Andrew Pepper - The Last Days of Newgate

Along with Townsend, Goddard was an acquaintance from Bow Street. Though younger and more immature than his partner, Goddard was, perversely, the one with a family. His wife had just given birth to twin daughters. He had a thin face, with sunken cheeks that accentuated the dark patches around his eyes. Pyke listened while he explained that the Runners were effectively being dismantled, despite Fox’s best efforts to sabotage the new dispensation for law enforcement.

‘Sir Richard’s even got us ingratiating ourselves in radical circles, Hunt’s lot, to try and stir up some trouble,’ Townsend added. ‘To see if he can’t overstretch the new force and show Peel the Runners are still needed.’

‘He’s losing his fuckin’ mind, more like,’ Goddard said.

‘Peel’s having none of it,’ Townsend added, ignoring that last remark. ‘And he won’t let any Runner join the new force. Says he wants a clean start.’

Pyke had already told them about his plans to rob Blackwood’s armoured carriage and both had willingly consented to help him. Townsend needed no persuasion — any opportunity to upset Edmonton’s affairs was to be welcomed — and Goddard was attracted by the monetary incentive. For Pyke, such a venture carried certain risks, not least because it would draw Edmonton’s attention to his presence in the capital. But the potential benefits outweighed the risks. The money, which would be divided equally between them, would be extremely welcome. But the real reason Pyke was willing to pursue such a venture was because it would undermine Edmonton’s financial stability and perhaps draw Jimmy Swift from his hiding place.

In hushed voices, they discussed the best place to stage the attack and contemplated the most appropriate course of action. They had agreed upon a plan and Goddard excused himself. A few moments later, Townsend turned to Pyke and said, ‘Before you went away, you asked about the mother.’

Pyke frowned. ‘Whose mother?’

‘The daughter’s. Edmonton’s wife.’

Pyke strained to conceal his interest. ‘Apparently she died, while incarcerated in an asylum.’

‘That was the commonly held assumption.’

‘What are you suggesting?’

Townsend seemed to be enjoying himself, ‘Do you know of anyone who attended the funeral?’

‘The daughter wasn’t permitted to.’

‘But she believes her mother to be dead?’

‘Are you saying that she’s still alive?’

Townsend took a swig of ale. ‘I managed to track down one of the old servants. She didn’t want to talk to me at first — it seems that even former employees are terrified of Edmonton’s vindictiveness — but she remembered my brother and eventually opened up to me.’

‘I am interested.’ Pyke shrugged. ‘I can’t pretend otherwise. ’

Townsend leaned closer and whispered, ‘The old woman was adamant. The mother is by no means dead.’

‘Does she know where I might be able to find her?’

‘Perhaps.’ Townsend wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his coat.

‘But this information is going to cost me,’ Pyke said, nodding his head.

Townsend shrugged.

‘What if I were to offer you half of my share of the robbery proceeds?’

Townsend whistled and raised his eyebrows. ‘She must be important to you.’

‘You mean the mother?’

‘Or the daughter.’

When Pyke looked up, he saw Emily’s servant, Jo, enter the taproom. Compared to the dressmakers and shop workers who frequented the tavern, she stood out in the surroundings almost as sorely as her mistress. Pyke excused himself and went to join her. They exchanged formal pleasantries and he suggested that the relative quiet of his garret might be a more convivial place to talk. As they ascended the staircase, he wondered why Emily had not come herself.

‘My mistress has asked me to pass on a message. She assured me you would know what it meant.’

With a buxom figure and a round, rosy-cheeked face that, above all, intimated a sense of ripeness, Jo seemed nervous and fidgeted as she stood in the doorway, unwilling to enter his room. Not for the first time, he was struck by the thought that he had come across her before.

‘I would be able to respond to that sentiment if I knew more about the message itself,’ he said, with a smile.

‘Of course.’ She seemed flustered. Pyke wondered whether it had been wise to bring an unaccompanied young woman — Emily’s servant, no less — up to his garret.

‘Tomorrow, at six in the morning.’ Jo looked at him. ‘She said you would know what it meant.’ Jo had painted her eyelashes and Pyke wondered whether this was usual for a servant.

It was the time that the armoured carriage was due to depart from the Bank of England. Again he wondered why Emily had opted to send her servant with such an important message. Since he could not ask Jo such a direct question, he enquired after Emily’s health. Jo informed him that her mistress was perfectly well.

Despite her apparent nerves, Jo did not seem to be in any hurry to leave. Instead, she removed her bonnet and started to rearrange her hair. Without it, he was able to admire her smooth round face, her flawless pale skin and her extraordinary red hair.

‘I made sure no one followed me,’ she said, still unwilling to meet his stare. Her accent indicated a certain level of education. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be gone in a minute.’

‘Please, take all the time you need.’ Pyke watched as she bent forward to attend to her boots. He found himself wondering what her relationship with Emily was like and whether there was any kind of ulterior motive to her presence in his room. He also didn’t know what she knew about him and whether he could trust her.

‘There.’ Jo stood up and smiled. ‘Done.’

She went to retrieve her bonnet but Pyke had already picked it up. He handed it to her. ‘This may sound like an immodest question, but are you aware of who I am?’

Jo stared down at her feet. ‘My mistress felt it was necessary to inform me of certain things.’

‘Such as?’ He raised his eyebrows, half-aware that he might be flirting with her.

‘That, unless crossed, you were not a dangerous man. That you didn’t tolerate fools. That your bark was worse than your bite.’ She looked away and blushed slightly. ‘She also warned me you were. . rather dashing.’

‘She said that?’

‘Well, she actually said exceedingly dashing but I thought I’d appeal to your modesty.’ Jo laughed nervously. She seemed more confident of herself now and even allowed her gaze to meet his.

‘And why do you think Emily furnished you with this information?’ Pyke watched her carefully. She was remarkably attractive. He wondered whether she was aware of this fact.

‘I don’t know. To warn me, perhaps.’

‘Warn you to be on your guard?’ Pyke could not help but smile at this prospect. Clearly Emily did not trust him, but did he trust her? And could he be certain that her loyalties did not, as she put it, lie at Hambledon?

‘Have we met somewhere before?’ He studied her features closely.

‘Aside from when you first visited my mistress in Islington. .’

‘Your face seems familiar,’ he said, absent-mindedly. ‘It’s a pretty face, of course. .’

Jo blushed again and edged towards the door. Impulsively, he moved into the space between them, leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth. She did not resist but nor did she make any attempt to reciprocate. Unthinkingly, he tried to pull her closer, smelling perfume on her clothes, but this time she baulked and, instinctively perhaps, her entire body recoiled backwards. For a brief moment, they stared at one another, opaquely, neither certain what the other was thinking. Finally, without saying a word, Jo turned to depart, leaving Pyke angry at himself that he had done such an utterly stupid thing and wondering whether Jo would tell her mistress.