Susanna Gregory - The Piccadilly Plot

‘What about the man who hired them?’ asked Chaloner, thinking him a fool. ‘He will know who designed the devices. And who helped Oliver steal the necessary materials.’

Hyde smiled coldly. ‘Yes, but he is hardly in a position to say anything, is he? By exposing me, he reveals his own role in the affair, and that is something he will never do.’

Chaloner tried to pass Hyde a third time, and was irritated when he was stopped yet again.

‘I mean it, Chaloner,’ said Hyde, confidence returning as he felt himself to be gaining the upper hand. ‘You will do as I say, because you do not want powerful enemies.’

Chaloner’s patience snapped. ‘No, I do not. I am more than happy for you to have them instead.’

Hyde regarded him uneasily. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean that Oliver’s employer probably won’t contradict you publicly. However, there are other ways to express his displeasure. You are wealthy and can hire guards to protect yourself, whereas I cannot. You are right: it is better this way. Thank you.’

Chaloner was rewarded with the satisfaction of seeing alarm fill Hyde’s face.

‘He would not dare harm me!’ Hyde swallowed hard. ‘Would he?’

Chaloner regarded him dispassionately. ‘At least I know now why you have been so keen for your father to dismiss me. You were afraid I would stumble across the truth at Clarendon House.’

‘I wanted you gone because I abhor your dubious skills,’ countered Hyde, although he would not meet Chaloner’s eyes. ‘Dugdale is right: they are unseemly in a gentleman.’

‘They prevented you from being murdered tonight.’

‘Rubbish! I would have extricated myself, given time.’

Chaloner did not dignify that claim with a response. He changed the subject. ‘You are an Adventurer, are you not?’

‘What of it?’ snapped Hyde. ‘Or do you want me to inveigle you an invitation to join? I suppose it can be arranged, if that is the price of your silence.’

‘No, thank you,’ said Chaloner in distaste. ‘But tell me what you know about the event that is to be held in Woolwich tomorrow at dusk. Why did Leighton organise it?’

‘Today,’ corrected Hyde. ‘It is already well past midnight and so …’ He faltered when he saw Chaloner’s steely glare, and hastened to answer the question. ‘Because arranging interesting treats for us is the way he keeps our favour.’

‘Is he unpopular, then? He needs to bribe you to be allowed to continue as secretary?’

‘Not exactly, but our members are wary of him. There are rumours that he made himself rich by criminal means, you see, although he denies it, of course. And you are wrong, by the way — the event will not be in Woolwich. We all said it was too far to travel, so Leighton changed it.’

‘Changed it to where?’ asked Chaloner uneasily.

‘Oh, still on Royal Katherine , but she will be moored at Queenhithe instead.’

Chaloner stared at him in horror. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course — he lives in Queenhithe, and has friends who will help with the arrangements. It will not be at dusk, either. We were all disappointed by the Swedish ambassador’s reception, because too many common folk had been invited and there was not enough food. So Leighton brought our event forward. He says there is nothing so memorable as breakfast on a ship at dawn-’

‘Dawn?’ echoed Chaloner in disbelief. ‘No one will attend a function at that hour of the day!’

‘Of course they will. Most of the Court will not have been to bed, and they will be perfectly happy to round off the evening at Queenhithe. Lady Castlemaine hosts breakfasts all the time.’

Chaloner was appalled. ‘But how can Leighton change everything at such short notice? His staff will not be ready!’

‘They would not dare fail him,’ said Hyde grimly. ‘But what is the problem with-’

‘Do not go,’ said Chaloner urgently.

Hyde regarded him with dislike. ‘I most certainly shall! It will be fun.’

‘There are rumours that something terrible will befall the Adventurers on St Frideswide’s Day. And then there is Jane . Queenhithe will not be safe-’

‘I know about our plan to destroy Jane ,’ said Hyde casually, as though looting and burning a ship was nothing special. ‘But she is not due to arrive until three o’clock in the afternoon. Queenhithe will be perfectly safe for hours yet.’

But Chaloner’s churning stomach told him that the change of time and venue were significant. Had Williamson’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Fitzgerald driven the Piccadilly Company to act sooner than it had planned? And what of Leighton’s role in the affair? Was he, like Meneses, playing one side against the other, and his allegiance was actually to the Adventurers’ rivals? Chaloner thought about the man’s sly smiles and unreadable expressions — he had been an enigma from the start.

‘Stay well away,’ he urged. ‘Better still, cancel it. Tell your colleagues not to go.’

Hyde scowled. ‘Is this how things will be from now on? You will use my little indiscretion to bend me to your will?’

‘No! I am trying to save your life. And those of your friends.’

Hyde relented. ‘Unfortunately, you overestimate my influence,’ he said, although it clearly pained him to admit it. ‘I could scream warnings all night, but no one would take any notice.’

‘Well, try,’ Chaloner snapped. ‘And now I need to find Williamson.’

As the Spymaster had used every available carriage to transport his men to Woolwich, he had been reduced to walking to Hercules’ Pillars Alley. Chaloner caught up with him on Fleet Street. Lester was with him. Gasping for breath — he had run as hard as he could — Chaloner told them what Hyde had said. The blood drained from Williamson’s face.

‘But I have dispatched all my officers down the river, and Doines is off God knows where rounding up thieves! There is no one left to go to Queenhithe and protect Adventurers!’

‘Perhaps they no longer need protecting,’ said Lester hopefully. ‘Fitzgerald may even now be standing at Woolwich, scratching his head at an empty berth.’

‘No!’ whispered Williamson, shocked. ‘Chaloner is right. The plot is swinging into operation early, and we shall be found lacking.’

‘Then tell Leighton to cancel his dawn feast,’ said Lester practically. ‘It is a stupid time for a soirée anyway. At sea, we would never-’

‘We have already been through this!’ snapped Williamson. ‘It cannot be done.’

‘Then perhaps they deserve whatever is coming to them,’ muttered Lester. ‘If they are unwilling to forgo entertainment in the interests of their own safety, then they are too stupid to-’

‘Pratt will have to fend for himself,’ determined Williamson, regaining his composure as he began to make decisions. ‘Because the death of a conceited architect pales into insignificance when compared to the murder of fifty nobles and their wives. Lester, hunt down a hackney and send a message after the other carriages, ordering them back immediately. I will do the same for the boats.’

‘If you say so,’ said Lester doubtfully. ‘Although it seems to me-’

‘There is no time for debate,’ the Spymaster snapped. ‘Chaloner, go directly to Queenhithe. Lester and I will join you there as soon as we can. Wait! You are going in the wrong direction!’

‘We need all the help we can get,’ called Chaloner over his shoulder. ‘I am fetching Thurloe.’

Williamson seemed relieved. ‘Yes — he is a good man to have at one’s side in a crisis. But we must hurry. Lives depend on our actions tonight, and so does the future stability of our country.’