Death in St James's Park Read Online Free PDF Page A

another war, and he was inclined to take such warnings seriously, even if Clarendon and Gery were not.
    ‘Do not defy me,’ barked Gery. ‘Fetch the guards.’
    ‘Do as he says, Chaloner,’ sighed the Earl tiredly. ‘As my marshal, he outranks you.’
    With no choice, Chaloner went to do as he was told, although the Earl’s pointed reminder of his reduced status made him wonder yet again why Gery had been hired. The moment the door had closed, he heard the murmur of voices. He could not make out the words, but he could tell that Knight was doing the talking and Gery was asking questions.
    He frowned, perturbed. Gery had deliberately excluded him from the discussion now taking place, so what did the marshal not want him to hear? Freer was watching, which meant he could not press his ear against the wood, as he might have done had he been alone, so he was obliged to walk away. As he went, he was assailed by a strong sense of foreboding, and the distinct sense that all was not well in his master’s household.
    Knight wept so disconsolately when the palace guards led him away that Chaloner half wished he had let him escape. When they had gone, Chaloner began to walk down the stairs again, but Gery ran after him and grabbed his arm. The spy freed himself with more vigour than was strictly necessary,objecting to the liberty. Gery regarded him frostily.
    ‘What did Knight tell you when you were alone together? Did he mention the Post Office?’
    ‘Not really. Why?’
    ‘If I find out you have lied to me, Knight will not be the only one locked in Newgate. You will join him there, in the deepest, dankest dungeon the keeper can provide.’
    Chaloner tried not to shudder at the notion, sure Gery would implement the threat if he knew the extent of his aversion to such places. He masked his disquiet with a question. ‘Why should it matter what Knight said if you believe his claims to be a fiction?’
    Gery scowled. ‘Because the enquiry into corrupt practices at the Post Office is
mine
, and I do not want you interfering. You might spoil the traps I have laid. Stay away from it and its clerks. Is that clear? Now go back to the office. Clarendon wants to see you.’
    He had turned and stalked away before Chaloner could offer any response. Stifling a sigh – he was tired, cold and wanted to go home – Chaloner returned to his master.
    ‘Gery has offered to track down Gardner,’ said the Earl, once the intelligencer was standing in front of him again. ‘Thus you may leave the matter to him. And there is no truth in Knight’s allegations, so you had better forget them.’
    ‘What allegations?’ asked Chaloner, aiming to learn what had been discussed after he had been sent out.
    The Earl waved a weary hand. ‘About Clement Oxenbridge and the so-called Post Office plot that will bring about another civil war. It is a canard, so ignore whatever he told you.’
    ‘Are you sure that is wise, sir?’ asked Chaloner, immediatelysuspicious. ‘It is a serious claim, and if Knight is right—’
    ‘Do not argue with me,’ snapped the Earl. ‘I am not in the mood for your insolence today.’
    ‘It is not insolence, sir,’ objected Chaloner. ‘It is concern. The government is still too new to be completely stable, and we will be at war with the Dutch soon. It would be sensible to explore any rumour of plots that—’
    ‘My marshal specifically asked me to tell you not to interfere. He dislikes you for your former loyalties. You see, not everyone is as liberal as me when it comes to that sort of thing.’
    ‘No, sir,’ said Chaloner flatly, thinking the Earl mentioned his past so frequently that it somewhat belied his claims to open-mindedness.
    The Earl softened slightly. ‘I have not yet thanked you for looking after my son in Sweden. He has said little about his experiences, but I have heard from other sources that you rescued him from several unpleasant situations. You served me well.’
    With a pang of alarm,