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“Recognize this?” the Detective asked.
On closer inspection, he realized that it was the list Leonard had written of all the instigators that were leading the group toward an uprising.
His answer was definitely critical at this point. He had been careful not to allude to any knowledge of an uprising beforehand, else the question would have been why he didn’t come forward if he possessed such a knowledge. However, everything they were churning out against him suggested that not only had he known about the plan for an uprising, he had also orchestrated the whole thing himself.
What in God’s name is Leonard’s list doing here instead if in my file at home?
The Detective placed the list on the table in front of him.
“Would you say this is your handwriting, Lord Walsrock?” Detective Cooper asked.
Kenneth had to keep from gasping when he saw that this was the exact list he had written on. He’d scribbled notes all over the list.
Besides the names of the moneybags, he’d scribbled things likeset up meeting withandtry and persuade him.Besides the names of the other unsavory characters, he had grouped them together and writtenwithout these ones, the uprising won’t get started.
When he’d been in his study with Leonard sitting in front of him, those words had simply showed the course of action he’s decided to take with each lead.
Now, however, on the other side of scrutiny and investigation, what he’d written most certainly seemed like a master planner deciding what chess pieces to move on the board.
“Dear Lord!” he exclaimed softly, as he brought his hand to rub at his temple in a bid to ease the ache and pressure that was building up. “All right, Detective Cooper, I think I have no other option than to be completely honest with you,” he remarked in resignation.
“I would like that very much. It would certainly make my job easier,” Detective Cooper responded with all sincerity.
Kenneth began from the very beginning, when he had initially set himself on the course of fighting for the plight of the common folk. He’d told him of his debates in parliament and his travails at getting quality research done in order to sponsor his bill.
He told him the part his valet had played and how he was certain he wouldn’t have made any headway without Leonard’s help. He described the first presentation of the bill and how it had ended badly. Then, he also described how he had happened upon a plan to start an uprising.
When he arrived at this part, the Detective paused his story for the first time, to ask a question.
“So your valet told you about the rumors of an uprising being whispered in the streets of London? How had he heard such whispers?”
“According to him, there was a whole other world, besides the one I was familiar with. A world where the servants and common folk reigned supreme. It was from there he had heard whispers of the coming uprising,” Kenneth responded truthfully.
“So when he told you, what did you do?” Detective Cooper asked.
Kenneth then continued on with his story of how he had determined to intervene and cause the leaders of the pending uprising to see reason with him. He had detailed Leonard to find out who they were so he could meet with them.
They had agreed to set their plans back by four weeks, in which time he was meant to have succeeded with parliament.
He went on to detail the work done and the changes made in readiness for the second presentation. He’d thought it was successful until the results from the votes had been tallied.
He ended with the story of the attack on his person at the House of Lords, and how he only ended up at home when he had managed to escape.
“I assure you, Detective. You have the wrong person. I have not done any of the things I am being accused of. If anything, I am the reason why the uprising hadn’t started sooner than now,” Kenneth remarked.
Detective Cooper studied him for a moment when he was finally done with his version of how things had progressed.
“Give me a moment. I’ll be back,” Detective Cooper had said politely, as he stood up and walked out.
In the Detective’s absence, he had tried to measure the effect that his version of events had had. It was impossible to know whether the Detective had believed him or whether he had seen him as a liar.
If only Leonard was here to corroborate my story.
He missed his valet and the fact that Leonard had remained missing while the world crumbled around him, gave him no small measure of pain and sorrow.
His mind also drifted to thoughts of Rose. If things hadn’t gone the way they had, she would have been in his arms right now as they waltzed under the gazebo at Lord Rockgonie’s manor.
I hope you are well, My Love.
