by Holly West
After the constable left, I went upstairs and examined what was left of my clothing. At some point during the morning, Charlotte or Alice had tidied them. The ruined gowns, which I’d piled into a corner the previous night, were gone and the few that remained were returned to their place in the wardrobe. I selected one and stepped into it, bending down to pull it up. When I straightened myself, Charlotte stood behind me, visible in the mirror’s reflection.
“Heaven’s, Charlotte, you gave me a start.”
“Pardon me, m’lady,” she said, stepping forward to assist me. “Are you going somewhere?”
“I’m visiting going to Whitehall,” I lied.
“Oh? I didn’t realize the king had called for you,” she said. “I would’ve laid something out for you.”
I sucked in my stomach while she pulled my stays tighter. “I’m afraid there isn’t much left of my wardrobe. This gown is the best I could do.”
I immediately regretted saying this when Charlotte’s eyes again filled with tears. “I’m so very sorry this happened, m’lady.”
“I know you are, Charlotte, but you’re not to blame for it. Now, I’ll finish getting ready myself. Will you ask Elijah to prepare the carriage?”
Sam made no protest when I asked him to remain with Charlotte and Alice while I made a quick visit to Charles. For this, I was relieved.
Instead of Whitehall, however, I asked Elijah to take me to the Cock and Fox. The request confused him, but he’d never questioned me in the past and did not begin now. When I arrived, I asked the innkeeper to announce my arrival to Captain Bedloe. He shook his head.
“Captain Bedloe left, my lady,” he said. “He moved to apartments in Whitehall yesterday.”
“Whitehall?” I said. It was an unexpected move, but suddenly I could picture the entire scene. Bedloe had reported the break in at the Cock and Fox to Buckingham, who in turn insisted that Bedloe be relocated to safer accommodations. I hoped he hadn’t named Mistress Ruby, though I hadn’t been back to Coal Yard Alley since Danby’s men had come.
“Aye, ma’am. He left a few of his things. Would you like to leave a message in case he returns?”
“Tell me, did Captain Bedloe’s wife accompany him to the palace?”
The innkeeper reddened. “Pardon me, m’lady, but I don’t like discussing the personal business of my customers.”
I retrieved a coin from my purse and slipped it to him, which perked him up considerably. “He’s no longer a customer of yours, is he?”
“Well no,” he said, giving me a toothy grin. “I don’t suppose he is. He did have a lady with him—whether she was his wife I cannot say.”
We went next to Whitehall, where I asked the guard at the palace gate which rooms Captain Bedloe inhabited. “Would you like an escort, Lady Wilde?” he asked.
“Indeed I would,” I said. I knew Bedloe would be guarded and hoped an escort would help me gain access to his rooms.
The Stone Gallery was crowded this time of day, for it was almost the hour of the king’s supper and many courtiers and common folk gathered to watch Charles as he dined. I nodded and smiled at those faces I knew, and when at last I came to Bedloe’s apartments, I told the guard who I was and asked him to announce me.
“I’m sorry, my lady, but Captain Bedloe is occupied at the moment.”
“Will he be long?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But he asked not to be disturbed. Perhaps in the future you should send a message ahead of time—Captain Bedloe is a busy man. I’ll tell him you visited.”
I didn’t appreciate his smug manner, but it would benefit me more to remain friendly with him. “There’s no need to leave a message,” I said. “Next time I’ll send a message in advance, as you suggest.”
I went to the end of the hall and turned the corner, pretending to go to a palace exit. My familiarity with Whitehall and its halls and passageways would be to my advantage. I stopped in front of the apartments adjoining Captain Bedloe’s, which had been unoccupied for several years.
With no one about, I entered the empty apartments, moving quickly to a second door leading to a hidden hallway. I pushed it open and slipped into the dark passage. I used the wall to guide my course and moved slowly until I got to the end. I felt for a doorknob and placed my hand over it but did not open it. Instead, I put my ear to the door and listened.
Inside I heard voices so muffled I couldn’t make out a word. They sounded masculine, but I wasn’t even certain of that. I would have to open the door to hear anything. But to do so risked detection, especially if one of the people inside the room happened to be looking in the direction of the door when I opened it. I tried to remember where the hidden door was located in relation to the rest of the room, but it had been years since I’d been here. If memory served, the couch where Bedloe or his companion probably sat faced the door I stood behind, which made detection more likely.
I heard a muted knock and my heart began to thud. Hoping the occupants of the room were distracted by whoever knocked on the outer door, I turned the knob as slowly as possible. It creaked slightly and I froze, certain that Bedloe and his companion had heard it. I waited for a moment, halfway expecting the door to fly open and my presence discovered, but nothing happened. Now that the latch had been released, I did not push the door but let it open slightly by its own momentum. A crack of light showed through the corners and I shrank away from it.
When the talking resumed, it was much clearer and I recognized Bedloe’s voice. “Leave the tray here,” he said, presumably to a servant.
“Take it away,” said a second male voice. He sounded familiar but I couldn’t be sure who it was. “I’m in no mood for refreshment.”
“Have a drink, it will calm your nerves,” Bedloe said.
“You’re a fine one to talk about my nerves since you’re the cause.”
Who was Bedloe’s companion and what were they discussing? I couldn’t see either of the men so I inched closer to the opening. The floor creaked and I backed against the wall. It was quiet for a moment and then I heard the outer door to the room open and close. The servant leaving, I assumed.
“I warned you not to take apartments in Whitehall,” his guest said. “You’ve already drawn far too much attention to yourself.”
“If that’s all you came to discuss,” Bedloe said, “the matter is already settled. Here I am. Now, if you’ll pardon me, the Duke of Buckingham is expecting me and I need to ready myself.”
“You’re in no position to give orders, Captain Bedloe. I ought to have had your gullet slit weeks ago.”
Bedloe laughed. “Why so irritable, Lord Danby? Things have worked out well enough, don’t you think?”
I caught my breath, then let it out slowly, afraid of making the slightest noise. “You will ruin everything if you do not keep your mouth shut!” Danby said.
“On the contrary, it is I who have pushed our cause farther than you ever imagined! Was it not a stroke of genius to accuse Coleman? He had the courage of a rabbit and the intellect to match. I could not have chosen a better fool.”
“It was not for you to choose anyone at all,” Lord Danby said. “I warned you not to come forward for that reward.”
My heart pounded, nearly drowning out their voices. My stomach churned and I feared I would faint.
“One can never have enough money, I’m afraid,” Bedloe said. “Besides, no harm came of it. I daresay I helped your cause.”
“I’ll tell you this, Bedloe, if you go any further with this nonsense I will make sure you hang for it.”
“Those are strong words from a man who is as deeply involved in this matter as I am.”
“I must caution you to remember who you are speaking with. A bit of respect is required. The king already knows you to be a liar. One word from me and he will have your head.”
“Very well, Lord Danby. I shall let you have your delusional tirade. But never forget, your hands are as bloody as mine are, even if you didn’t touch Godfrey. I
will not go down without you.”
“I never told you to kill Godfrey and you know it,” Danby snarled. “I should’ve turned you in as soon as the body was found.”
I lost my balance slightly and pushed the door forward. It squeaked and I heard Bedloe say, “What was that?”
Chapter Forty-Three
I spun around and ran back through the passageway, into the empty apartments. I heard someone enter just as I got to the exterior door and I slammed it behind me. I was now in one of Whitehall’s public hallways and I gasped desperately for breath. I slowed my step, working hard to calm myself as Bedloe ran up behind me, grabbed my arm, and turned me about.
“Lady Wilde! What are you doing here?”
“Let go of me!” I said, pulling away from him. “Who are you to touch me in such a brutish manner?”
Bedloe eyed me with anger and suspicion. “What are you doing in these halls, madam?”
“That’s no business of yours, Captain Bedloe,” I said.
“Explain yourself or I shall fetch the guard.”
I struggled to find an excuse he would believe. “It happens that I had a mind to see you,” I said. “But I—I lost my nerve.” I lowered my eyes.
Bedloe lifted my chin roughly so I had no choice but to look him in the face. He searched my eyes for a moment then grabbed my arm, digging his fingers into my flesh so that it hurt. “I don’t believe you. Tell me what you’re doing here.”
“Unhand me, you varlet! You’ve no leave to speak to me like this,” I said, pushing back the fearful tears threatening to spill out.
“Take your hands off Lady Wilde,” said Lord Danby from behind me. Bedloe dropped my arm and glared at him.
“Thank you, my lord,” I said, straightening myself. “Captain Bedloe is under the mistaken impression he can patrol these hallways like a palace guard.”
Danby looked indignant. “What kind of man are you, Bedloe, accosting a lady in such a manner?”
“The lady has no business here,” Bedloe said.
“Apologize to Lady Wilde immediately,” Danby said. “Or I shall report your insolence to the king himself.”
Bedloe might have achieved some degree of power in recent weeks, but he apparently did not want to spar with the king on this matter. Nor did I, for the odds were slim Charles would come to my defense. But Bedloe addressed me as though he were a penitent child. “Please accept my apologies, Lady Wilde. My suspicions ran away with me. But surely you can understand that a man in my position, with so many enemies, must always be vigilant. I did not mean to accuse you.”
“There now, Captain Bedloe,” Danby said, “why don’t you retire to your apartments while I escort Lady Wilde out of the palace?”
A look passed between the two men before Bedloe said, “Your servant, madam.” He bowed and walked off toward his apartments.
Lord Danby offered me his arm, which I took begrudgingly. “I know my way out of the palace, my lord.”
“I assure you, it’s no bother, Lady Wilde.” We started toward the Stone Gallery and he lowered his voice. “I warned you to stay out of this, Isabel, and now I find you’ve ignored my words entirely. Have you anything to say for yourself?”
“I am grateful for your counsel, Lord Danby, truly I am. After today, I am convinced you are right.”
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that.” He pressed his fingers into my skin so hard I nearly cried out.
Did he guess I had overheard something? If so, he couldn’t know how much. Would he act against me, an old friend and one of the king’s mistresses, without knowing for certain if I knew his secret? Of course he would—after all, he had to assume I knew he was involved with Bedloe, even if he couldn’t confirm exactly how much I’d heard. Cold fingers of terror ran down my spine. We’d reached the Stone Gallery, which was as crowded now as it had been earlier.
“I shall scream if you don’t let me go this instant,” I said.
“You’ll do no such thing, my dear,” Danby said, but nonetheless released my arm, leaving a throbbing heat where his fingers had been.
At that moment, Lady Shrewsbury, of all people, waddled in our direction. “My dear Lady Shrewsbury,” I said, sidling toward her. “It’s been an age since I’ve seen you! How lovely you look! Is that a new dress?”
Pleased by my uncharacteristic fawning, she paused to speak to me. “It is, Lady Wilde. Isn’t it the most delicious color?”
“Indeed, it is.” I hooked my arm through hers and acknowledged Danby. “Thank you for your escort, m’lord. I’ll see myself out from here.”
He leaned in close and kissed me with warm, dry lips, his eyes dark with anger. I stifled the impulse to gather my skirts and run.
Chapter Forty-Four
Dusk fell as I made my way home. When I arrived, I found Sam and Charlotte in the drawing room. Sam saw the stricken look on my face as soon as I walked in.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Charlotte, will you excuse us a moment?” I asked.
“Yes, my lady,” she said. After she left, Sam came over to me.
“What is it?” he said. “’Sblood, you’re shaking.” He led me to a chair and sat down opposite me.
“I went to the palace—” I began.
“Yes, I know, to visit the king,” he said. “Charlotte told me.”
I shook my head, still trying to catch my breath. “I went to confront Bedloe. I thought he had my diary and my ring and I wanted to get them back. I—I found out that Bedloe murdered Sir Edmund Godfrey.”
“Wait—”
“Bedloe killed Sir Edmund.” I told him the entire story. “It’s only a matter of time before Bedloe comes after me or Danby has me arrested.”
“What do we do now?” Sam said.
Somehow his question struck me as funny, and I laughed weakly. “I haven’t the slightest idea. I’ve made a terrible mess of everything, haven’t I?”
Someone knocked on the door and fear stabbed at me—had Danby obtained an arrest order already? Alice’s footsteps tapped through the hallway as she went to answer it.
“You’ve a visitor, my lady,” she said. “She says her name is Jenny.”
I cut my eyes to Sam. “Oh, no.” If Jenny had come to my home, it meant only one thing: she knew that Mistress Ruby and Lady Wilde were one and the same.
“I’ll send her away,” Sam said.
“No, it’s too late,” I said. “She knows who I am. Let her in, Alice.”
Jenny’s eyes were filled with apprehension as she entered the drawing room. She sat on the edge of a chair, looking as though she were about to burst into tears.
“How dare you come here,” I said.
“Ma’am, it’s not what you think,” she began. “I came to warn you. William knows who you really are.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re in danger, m’lady!”
Resigned, I said, “Tell me everything, beginning with your name.”
“You already know that, ma’am. My name’s Jenny. Jenny Bedloe.”
“Captain Bedloe is your husband?”
“Aye.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead, which had begun to ache. “Continue.”
“My husband is a bad man, ma’am. I wasn’t lying when I told you—Mistress Ruby—that.”
Should I continue denying I was Mistress Ruby? I couldn’t see what good it would do now. “Why did you come to see Mistress Ruby in the first place?” I asked.
“William made me. He’d followed Sir Edmund to your room and wanted to know who you were, what kind of powers you had. He’s the one who made up the story about wanting the baby.”
Had Bedloe known I was Mistress Ruby from the beginning? I couldn’t see how that was possible, and yet I’d seen him for the first time, at the Black Horse Tavern, so soon after Sir Edmund’s visit. How could it have been a mere coincidence?
As if she’d read my mind she said, “William didn’t connect you with
Mistress Ruby until after your visit to the Cock and Fox the other night. It was the ring, ma’am. He recognized your ring.”
“Did he steal it?” I asked. “Where is it?”
“Aye, he stole it, but I don’t know where it is.”
“And did he steal my diary too?”
“Aye,” Jenny said.
“How did Sir Edmund get a page of it?”
“William sent it to Sir Edmund. He thought he could get some money off him.”
“Where is the diary now?”
“I don’t know, my lady. He has it well hidden.”
“Are you aware that Captain Bedloe murdered Sir Edmund Godfrey?”
Her eyes filled with tears and I wanted to strike her. She played the innocent act well, but I knew too much about her to be tricked by her now.
“How did he do it?” I asked. She shook her head, tears leaking from her tightly shut eyes. “Come now, Jenny, you’ve told me this much. You may as well tell me everything.”
“He’ll kill me, my lady, I know he will.”
Her welfare was of far less concern to me than my quest for the truth. I had sacrificed so much for it I would not stop now. I sat back in my chair and rested my laced fingers against my stomach. I slipped into Mistress Ruby’s voice. “If you don’t tell me, we’ll kill you ourselves. It’s your choice to make, Jenny.”
She swallowed hard and looked from me to Sam. “I don’t believe you.”
Sam made fists of his hands and advanced toward her.
“Wait,” she said. “I’ll tell you.” She took a deep breath. “Someone paid William a great deal of money to spy on Sir Edmund.”
“Who?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I only know that whoever did it wanted Sir Edmund followed.”
