“Where is Her Majesty now?” Narraway asked.
“Osborne,” Pitt replied. He felt his heart beating faster, harder. Other notes he had seen from various people came to mind: movements of men that were small and discreet, but those men’s names should have given pause to whoever was reading the reports. Narraway would have seen it. “I believe that’s where they’ll strike. It’s the most vulnerable and most immediate place.”
Narraway paled even further. “The queen?” He gave no exclamation, no word of anger or surprise; his emotion was too consuming. The thought of attacking Victoria herself was so shocking that all words were inadequate.
Pitt’s mind raced to the army, the police on the Isle of Wight, all the men he himself could call from other duties. Then another thought came to him: Was this what they were supposed to think? What if he responded by concentrating all his resources on Osborne House, and the actual attack came somewhere else?
“Be careful,” Narraway said quietly. “If we cause public alarm it could do all the damage they need.”
“I know.” Pitt was aware of Charlotte and Vespasia watching him as well. “I know that. I also know that they have probably a large space of time in which to strike. They could wait us out, then move as soon as we have relaxed.”
“I doubt it.” Narraway shook his head. “They know I escaped and they know you are back from France. I think it’s urgent, even immediate. And the men you named here in England, together, won’t wait. You should go back to Lisson Grove and—”
“I’m going to Osborne,” Pitt said, cutting across him. “I don’t have anyone else I can send, and if you’re right, we could already be late.”
“You’re going to Lisson Grove,” Narraway repeated. “You are head of Special Branch, not a foot soldier to be going into battle. What happens to the operation if you are shot, captured, or simply where no one can reach you? Stop thinking like an adventurer and think like a leader. You need to find out exactly whom you can trust, and you need to do it by the end of tomorrow.” He glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantel. “Today,” he corrected. “I’ll go to Osborne. I can at least warn them, perhaps find a way of holding off whatever attack there is until you can send men to relieve us.”
“You may not be let in,” Vespasia pointed out to him. “You have no standing now.”
Narraway winced. Clearly he had forgotten that aspect of his loss of office.
“I’ll come with you,” Vespasia said, not as an offer but as a statement. “I am known there. Unless I am very unfortunate, they will admit me, at least to the house. If I explain what has happened, and the danger, the butler will give me audience with the queen. I still have to decide what to tell her once I am in her company.”
Pitt did not argue. The logic of it was only too clear. He rose to his feet. “Then we had better return and begin. Charlotte, you will come with me as far as Keppel Street. Narraway and Aunt Vespasia had better take the carriage and set out for the Isle of Wight.”
Vespasia looked at Pitt, then at Narraway. “I think a couple of hours’ sleep would be wise,” she said firmly. “And then breakfast before we begin. We are going to make some very serious judgments, and perhaps fight some hard battles. We will not do it well if we are mentally or physically so much less than our best.”
Pitt wanted to argue with her, but he was exhausted. If it was in any way acceptable he would like to lie down for an hour or two and allow his mind to let go of everything. He couldn’t remember when he had last relaxed totally, let alone had the inner peace of knowing that Charlotte was beside him, that she was safe.
He looked at Narraway.
Narraway gave a bleak smile. “It’s good advice. We’ll get up at four, and leave at five.” He glanced toward Vespasia to see that it met with her agreement.
She nodded.
“I’m coming with you,” Charlotte said. There was no question in her voice, just a simple statement. She turned to Pitt. “I’m sorry. It is not a question of not wanting to be left out, or of any idea that I am indispensable. But I can’t let Aunt Vespasia travel alone. It would be remarked on, for a start. Surely the servants at Osborne would consider it very odd?”
Of course she was right. Pitt should have thought of it himself. It was a large omission on his part that he had not. “Of course,” he agreed. “Now let’s retire while we still have a couple of hours left.”
When they were upstairs and the door closed Charlotte looked at him with gentleness and intense apology. “I’m sorry …,” she began.
“Be quiet,” he answered. “Let’s just be together, while we can.”
She walked into his arms and held him close. He was so tired that he was almost asleep on his feet. Moments later, when they lay down, he was dimly aware that she was still holding him.
IN THE MORNING PITT left to return to Lisson Grove. Charlotte, Vespasia, and Narraway took the coach south along the main road to the nearest railway station to catch the next train to Southampton, and from there the ferry to the Isle of Wight.
“If nothing is happening yet we may have a little trouble in gaining an audience with the queen,” Narraway said when they were sitting in a private compartment in the train. The soothing rattle of the wheels over the rails rhythmically clattered at every joint. “But if the enemy are there already, we will have to think of a better way of getting inside.”
“Can we purchase a black Gladstone bag in Southampton?” Charlotte suggested. “With a few bottles and powders from an apothecary, Victor could pose as a doctor. I shall be his nurse.” She glanced at Vespasia. “Or your lady’s maid. I have no skills in either, but am sufficiently plainly dressed to pass, at least briefly.”
Vespasia considered for only a moment. “An excellent idea,” she agreed. “But we should get you a plainer gown, and an apron. A good white one, without ornament, should serve for either calling. I think Victor’s nurse would be better. The staff will be very familiar with lady’s maids; nurses they might know less. Do you agree, Victor?”
There was a flash of amusement in his eyes. “Of course. We will arrange it all as soon as we arrive at the station.”
“You think we are late already, don’t you?” Charlotte said to him.
