Grenville studied his watch. 'A little farther, to the Temple Stairs.'
The boatman grunted. The boy swung the tiller, and we moved slowly toward the Temple Stairs, which lay not far west of the bridge.
In a few minutes, the boat bumped the slime-coated steps, and the boatman's boy sprang off, holding the boat in place with a line. Bartholomew stepped off first then gave his hand to Grenville, then me. I slipped a little on the step, but Bartholomew's rock solid arm kept me from falling.
Grenville had returned his watch to his pocket. 'Forty-five minutes,' he told me.
No one had been terribly precise about the times of Peaches' movements that day. Lady Breckenridge had her leaving Inglethorpe's a little past four. Jean thought she saw Peaches in The Glass House at half past. Thompson put her death at half past, but the doctor had said anywhere between four and five. There was enough discrepancy that she could well have reached the Temple Gardens before she died. Or she could have died at half past and been brought here, as Bartholomew suggested.
'It could have been done,' I said. 'Winding through town in a hackney would likely have taken even longer.'
'Are you wanting to go back?' the boatman asked.
Grenville looked a question, and I shook my head. I was quite ready to be free of the chill river. 'I can walk to my digs from here.'
Grenville handed the boatman his payment. 'Go back and tell my coachman I went home with Captain Lacey. He will give you another shilling.'
The man took the guineas; they vanished quickly into his pocket.
Before he departed, I asked him, 'Did anyone else ask to be taken upriver to the Temple Stairs last Monday? Perhaps one or two people?'
The boatman shrugged. 'Never heard of it.'
The lad looked hopefully at me. 'I can ask, sir.' No doubt visions of more shiny coins danced in his head.
'No,' I said quickly. The last thing I wanted was someone silencing an innocent boy for asking the wrong questions. 'But, if you happen to hear of anything, send word. Ask for Captain Lacey in the rooms above the bakeshop in Grimpen Lane, off Covent Garden.'
'Right you are, sir,' the boy said.
The boatman looked less interested, but he nodded a farewell and picked up his oars again.
Grenville, Bartholomew, and I trudged up the steps to the Temple Garden. If any of the pupils and barristers walking purposefully about were surprised to see us emerge from the river, they made no sign. The clouds had parted today, rendering the garden a refreshing bright green, with the bare trees making delicate patterns against the sky.
The only pupil who noticed us was the tall, gangly Mr. Gower, whose face brightened as he waved to us.
'Well met, Captain.' He grinned, more cheerful than on any occasion I'd seen him previously. 'So, you got old Chapman arrested for murder. Never thought he had it in him.'
'What happens to you?' I asked. 'You are out a mentor.'
'Had a stroke of luck there. A gentleman of the Inner Temple, a silk no less, announced he would take a pupil, just today. I ran to him at once, and he said he'd take me on. Not because he thinks I'll make a great barrister, but because I'm tall and will look impressive in court.' He grinned, freckles dancing. 'Sir William Pankhurst's a fine orator and takes only the most interesting cases. Perhaps he'll even prosecute Chapman. Wouldn't that be a lark? With me assisting?'
I found his callousness a bit distasteful, but he was young, and he'd had no love for Chapman.
'Congratulations are in order then,' I said. I turned to Grenville and introduced him. Gower's eyes widened.
'You are Mr. Grenville?' He stuck out his hand. 'I am honored, sir, truly honored. You won't forget the name of Gower, will you? In case you need assistance prosecuting in a court of law some day.'
Grenville bowed and said he wouldn't forget.
'Perhaps you could adjourn to that tavern you mentioned before?' I asked. 'For a celebratory ale?'
Gower shook his head. 'I cannot, Captain. Sir William has me on a close tether. No more nipping out to the tavern or onto the green for a cheroot.' He grinned. 'Everything has its price.'
I chuckled with him then a thought struck me. 'You didn't happen to nip out to smoke a cheroot on Monday evening last, did you? When you were supposed to be dining in the hall?'
He stopped, then blushed. 'Perhaps. I have been known to do so from time to time.'
'While you were enjoying your smoke, did you notice anyone coming up the Temple Stairs, as we did just now? A man, perhaps?'
His eyes narrowed. 'Can't be sure, you know. I think it was raining that night, pretty fierce. I remember giving up on the cheroot before long-too damp to enjoy properly. I went inside fairly quick, to get warm. I can't remember seeing anyone out of place, no.' He grinned. 'Am I being helpful? If you arrest someone, would you put it in the papers that I assisted you?'
'Your name will be prominent, Mr. Gower, if you wish it,' I said.
'Excellent. Well, I'm chuffed to have met you, Mr. Grenville.'
Grenville said something polite, and we took our leave.
'I suppose I was that young and cocky once,' Grenville said as we strolled up Middle Temple Lane and back to Fleet Street. 'But I must say that the suit he wears is first rate.'
I came out of deep thought about the Temple Gardens on a dark, rainy night. 'How did you notice his suit? His gown covered it.'
'I noted his collar and his sleeves. His coat was made by a fine tailor in Bond Street. No doubt provided by a proud and ambitious papa.'
I could only muse that Grenville was fixed on dress. I had never noticed Gower's coat.
As we trudged slowly back to Covent Garden, we discussed what we'd learned from the boat ride. I told Grenville I'd inform Thompson of our discoveries; he, of the Thames River patrol could easily order his watermen to run up and down the river questioning boatmen and fishermen.
'It would be pleasing if we could find someone who truly saw something,' Grenville said crossly. 'Mr. Gower sees nothing through the rain. Young Jean hears Kensington and Peaches argue, but does not see anyone with Peaches when she leaves The Glass House. None of the hackney drivers Thompson questioned remember seeing Peaches at all. Lady Breckenridge does not observe Peaches speak to anyone but Inglethorpe last Monday at Inglethorpe's gathering. And Inglethorpe, of course, cannot tell us anything, because Chapman skewered him. It's dashed annoying.'
'Perhaps,' I said absently, musing again.
'You are having ideas, Lacey. Will you share them?'
'Not ideas. Threads of ideas. Which might lead nowhere.'
'Well, I am completely baffled,' Grenville said. 'Tell me, Lacey, what have you decided about Berkshire? I've had another letter from Rutledge-he's the headmaster I told you of. He was most interested in you. An Army officer of good family and quiet habits is just what he'd like. What shall I tell him?'
'I have been thinking that a sojourn in Berkshire would be most pleasant, to tell the truth,' I said.
'Excellent. I will warn you, however, that Bartholomew wishes to accompany you. And I will visit often, of course, to make certain you are not getting up to anything exciting without me. Can you bear it?'
I gave him a faint smile and a nod. 'I would enjoy the company.'
'I will write to Rutledge tonight.' Grenville pulled the collar of his greatcoat higher. 'Let us move along. If anyone sees me strolling the Strand, on foot, my reputation will be at an end.'
'Nonsense,' I said, feeling slightly better now that I'd made a decision. 'It will become the thing to do.'
Grenville burst out laughing, something he did rarely. 'True. That would be a most excellent joke.'
Chuckling, he ambled on, and we at last turned north to Covent Garden and Grimpen Lane.
Grenville invited me to dine with him again, but I told him I had an engagement for the evening. He left me as his coach arrived at Grimpen Lane, and Bartholomew went out to shop for our supper.
I had worried at first that keeping Bartholomew would be costly, especially since Bartholomew enjoyed
