Death in St James's Park Read Online Free PDF

Chaloner knew that the discussion was a prelude to him being sent on another overseas mission. He had spent more time away than in London since entering the Earl’s service, having been dispatched first to Ireland, then to Spain and Portugal, followed by Oxford, Wimbledon, Holland, Tangiers and finally Sweden. He was heartily sick of it, and had hoped that he had earned a few weeks’ respite, not the mere six days that he had had at home since his most recent jaunt.
    ‘It is good to be back, sir,’ he said quickly. ‘Hannah …’
    He had been going to say that his wife was pleased to have him home, but he was not entirely sure that was true. They had been married less than six months, yet although they had spentall but a few days of it apart, their relationship was already in trouble.
    ‘Well, I am afraid she will have to manage without you again,’ said the Earl briskly. ‘Because I have business that needs attending in Russia.’
    ‘
Russia?
’ cried Chaloner. That particular country had a reputation for being populated by brutal, superstitious peasants with a deep-rooted hatred of foreigners. No traveller who survived its perilous highways, warring brigands and deadly diseases had anything good to say about it. Was the assignment Gery’s idea, to rid himself of a man he hated? Permanently?
    ‘I imagine you speak the language,’ the Earl continued blithely. ‘I know for a fact that you understand French, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin and Dutch.’
    ‘But not Russian, sir,’ said Chaloner, aghast. ‘And I cannot go in January anyway. It has no ice-free ports, and will be impossible to reach until May at the earliest.’
    ‘I have it on good authority that there will be no ice this year. Something to do with tides, sea temperatures and the position of the moon. But it will not be for a few days yet, and I have an important task for you first. Three birds have died in St James’s Park.’
    ‘In suspicious circumstances?’ asked Chaloner, still wrestling with the appalling prospect of a trek to such a remote and inhospitable place. And he was mistrustful of the ‘good authority’, too, doubting the Earl knew anyone who was qualified to make such a judgement.
    Clarendon eyed him balefully. ‘I hope you are not being facetious. But yes, the ducks did die before their time, and I want you to discover why. Most of the creatures in that park are gifts from foreign ambassadors – including Russia’s – and they will be vexed if they learn we have not taken proper care of them. It is amission of vital diplomatic importance.’
    Chaloner nodded, but his sense of presentiment intensified. He had proved himself to be loyal in the past, so why was the Earl relegating him to a petty enquiry while Gery explored whatever was unfolding at the Post Office? Was it because the marshal had poisoned the Earl against him? Or was there another, more sinister reason?
    ‘It would be helpful if you made a start today,’ said the Earl, when there was no reply. ‘Or did apprehending that little clerk sap your energy?’
    ‘No,’ said Chaloner, rather more curtly than was wise. ‘Is there anyone particular I should talk to about these birds?’
    ‘Well, I do not think interviewing their companions will help.’ The Earl chortled, the first time Chaloner had heard him laugh since he had been back. ‘Unless you speak Duck.’
    Chaloner left the Earl’s offices in an agitated frame of mind, and was so engrossed in his concerns that he did not see Hannah until she stepped in front of him. Silently, he berated himself for his inattention. In his line of business, that sort of carelessness saw men killed.
    She was frowning, and he wondered what he had done to annoy her now. Nothing came to mind: Gery had kept him busy with petty enquiries since his return from Sweden, so he had barely seen her. They had quarrelled once, though, the night he had arrived home, when he learned that she had hired two more servants, taking the number