Mr.Fielding shrugged. “It’s uncertain, though likely. Peyton is in a circle that fuses highborn and low, striving for the freedom of Ireland by any means necessary. No one can prove Peyton’s connection to Fenians, hence Daniel. I imagine our Danny’s looking for any evidence that can implicate Peyton in working to destroy the government, or else information to expose the entire ring.”
The qualms that had fluttered through me since Daniel had gone now returned as watery fear. “Daniel could not have told you all this.”
“I have my own sources. Peyton’s connections are dangerous, Mrs.Holloway. I am certain you understand that if Daniel is caught, they will not hesitate to dispatch him.”
I believed him. I’d encountered such people before in Daniel’s work, from those who tried to blow up railroad bridges to a duke ready to eliminate the cabinet from within.
“And Daniel is sitting in the midst of them.” I clenched the handle of my basket. I’d sent Hannah into the midst of them too. Peyton and his followers wouldn’t hesitate to rid the world of her as well. “What are we to do? I can’t know what is going on in the house every minute, and it seems very quiet there.” Indeed, the silence was unnerving.
“I have my spies, and no doubt you have yours.” Mr.Fielding’s steady look told me he knew I’d not have stayed idly in my kitchen.
“Spies who themselves can be in danger.”
“But you and I choose carefully,” Mr.Fielding said withassurance. “We’d not have asked those who would be easily found out or who’d do anything foolish.”
That was true in my case, and I knew Mr.Fielding was canny enough to send people who’d never be looked at or questioned. I’d had no suspicion of the groom until Mr.Fielding had told me he had a man in place today, and I’d put things together.
“It is difficult to wait for reports,” I said.
“But wait we must.” Mr.Fielding cast a glance at those hastening around us. “I will not tell my watchers who your watchers are in case they are caught trying to confer. Ignorance is best in this situation.”
“Perhaps.” My jaw hurt from being so tight. “Then again, if each knows there is help nearby, they can reach it if necessary.”
“I will think on it. In the meantime, please keep my men’s identities to yourself. I don’t wish them to be exposed.”
As I could speak to Hannah only whenever she extricated herself from the house, it was easy to agree.
“I hope nothing happens at all,” I said. “Then it won’t be necessary to have reports or other actions from any of them.”
“That would be ideal,” Mr.Fielding answered. “But I am not optimistic. There is unrest and impatience. Gladstone is the best hope for introducing a bill for Home Rule, but the going is slow. Violence is so much quicker.”
“Why does Daniel have to be in the thick of it?” I burst out in vexation. “He is neither causing the violence nor working to keep Ireland under Britain’s thumb. What has all this to do with him?”
“The paths we walk are never the ones we start down.” Mr.Fielding raised a hand as I began to splutter my frustration. “I know, philosophical aphorisms right now are not helpful.Daniel is paying for a mistake—he told me the tale once—which is not fair to him. I long to pull him out of the fire, but I can’t fight the entirety of Scotland Yard any more than I can call out the Fenians who have infiltrated this country.”
I strove to calm myself. “I do realize this is a problem Daniel must solve on his own,” I said grudgingly.
“With us to watch him and catch him when he is in peril.” Mr.Fielding sent me a comforting smile. “Fear not, Mrs.Holloway. We’ll pluck him away and keep him safe. Damn the man for making me worry about him so much.”
I was pleased, actually, to see his concern. When I’d first met Mr.Fielding, he’d showed annoyance that he’d had to ask for Daniel’s help and resentment toward Daniel for what Mr.Fielding had perceived was his soft life. They’d lost touch with each other in the aftermath of their foster father’s death, both clawing their way up from the streets and both believing the other had had an easier time of it.
“I must ask you another question,” I said before Mr.Fielding could suggest we move on. “In your experience of swindlers, what can you tell me about blackmailers? Particularly those who claim to know one’s nastier secrets?”
Mr.Fielding regarded me in surprise. “Surely, no one is trying to blackmailyou, my dear Kat—I mean, my dear Mrs.Holloway. You lead a blameless life.”
I had not in the past, and he knew it. “No, not me. Ladies of quality, shall we say. What sort of person writes scurrilous letters threatening to reveal all unless one pays? Is it a trickster trying his luck? If he or she sends out enough letters, they’ll come upon someone willing to settle up? Or is it a madwoman? Or madman?”
Mr.Fielding shook his head in distaste. “An accomplished confidence man doesn’t need to use sordid letters and threats.They can convince a mark to hand over the cash while buttering them up without penitence. The mark usually doesn’t even know they’ve been had until too late. Blackmailers, on the other hand, are repugnant creatures. They play upon people’s weaknesses and fears. A good trickster plays upon one’s deepest desires, not one’s deepest dread.”
“Well, I am very glad there are fraudsters in the world with clear consciences,” I said with some impatience. “Putting aside your revulsion, would it be more likely to be someone seeing blackmail as a business venture? Or a miserable wretch who wants to cause as much misery as they feel themselves?”
“I could not venture my opinion until I saw the letters,” Mr.Fielding said. “A good idea is to compare several of them—is the handwriting neat and even? Or scrawled in rage? Are they rambling? Or precise in their accusations?”
“The two I have seen look much alike. The handwriting is clear, but I could not say if it is a man’s or a woman’s. The letters indicate another will come with instructions as to where to leave the money, but so far, none have.”
“Curious.” Mr.Fielding tilted his head back to study Admiral Nelson, who calmly surveyed Charing Cross and on into Whitehall, pigeons perched happily on his shoulders. “It could be someone wanting to foment trouble for the sake of it. There are some who enjoy that. Or they are waiting for their moment. The most dangerous time for a blackmailer is the exchange of money for the goods. The victim might bring the police. Or a pistol.” Mr.Fielding pulled his gaze to me again. “Is there any chance I could have a look at them? I might be able to advise you better.”
“I will have to ask. The letters are not mine, you understand, and the ladies might object to a vicar reading about their sins.”
