pointing to his injuries. 'I managed to take some revenge, though. One of
the men who attacked me was given a sound beating of his own. He'll be more
careful around Roland Trigg from now on.'

    'One
of the kidnappers?'

    'Yes,
I recognised him.'

    'Has
he been apprehended?'

    The
coachman told him the story that he had already related to Christopher Redmayne
and the actor's expression changed from hope to disappointment. Eldridge was no
nearer finding out who the real culprit was for the abduction of Harriet Gow.
He became more agitated.

    'Why
did you bring me that message?' he asked.

    'Because
I was told to, sir.'

    'By
Harriet herself?'

    'Who
else? I take orders from nobody but Mrs Gow.'

    'Why
should she wish to cancel the arrangement?'

    'She
didn't say.'

    'And
why not send me a letter?'

    'There
was no time, Mr Eldridge. It was a decision taken at the last minute. That's
why I arrived in Shoreditch so early in the day. Believe me, sir,' said Trigg
fervently, 'I'm as eager as you are to have this mystery explained. Not only
because of the beating I took. There's the business of Mary Hibbert.'

    'Mary?'

    'They
killed her.'

    'Surely
not!' exclaimed Eldridge.

    'No
question about it. They wanted us to know how serious they were in their
threats. We're left in no doubt now.'

    'Why
did Mr Redmayne make no mention of this?'

    'I've
no idea.'

    'He
only told me about the abduction and the beatings.'

    'Strange!'

    'I'm
glad I know the truth,' said Eldridge, looking around uneasily. 'It shows how
precarious Harriet's position is. Tell me all you know, Mr Trigg. I've the
feeling that Mr Redmayne held a number of things back.'

    'I
can't add anything,' said the other cautiously. 'I'm only a victim of the
kidnap. Mr Redmayne is the man to speak to, sir.'

    'He
was asking too many uncomfortable questions.'

    'Someone
has to.'

    'But
why him? What's his interest in Harriet Gow? He's only an architect. I know
that his brother was cudgelled outside the theatre but is that really enough to
make him abandon his work to take up this case?' Eldridge was baffled. 'Who
is
Christopher Redmayne?'

    'He
could be our salvation, sir.'

    'In
what way?'

    'Mr
Redmayne is a dedicated man. Whatever his reasons for getting involved, I
admire him. He's our only hope,' Trigg stressed, clenching his teeth.
'Christopher Redmayne is the one person who may get to Mrs Gow in time to save
her.'

    His
second meeting of the day with Jonathan Bale had been productive and
reassuring. One man was in custody and a second might be found by means of
enquiries at the Hope and Anchor. Christopher was still smarting at the way he
had let Martin Eldridge escape his clutches and he was determined to make
amends for his error. Finding the fugitive actor was his main priority but he
first decided to return home in case any important messages had been left for
him. He rode into Fetter Lane with some trepidation, fearing that he might be
caught again by an irate client, a truculent coachman or an inconvenient parent
but there were no coaches outside his house. He allowed himself to relax until
he noticed Jacob emerging from the front door.

    'I
saw you through the window,' explained the servant. 'Thank goodness you've come
back!'

    'Why?'

    'Your
visitor has been waiting the best part of an hour.'

    'It's
not Mr Hartwell again?'

    'No,
Mr Redmayne. Nor that foul-mouthed Mr Trigg.'

    'My
father, then?' said Christopher, bracing himself against what might turn out to
be the worst of the three. 'Who is it, Jacob?'

    'The
gentleman wouldn't give his name.'

    'Yet
you let him into my house?'

    'He
has an air of such authority about him, sir.'

    'We'll
see about that,' said Christopher, dropping from the saddle and handing the
reins to Jacob. 'Tether him. I'll be leaving again soon.'

    He went
purposefully into the house to confront his anonymous guest but stopped dead
when he saw who it was.

    'Mr
Chiffinch!'

    William
Chiffinch rose from his chair and gave a faint nod.

    'I'm
glad you've come back at last,' he said.

    'It's
only a brief visit. We have picked up the scent this time.'

    'Then
you should have had the grace to send us a report to that effect. His Majesty
is in a state of continuous anguish. Tell me something that can at least allay
his anxiety.'

    'I'll
try, Mr Chiffinch.'

    Christopher
told him in outline what had transpired since their last encounter. Chiffinch
showed a flicker of approval when he heard of the arrest of Jonathan Bale's
attacker, but the flight of Martin Eldridge only gained a look of scorn. He seemed
faintly disappointed by the vindication of Bartholomew Gow.

    'So
the husband may be cleared of involvement?'

    'According
to Mr Bale.'

    'It
seems that the worthy constable has been appreciably more successful than you
in his work,' said Chiffinch, letting his eyebrow issue a muted reprimand.
'What do you intend to do about it, Mr Redmayne?'

    'Redeem
myself by finding Mrs Gow.'

    'That's
not an option that will remain open for long, I fear.'

    'Why
not?'

    'I come
here with grim tidings. His Majesty was most insistent that you heard the news
at once. That's why I took the unusual step of arriving on your doorstep in
person.'

    'I
guessed that your mission must be important.'

    'Very
important, Mr Redmayne.' Taking a letter from inside his coat, he handed it
over. 'That came to the Palace this afternoon.'

    'From
the kidnappers?'

    'Read
it for yourself.'

    When
Christopher did, he blenched. An already fraught situation had taken on a new
and more menacing turn. He held up the letter.

    'They
may be trying to bluff us, Mr Chiffinch.'

    'Was
the murder of Mary Hibbert an act of bluff? No, sir. We have to take them at
their word. You have less than twenty-four hours to unmask and capture the
villains. They could not have put it more bluntly,' Chiffinch said, taking the
missive back. 'If the ransom is not paid by sunset tomorrow, Harriet Gow will
be executed.'