Andrew Pepper - The Revenge of Captain Paine

‘I don’t think Conroy wanted to kill you. I’m guessing he wanted to weaken you in order to tighten his control over your affairs.’ Pyke hesitated. ‘Tell me this: did Conroy try and seize upon your illness for his own ends?’

Victoria considered this for a moment. ‘A few weeks ago, when the fever was at its worst, he tried to put a quill in my shaking hand and persuade me to sign a document appointing him as my private secretary when I become queen.’

If you become queen, Pyke thought grimly, as he considered the letter hidden in his pocket.

‘Lehzen chased Conroy out of the room. She hates him even more than I do.’ This memory seemed to cheer her up.

‘And where does your mother stand in all this?’

‘My mother claims to have my best interests at heart. It’s why I’m locked up like a common prisoner at Kensington Palace and not permitted to play any part in court life. Apparently it’s for my own good. I’m to be protected from the loose morals of my uncle’s court: the vice of Windsor versus the virtue of Kensington.’ She laughed bitterly. ‘In fact, my mother yearns for the prestige and wealth a regency would give her and she’s utterly under Conroy’s influence, even to the…’

The young princess froze. Footsteps approached the door and someone turned the handle. Pyke had no choice but to hide under the bed. He did so quickly and quietly but still didn’t know whether he’d been heard. ‘My dear? Are you awake?’ The voice was a female one, with a faintly Germanic accent. ‘I thought I heard voices,’ Baroness Lehzen whispered to someone else. Pyke could see her ankles silhouetted against the light from the other room and briefly wondered whether she was talking to the comptroller. If either of them decided to look under the bed, he would be finished. Who would believe he hadn’t tried to defile the impressionable princess? People had hung for far less.

But then Lehzen crept back out of the room and gently closed the door behind her. Pyke slid out from under the bed, stood up and straightened his frock-coat. The princess giggled a little and whispered, ‘That was a close shave.’ And when Pyke didn’t respond, she added, in the same breathy tone, ‘You wouldn’t believe how dull my life is, Mr Pyke. I’m a girl and I want to do some of the things that girls of my age are meant to do. Go to balls, dance, listen to music, meet brilliant people.’ This time she looked directly at him. ‘It’s like a prison with golden bars.’

Suddenly nervous, Pyke looked across at the closed door. ‘Can I offer you a word of advice before I go?’

She nodded meekly but seemed upset that he was about to leave her.

‘Make what I’ve told you yours and Lehzen’s secret. Helen knows, too, and you should remember what she’s done for you. In addition, you should insist that the kitchen girl, Kate, is reinstated, if, that is, she wants her old job back.’

‘And if Conroy objects?’

‘I don’t think Conroy will be a problem. He’ll be as meek as a lamb when I’ve finished with him.’

That precipitated a sharp intake of breath. ‘You won’t hurt him, will you?’

‘Try to be strong and resolute, but don’t let Conroy know that you know anything. His own belief in your ignorance will be your strength. You mightn’t have the power at the moment to deal with him or your mother but when you become queen, that’s the time to take action. Until then, just remember this: keep your friends close but your enemies closer.’

‘Do you have to go?’ she asked, with a pout.

‘I do have a question I’d like to put to you, if you don’t mind.’

‘Oh?’

‘Might it be possible for someone with, let’s say, the right connections to steal your royal seal and thereby pass off a letter they’d written as one of yours?’

The young princess sat up in her bed, intrigued now. ‘I always keep my seal close at hand but I suppose it’s always possible that someone could steal it. Why do you ask?’

Pyke removed the ransom note he’d received apparently from the duke. He hadn’t wanted to involve the princess in the unsavoury business of the abduction but it suddenly struck him that she might recognise the handwriting.

Victoria took the note and, to help her read it, Pyke took out a box of matches and struck one against the wooden floor. It flared into light and he held it up to the note as the princess studied it.

‘Well?’

The match had died, once again returning the room to near-darkness.

‘Your wife and child are being held for a ransom?’ The horror in her voice was unmistakable.

‘Do you know whether the handwriting is Conroy’s?’

‘No, it’s not his.’

Pyke exhaled, not sure whether he was relieved or disappointed.

‘But I think I might recognise it.’ The princess was frowning. ‘I can’t think how or where from, though.’

‘His private secretary, perhaps?’

‘No, that wouldn’t be it. His writing is much harder to read.’

‘Please. It’s very important…’

‘I can see that, sir. I just can’t recall…’ She closed her eyes and tried to will an answer from her mind.

Pyke wondered whether a sudden, hard slap to her face might jog her memory, but she would probably scream. He checked his watch. The sun would be rising soon and he needed to wake Milly and Kate and get them all to the mail coach before it left for the capital at six.

‘But you think it might be someone in Conroy’s employ?’

‘Possibly.’ The princess looked up at him sorrowfully. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been of more help.’

Pyke assured her that she had been a great help and prepared himself to depart. As he did so, the princess said, ‘But you really think Conroy might have been the one who’s kidnapped your wife and child?’ She almost seemed to shudder at the possibility.

‘I don’t know. It’s possible.’

‘And this letter that’s referred to in the ransom note? If you don’t mind me asking, what is it?’

‘I can’t tell you,’ Pyke said, bluntly.

‘Of course you can tell me.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Pyke bowed his head. ‘But did you notice the seal at the bottom of the note?’ Lighting a second match, he let her have another look at it.

She studied it carefully, her frown deepening. ‘That would seem to be my uncle’s seal.’

‘Would it be possible for someone else to have sent the letter?’

‘You mean, for someone to have stolen my uncle’s seal?’

Pyke nodded.

The princess thought about it for a few moments and shrugged. ‘One tends to keep one’s seal well guarded for obvious reasons. But it wouldn’t be impossible for a servant, let’s say, to purloin it.’ She sat up further in the bed. ‘You suspect Conroy, don’t you?’

‘I suspect everyone until they prove themselves innocent. ’

‘Even me?’

Laughing, Pyke turned towards the door.

But the princess called him back. ‘You’ve made a powerful impression on me, Mr Pyke. I feel much better knowing what I now know, and I’m very grateful for the news you brought me. I’m also appalled by the prospect that Conroy might have had something to do with the letter you showed me and I’m desperately sorry for your predicament.’ She looked across at him, a pained expression on her face.

‘But?’

‘But whether I like it or not, Conroy is an integral part of this household and any misdeed that he may or may not have committed will necessarily tarnish the reputation of Kensington itself. That would have very serious repercussions. What I’m labouring to say is that while I despise Conroy perhaps more than any person alive, if something were to happen to him, if some terrible calamity were to befall him, I might decide you’re not as well meaning as I think you are. Is that understood?’