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Chapter Three
Will ducked under the lintel and entered the coffee shop, pausing to remove his hat before looking about. He didn’t see the man he sought at first, and Will was tempted to check his watch to make sure he wasn’t early. But then a man in a back corner rose slightly and nodded to him. Of course, Callahan Kelly had seated himself in the darkest corner, where no one would see him.
Will made his way over and took a seat across from Cal. “Who are you hiding from back here?” he asked.
“Sure and a man can’t be too careful,” Cal said, the Irish lilt of his voice familiar to Will and sounding very foreign after the several days Will had spent at Court, surrounded by the Queen’s English. “Coffee?” Cal offered, gesturing to the empty cup in front of Will.
Will nodded and Cal poured the strong drink then sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. His dark hair fell over his forehead in a roguish style. “So then how is life at Court?”
“Tedious. It’s all seven-course meals, visiting dignitaries, and evenings of string quartets.”
“I don’t know how you can stand it,” Cal said, sarcasm lacing his tone. “When Baron sent me on a mission, I had to work twelve hours the day and live in a cramped flat in The Liberties.”
“A cramped flat with Miss Murray. I hear there was only one bed. That sounds a hardship indeed.”
Cal winked at him. “She’s Mrs. Kelly now, if you please. And she’ll be waiting for me to return to the cramped flat here in London and tell her what of our meeting.”
Will nodded, still finding the union of the rough and tumble Irishman and the efficient, organized clerk difficult to comprehend. “Let’s not keep her waiting then. I have managed to make the acquaintance of Lady Averley. I don’t know her well enough yet to make any determinations about her character, but the prime minister does not think she is above suspicion. The prince is less convinced, and he does know the countess better than Russell.” Will sipped his coffee.
“Then you’ll have to get to know her better.”
“Exactly. I’ve invited her to the British Museum. We have a mutual interest in fossils.”
Cal’s brow went up. No doubt he thought these English nobs strange and ridiculous. “Has she accepted?”
“Not yet. If she does, I imagine she will be free tomorrow afternoon when the queen is occupied with her children.”
“Bridget and meself will make plans to visit the museum as well. Then you’ll have another set of eyes on her.”
Will nodded. “Have you uncovered any whisperings about the assassination attempt?”
“I’ve heard a word here and there,” Cal admitted. “I’m reasonably sure it was a plot by the Irish separatists, but I haven’t identified which faction. As far as any mention of this Lady Averley or any other accomplice, nothing yet.”
“Whoever was involved can’t hide forever. Between the two of us, we’ll find him.”
“Or her,” Cal added.
“Right.” What Will didn’t add was that he rather hoped Lady Averley was not guilty of betraying the queen. Now that he’d met her, he found that he liked her. It was more than the fact that she was beautiful. She was intelligent and, he suspected,buried under all those gray flounces and demure looks, she was a woman of great passions. He’d glimpsed just a hint of it in their discussion of Mary Anning. Most women he knew would have agreed with the duchess, that fossil-hunting was not an occupation suited for a woman. Lady Averley had not contradicted the duchess, but she had not agreed either. He liked a woman with some spine. He liked a woman not afraid to disagree with those who outranked her, but who was also able to do so diplomatically.
“Sure and that lad is trying to catch your eye,” Cal said.
Will glanced over his shoulder and spotted a boy of about twelve standing in the doorway. He held a slip of paper in his hand, and Will suspected he must have a note from his valet, as that was the only person he’d told of his destination.
“I have a note for you, sir,” the lad said, his voice breathless. “It’s from a man at the palace.”
Will gave him a coin and waited until he’d scampered away before opening the paper. He smiled when he read it.
“That’s good news, so it is,” Call commented.
Will looked up. “Lady Averley has agreed to accompany me to the museum tomorrow.”
“We’ll finally get a glimpse of the lass.”
Will finished his coffee. “It’s unlikely that she will meet with anyone there, but I’ll be glad for an extra set of eyes on her. I should get back.”
“Until the morrow then.”
“Give your wife my regards.” He donned his hat, tipped it, and left the coffee house. The palace was not far, and Will decided to walk. The night was cold, but he didn’t mind the cold when a warm bed was waiting.
