Coincidences
“Could I possibly avail of something stronger than tea?” The hint of nervousness had returned to Cavell’s voice.
Even though it was rather early in the day for alcohol, I was also nervous being alone in such proximity to him. But, if Brandy would loosen his lips, so be it.
“Very well.”
I left the strange red book on the table and we relocated to the fireside seating. I reached for the French Brandy on the side cabinet pouring us both a tumbler. I passed Cavell his glass of which he took a gulp, and then I took a calming swallow of my own. I sighed with relief as the taste of walnuts, candied fruits, and ginger ran over my palate. With the mellow burn of fine Brandy calming my nerves I settled back into my armchair and my attention returned to Sebastian.
The man could play earnestness better than any man I had ever met. He had the kind of mercurial face that was perfect for disguise. With a mustache, or postiche, spectacles, and alternative wig hairstyles, Sebastian Cavell could transform into a thousand men. But this clean-shaven version sitting before me was the one I liked best. This one held his Brandy glass to his lips and sent his steady unflinching stare in my direction. The look made lust spear through me. I saw my lust reflected in his eyes as if I was looking into a mirror.
“For research purposes”, Sebastian began,
“I keep an eye on the ‘Births, Deaths, and Marriages’ columns in The Times newspaper. A year ago I saw that Lord Percival Ardmillan had passed away. I was born in India, and am acquainted with a distant ancestor of Tipu Sultan and so I knew of Ardmillan’s vile reputation.”
Now, that was a revelation! If Cavell was born in India his father must have been in the Military or Civil Service for Her Majesty. I was intrigued.
“The story of the bejeweled tiger head is the stuff of legend, is it not? My acquaintance's' family was stripped of their wealth by the British invaders and after the British victory at the Siege of Seringapatam; they were banished from their ancestral lands. When I discovered Ardmillan’s death notice, I engaged in a discussion with my acquaintance and it was decided that it would be suitable justice to return the tiger head ornament to the family.”
Hearing Cavell speak of British invaders I believed that he rumors in the newspapers about him being an Anti-Imperialist could well be true.
“I gained access to the offices of Buchanan’s solicitors and obtained a copy of Ardmillan’s Last Will and Testament to see what would become of the ornament. If it were to be bequeathed to any other than the heir I would make plans to intercept it en-route. However, on reading the Will I found that as per Lord Percival’s instructions it was listed to be sold.” Cavell paused and took a sip of Brandy.
“It was then that I read the damning clause in the Will concerning a Mr. Benedict Hannan.”
I gulped. Lord Ardmillan believed I was the man who lured his son Euan to become a sodomite, when in fact; it was Euan who had seduced me at university! Ardmillan was so disgusted by his son’s apparent perversion that he’d made a clause in his Will stating that I was to be barred from bidding on his treasured collection—something that he knew would vex me greatly. I blanched at the memory of hearing about this offensive clause in that Will and tossed back my Brandy.
“It was such a cruel and vindictive thing to do,” Sebastian exclaimed passionately. “I didn’t know you then, but as a man who shares your predilection I was quite outraged on your behalf.” He admitted.
“What did you do?”
“What could I do? I didn’t know who Benedict Hannan was. For a while, I thought nothing of it, but about a month later I was in Bloomsbury on business.”
My brows rose.
“Very well, I was noting the habits of a prospective client.” Sebastian conceded. “I have a certain indirect way to be approached for assignments. The list of people seeking my brand of justice is very long, but I do not ever meet a client or take the client's word at face value until I have thoroughly checked their story.”
I had never met a criminal before and so I was intrigued by the amount of planning that seemed to go into Sebastian’s assignments.
“This particular morning I followed the client to a church in Fitzrovia… St Giles, in fact.”
I sat up rigid in my chair, for St Giles in the Field was my parish church.
“I was supposed to be watching my client, but I saw an attractive older man standing at the back of the church. He was trying so hard to be inconspicuous, as if he wanted to melt away into the wall, but he fascinated me, distracted me in a way I have not been distracted for some time. I watched him, rather than my client, and was so taken by the man that I abandoned my plans and followed him after the service. I followed him to… Hannan’s Auction House.”
“Ah.” I could not hold back my coy grin. The heat in my blood rose once more and my collar was rather too restrictive around my throat.
“When I discovered your name and joined the dots… well, my way forward started to make a little more sense.”
I must admit, I was a little alarmed and charmed by his telling. He had discovered that I was a homosexual via that blasted Will, and he was not repulsed, the opposite in fact.
“Life is like that sometimes, don’t you find?
