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“Yes Mr. Jones.”

“Cider, go and check on the other three guards. We have only seen these two on their own so I think the excitement is over for the evening.”

15 minutes later the wounded man was in the last stall in the stable block.

“Bind the wound so he does not bleed to death. Then start on the questions. Name, where is he from, why is he here, who is he running from? You know the drill. Smithy, get a rake and sweep the hay from this corner. Dutchy, get a bucket of water and once the area is swept clear, soak it thoroughly, a second or third bucket as necessary. We do not need to start an accidental fire.”

“Cider, you know how to get answers from him and quickly. The flames to his feet first, and if that does not work, then higher.”

The men had all seen, at different times, the Spanish guerrillas interrogate French captives. It was, and had been, horrific to watch, yet very effective in getting information quickly. There were to be no niceties with the interrogation.

“I am off to see her Ladyship.”

“Will she still be awake?”

Jones laughed.

“If I don’t hurry up and head to the Hall we will see her heading this way.”

The juxtaposition of their good natured banter and what they were about to do the prisoner was stark. The guards all knew it was true. Jones made sure he had not stepped in anything and headed for the house. He saw Thompson wave from the estate office attached to the side of the Hall. He changed direction. But it was typical of Lady Napier that she would meet him there, saving him from having to deal with his boots. She appeared calm, although she was standing.

“It was them. The one who actually made the threats against you was captured alive and we will get some answers. The other one is dead.”

He knew she would not be bothered by this detail.

“Sir Edward, the magistrate?”

Jones shook his head.

“The same reasons we did not speak to him in the first place still apply. It is exactly the kind of gossip that the old ladies of Bath live for. If we involve him, he would spread the news within the day, there is no chance of discretion. Regardless of the truth, your reputation would be tarnished. You have seen what is being said about that Darcy bloke.”

“Please deal with it as you see fit. Who was out there tonight? Your six and the two gamekeepers, anyone else?”

“No, that is it your Ladyship.”

Jones must have been excited Elizabeth thought, it was rare that she got a ‘your ladyship’ these days.

“You will all receive a bonus for dealing with this matter so expeditiously.”

What she really meant was ‘burying the bodies where they can never be found’.

She woke the next morning having slept well. After breakfast, she pulled on her boots and stood with Mr. Jones in the middle of the stable yard. They were observed by many, but overheard by none.

“What news?”

“There are I don’t know how many layers to this. They are Militia deserters, looking for an easy score. We do not have all the details yet. In between screams he sobbed some story about winning at cards and staying over near Saltford. It was confusing, we will revisit that part this morning, but given we had followed them back in that direction, it has the ring of truth to it. The two of them had deserted from Brighton, but there are a whole lot of desertions and most of them are never found. The military would deal with them if found, but they are not really looking for them. It is clear that someone in Bath talked, but I do not know who, yet. I don’t think they mentioned any amounts, nothing more than Lady Napier, a widow and an estate. That was all they needed. If I had to guess they thought you to be a much older lady and there not to be so many guards. We will get more out of him this morning. He confirmed that there was just the two of them. The dead man was called Denny. The one we captured is a George Wickham.

“It is at this point that everything gets complicated, layers upon layers. He claims to have information about the daughter of his godfather. Information that would ruin her if it was revealed. He passed out before we could get the name but he said the family was related to the nobility. I am as yet unsure if this is just him making things up to stop the pain but we shall see. You will have the full story by dinner time. I suggest you head to Bath with two of the men, my Lady. You will not be here as we drag the story out of this wretch of a man.”

Which was all well and true, but what he also meant was that she would not hear the screams. She nodded.

“Thank you, Mr. Jones. As usual, I can rely on you.”

Thomas Jones had been praised many times over his Army career. But he doubted he had stood taller than he did that moment. Lady Napier had not only saved him from a short life and a drawn out painful death, she had also returned his self-respect. He and the other seven men, there were two permanently in London, were proud to serve Lady Napier.

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Elizabeth was distracted at the booksellers and browsed without really focusing on what she was looking at. It was the same with luncheon, she and Harriet ate without tasting the food. Eventually she returned to Napier Hall to find Mr. Jones waiting. She wanted to shield Harriet from the worst of the details so they once again were in the stable yard. No one able to approach unseen, and no one able to overhear them. Jones immediately started talking.