Once they were all settled in the supper room and the soup course was set before them, Duncan asked, “What surprised you most today at the grand jury, Benjamin?”
Thompson quickly wiped his mouth so he might respond. “From what I observed, the murder of the Prime Minister had little to nothing to do with politics or unrest. When you return to the Continent, Lord Donoghue, you must tell our allies what you observed today.”
Alexander watched Lady Emma’s father, and Marksman continued not to be impressed by the man. Hopefully, Lord Donoghue was a better diplomat than he was proving to be as an active member of British society. Though, in truth, Alexanderhad purposely avoided the crowds standing outside the Rose and Crown public house waiting for word of the testimony.
“Hard to believe so much misery will be inflicted upon the nation simply because Bellingham was an unstable business owner who thought he might better succeed in Russia than in England,” Thompson added.
“I do not understand,” Alexander dared to admit.
Thompson frowned, but he made no derogatory comment regarding Alexander’s lack of interest in how today’s event could change the face of Great Britain. “It appears Bellingham ended up in a Russian prison, for some offense no one explained. He applied to the British ambassador in St Petersburg, but was for all intents and purposes ignored.”
Donoghue remarked, “I am often called upon to argue this or that in diplomatic circles, though I imagine a Russian court is more difficult to satisfy than the ones in the Netherlands.”
Thompson waited until the present service was removed and the next set before he continued. “Evidently, the Consul-General was equally unsympathetic with Bellingham’s request. Eventually, Bellingham was released and returned to England. Where was it, sir, that he took rooms?” Thompson asked.
“New Millman Street,” Duncan supplied.
Alexander’s ears perked up, for he was quite familiar with New Millman Street. He and his father had resided in the area for a brief period.
Duncan continued, “Let rooms there and began, according to Hartley, a letter-writing campaign demanding redress. The problem was, even if Bellingham had a legitimate complaint, Britain must not speak out too loudly against Russian decisions, for Wellesley requires the Russians’ assistance in this business with Napoleon.”
“So, they will hang John Bellingham?” Beaufort asked.
Alexander noted how Orson had reached under the tablecloth to claim Lady Emma’s hand, for Richard feared the talk of a hanging would upset her. Thankfully, the woman’s backbone had returned since her ordeal and having to testify against Lord Davidson, though, in Alexander’s opinion, Lady Emma would never be as strong as was Theodora Duncan. He thought Dora superior in many ways.
“Naturally, the trial is not until tomorrow, but it appears inevitable. They brought a true Bill against the man for Perceval’s murder,” Thompson remarked. “The government will wish to make an example out of Bellingham, while the populace will likely see him as a martyr.”
“Then the riots of those starving and the machine-wrecking Luddites and whatever plots others have envisioned had nothing to do with Perceval’s assassination?” Alexander remarked.
“It appears to be so,” Beaufort confirmed.
“Speaking of other conspirators,” Richard said with a large grin. “I learned something of the mysterious count that Aaran mentioned on Monday. He turns out to be a French marquis, not a count, after all.”
“From whom did you learn this information?” Duncan inquired.
“From Lord Godfrey,” Richard explained. “His lordship and I both returned to Madame Emmeline’s modiste to retrieve our ladies within a minute or so of each other. However, Madame Emmeline explained there was a slight delay. After congratulating me on my upcoming marriage to Emma, Godfrey began to claim his own personal triumph. It seems the Marquis of Honfleur will arrive in London in time to attend Lady Godfrey’s masque.”
“Has this marquis let a home?” Duncan asked.
“Yes, the one belonging to Lord Amgen,” Richard declared with a smile. “Amgen lets out the house regularly while he takes rooms in London for the Season.”
“Not the most fashionable address, but still respectable,” Beaufort remarked.
“Who else travels with the marquis?” Duncan asked as if he was already strategizing, which Alexander suspected was true for his lordship. The man’s brain never took a rest.
“His daughter and his niece,” Richard confirmed, “but in accepting Lady Godfrey’s invitation, it will only be Honfleur and his daughter.”
“Why not the niece?” Theodora asked.
“None of us know,” Richard explained. “Perhaps the niece is a poor relation serving somehow in the man’s household as a companion or something along those lines.”
“Richard, would you send what you learned to Hartley, so he might discover what he may from our contacts on the Continent? I know Honfleur is a port city and it has known great decline, but what else is there to know? Is it located in a stable area of France? Could we send agents in to learn more? How long has this man been the Marquis of Honfleur? Those sorts of inquiries.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
“I should do the same at the embassy.” Donoghue said, though none of them thought the British embassy’s staff would be of much use.
“When is this masque?” Duncan asked. “Should we expect Lord Honfleur to be out and about in society soon? Do we have time to put men in place to observe his comings and goings?”
