The Custom House Murders (Captain Lacey Mysteries #15) - Ashley Gardner Page 0,18

to learn of a smuggler who’d threatened violence. I would also alert Mr. Thompson of the River Police, as I’d planned.

I had still other friends with influence on those in power. Denis had not warned me to keep silent, from which I inferred that he wouldn’t mind if I told as many people as possible that Creasey would be plotting something and had already struck.

It occurred to me that there hadn’t been much time between me delivering Creasey the message and the assassin going after Denis. Had Creasey been able to arrange the attempt in the time Eden and I had been in the Bow Street house? Or had he been scheming such an assassination for the day Denis and he ceased tiptoeing around each other? It was possible, I supposed. Denis had an amazing network of people across London, and I couldn’t be surprised if Creasey had the same sort of thing.

“Can you finish your business by the end of the week?” I asked Donata.

Donata, who’d turned back to her letter, sent me a look of exasperation. “The end of the week? It is already Tuesday.”

“I will try to make Eden see reason and tell me the truth, and have him tell the full story to Sir Nathaniel. Once he is cleared, you and I can leave for Oxfordshire. We’ll send Peter ahead tomorrow, well-guarded.”

“Though you will be in the most danger.” Donata’s eyes sparkled with heat. “I doubt I can finish by the week’s end, Gabriel.”

“Do what you are able, and then conclude the rest in Oxfordshire. Why not hire a secretary? You should not have to wrestle with estate business yourself.”

“I prefer to. I don’t mind assistance, but I will not put all my financial affairs in the hands of a secretary or even my man of business. I trust very few with Peter’s estates—you would be shocked to learn of the number of people who’d try to swindle a little boy.”

“I am sorry to say I am not astonished.” I laid my hand on hers. “I will be happy to assist as well. I should take more of an interest in the business end of things.”

I hid a qualm as I spoke. I was terrible at figures and financial decisions, which was why my cousin Marcus had taken over running the Lacey home in Norfolk. But Donata was my wife and should not have to slog through the accounts on her own.

She sent me a pitying glance. “I have finally managed to untangle the books of the Breckenridge properties. My late husband left them in an appalling state. I have taken on the challenge of looking into the Lacey estate as well, with Marcus’s assistance. I do not need you mucking it all up again.”

“I see.” I pretended to be stung. “Your father then. He is a man of wisdom.”

Donata brightened. “Yes, dear Papa would help if I asked. Very well, I will do what I can and prepare to remove to Oxfordshire by the week’s end.” Her smile faded and her severe expression returned. “But I am not going alone. You will finish your business and quit London by that time as well. If your Mr. Eden has not been cleared by then, you will leave it to Sir Montague or Sir Nathaniel to sort out.”

I hesitated. My greatest wish was to see Donata and our children safely away. I had been through hell and back around the world in the army, my career ending when French soldiers amused themselves by torturing me. I had survived all that, which made me tend to dismiss personal danger. The things I’d gone through since returning to London to convalesce had hardened me further.

Donata’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll not go without you, Gabriel. That is my condition.”

I drew myself up. “I am your husband, Donata.”

“I believe you recall how obedient I was to Breckenridge. I at least respect you, but not when you are being a fool. We both leave on Saturday morning.”

I usually lost arguments with Donata. Sometimes it took longer for me to admit defeat, and sometimes I had to admit it directly.

I gave her a decided nod. “Very well. The end of the week.”

She made me give her my word before I left her.

I RETIRED to the library downstairs and wrote to Sir Montague and to Sir Gideon Derwent, a reformer. Sir Gideon was always interested in what criminal activities I pursued, and he’d been much help in the past. I also told him of Eden