Meg Alexander - The Passionate Friends

“And not before time!” the man agreed. “That devil done you wrong, my lass.”

The Runner was puzzled. Had the woman been younger he’d have drawn the obvious conclusion, but this raddled creature must be in her sixties. He eyed her closely. There was something about her features which struck a chord…the nose, perhaps, or the sunken eyes?

From what little he’d seen of the Reverend Truscott’s face he couldn’t be sure, but his suspicions grew.

“You’ll know us next time,” the younger woman snapped. “Wot you starin at?”

“Just looking about me. I’ll move on. Ain’t nobody here who’s likely to be of use to me…” He scowled and left them.

His report to Sebastian had been succinct, and it roused fresh hope in Dan.

“It does seem that he gave them money,” he said eagerly. “Why would he do that?”

“There could be a number of reasons…charity among them.”

“But it isn’t his parish,” Dan protested. “Why would he go so far? He seemed to know the place well, or so the Runner said. And how was he able to walk there unmolested? Your man warned me against attempting it.”

“You forget that the Reverend Truscott is a man of the cloth. That alone is sufficient to protect him.”

Dan sniffed. “He was so heavily muffled that he might have been anyone.”

“Perhaps he’s known in the district,” Sebastian said gravely.

“Perhaps he is.” Dan’s voice was full of meaning. “Well, I’m not satisfied, for one. Your own man thought there was something strange. Did he not mention a certain resemblance in the woman?”

“And what of that? Even supposing that it’s true, we have no proof. It was merely an impression…”

“It ain’t very savoury, though.” Perry had been listening with interest. “St Giles is the worst sink in London. It wouldn’t be the place I’d want to find my relatives…”

“The man can’t be blamed for his connections,” Sebastian said firmly.

“But, Seb, only thieves and vagabonds live in ‘The Rookery’. You know its reputation. As for the women…”

“Again, I say we have no proof. The Runner may be mistaken. Truscott’s visit may have been no more than a simple act of Christian charity.”

“You sound more like Frederick every day,” Perry told him in disgust. “Next thing you’ll be following our elder brother into Government.”

“Not so!” Sebastian laughed and shook his head. “And, Perry, he did well enough for you. Without his help you might have lost Elizabeth.”

“I know it. I have much to thank him for. He surprised me then, you know. I thought him a model of rectitude, but he moved fast when there was danger.”

“And I shall do the same.”

Dan’s face cleared. “Then you won’t let it go?”

“No! I won’t let it go.” Sebastian looked at his adopted son. “Prudence and Elizabeth are troubled and I won’t have my wife upset at a time like this.”

“Shall you tell them anything?”

“Only that our enquiries are going forward.”

“Then I may not tell Elizabeth of the Runner’s findings.”

“Certainly not. We have discovered only that the Reverend Truscott paid a visit to a squalid part of London. All the rest is merely surmise. Would that satisfy Elizabeth?”

Perry smiled at his brother. “How well you know her! She is afraid of nothing. Not even your famous Runner would stop her if she set her mind upon entering that infamous district.”

“Exactly!” Sebastian looked at his companions. “This information must go no further than the three of us. I’ll let you know when, and if, I have further news.”

With this his listeners had to be content, though Dan had grave misgivings. Of the three of them he alone had seen the preacher’s furtive manner, which was not that of a man of God bent upon some charitable enterprise.

Now he led Judith into the library with the air of a man who had no other thought in mind than welcoming an old friend.

She glanced at the sheets of paper which covered a large table.

“But I’m disturbing you,” she protested.

“I’m glad of the interruption.” Dan gave her a mischievous smile. “Now I shall be able to bore you with some of my ideas…”

“You won’t do that.” She glanced down at the drawings. “Warships, Dan? Surely the war with the French is at an end? Did not the Peace of Amiens come into effect only last month?”

“The Earl of Brandon thinks it but a cessation in hostilities. Perry and Sebastian agree with him.”

“And what do you think?”

“I think we shall be at war quite soon. Napoleon has lost none of his ambition to make himself the master of Europe and beyond. Our Fleet is all that has stopped him until now.”

“But this present Treaty?”

“Will give him time to build up his reserves, and to commission new ships. He has suffered heavy defeats at sea. That is where he must destroy us first.”

“And are the French ships better than ours?”

“They are faster, and lighter too. Our own are built for strength. The first essential role of a warship is to carry armaments into battle, and the gun decks must be able to take the weight of the artillery.”

“I see. It must be difficult to strike the right balance between strength and speed.” Her attention was engaged at once.

“That’s it exactly. I knew you’d understand. Too many guns and too much weight reduce the sailing qualities of a vessel. There’s so much to consider.”

“Such as?”

“Seaworthiness, maintenance, manoeuvrability, stability, different weather conditions, and accommodation.”

“Such a list!” She began to smile.

“What is it, Judith?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I thought you might have changed in these past years, but I see that you have not.”

He raised an eyebrow in enquiry, but she laughed and shook her head. “I meant only that you are still intrigued by technical problems. It is the thing I remember most about you.”

“Is it?” His voice was heavy with meaning.

Aware that she was treading on dangerous ground, Judith tried again. “Of course!” she told him lightly. “I recall the day we met when you hung upside down on a small craft by the river at Kew. We all thought you were about to dive beneath it to examine the hull.”

He chuckled. “I remember. Perry gave me a roasting later. You stayed behind when the others moved away. Why did you do that?”

“You didn’t worry me!” she murmured. “You left me to my thoughts. I didn’t feel obliged to talk to you.”

Dan grimaced. “You must have thought me a boor, busy only with my own concerns. Perry informed me that I might, at least, have engaged you in conversation.”

“There was no need,” she told him briefly. “The silence was so comfortable.” She held out her hand. “I think I must go now.”

“Not yet!” He took her hand, but he did not release it. “May I not show you what I’m working on at present?”

Judith was tempted. There was plenty of time before she need return home and when he drew out a chair for her she sat beside him to examine the drawings. There was much she didn’t understand, but her questions were both pertinent and sensible. Spurred on by her interest, Dan was soon well launched upon his favourite subject. Apparently absorbed, he was quick to sense her growing ease of manner, and pleased to see that her somewhat strained expression had disappeared.

Then, as the clock struck five, she jumped.

“Great heavens! I have been gone this age,” she cried. “Will you give my kind regards to Prudence and Elizabeth?” She rose as if to take her leave. Then her heart turned over as he gave her a dazzling smile.

“You have encouraged me to be selfish,” he accused. “I’ve spent the last hour speaking of my own affairs, and you have told me nothing of your own.”