“WE FOUND A CLUE! WE FOUND A CLUE!” MATTHEW rushed into the parlor and flung himself joyously into Alicia’s arms.
“Well, we think it’s a clue,” David temporized, following Matthew in.
“We had a wonderful time!” Harry’s eyes were shining as he plonked himself down on the chaise beside Alicia.
“Are there any crumpets left?”
“Of course.” Smiling, Alicia hugged Matthew, relieved as well as pleased. Five minutes of studying Tony’s lists that morning had convinced her that she, personally, had no hope of making any sense of them. Adriana, too, had had no idea, but had suggested Alicia ask Jenkins and the boys, pointing out that their frequent excursions often took them to the docks.
She’d harbored reservations over the wisdom of such a course, but Jenkins had welcomed the challenge for himself and his charges. The boys, naturally, had been thrilled to assist Tony in any way. Soothing her sisterly concern by sending Maggs with them, she’d consented to an afternoon excursion.
Releasing Matthew, she signaled Adriana, who rose and tugged the bellpull. A moment later, Maggs and Jenkins both looked in. Alicia beckoned. “Come and tell us your news, but first we need to order tea to celebrate.”
She wasn’t sure how much credence to place in her brothers’ “clue,” but they undoubtedly deserved a reward for doing as she’d asked and looking.
Matthew and Harry told her which wharves they’d visited, glibly naming various seagoing vessels and their likely destinations. Then Maggs opened the door, Jenkins carried in the tea tray, and everyone settled to hear the news. Both Matthew and Harry were busy with their crumpets, today dripping with honey; by unspoken consensus, everyone looked at David.
He asked for the list; Jenkins handed it over. David smoothed the sheet. “There are thirty-five ships listed, and for many, there’s nothing odd or unusual to report.” He glanced at Alicia. “We asked lots of stevedores, and we found at least one who could tell us about each of these ships. So we know that for nineteen of them nothing odd has happened, nothing anyone knows to tell or talk about. But.” He paused, making the most of the dramatic moment, checking to see that both his sisters had recognized its import. “We learned that the other sixteen ships were all lost—on or around those dates!”
David’s eyes gleamed as he glanced from Alicia’s face to Adriana’s; hardly surprising, they were both agog.
“Sunk?” Alicia asked. “All sixteen were sunk?”
“No!” Harry’s tone indicated she’d missed the whole point. “Taken as prizes during the war!”
“Prizes?” Puzzled, she looked to Jenkins.
He nodded. “During all wars, merchantmen are targeted by opposing navies. It’s a customary tactic to deny the country one is at war with vital supplies. Even a shortage of, for instance, cabbages, could cause internal civil unrest and pressure an enemy’s government. It’s a very old tactic indeed.”
Alicia tried to put the information into perspective. “So you’re saying that sixteen ships”—she reached for the list David held; little ‘P’s had been written in the margin be- side nearly half the names—“these sixteen ships were taken as prizes of war by…” She looked up. “By whom?”
“That we didn’t learn,” Maggs replied. “But those we asked thought it was most likely foreign privateers, or the French or Spanish navies.” He nodded to the boys. “Your brothers hit the nail on the head over who to ask—it was their idea to approach the navvies. They unload the cargoes, so they remember the ships they’ve been hired to unload that don’t come in, because then they don’t get paid.”
Alicia sat and absorbed all they’d told her while they consumed their tea and crumpets. When, finished, the boys eyed her hopefully, she smiled. “Very well. You’ve done an excellent job, and doubtless learned a great deal this afternoon, so you’re excused from lessons for the rest of the day.”
“Yayyyy!”
“Can we go and play in the park?”
She glanced out; it was still light, but night would soon start falling.
“I’ll take ’em if you like, ma’am.” Maggs rose. “Just for half an hour or so—let ’em run the fidgets out.”
She smiled at him. ?
?Thank you, Maggs.” Then she looked at her brothers. “If you promise to attend Maggs, you may go.”
With a chorus of assurances, they jumped up, jostling as they raced from the room. With an understanding grin, Maggs followed.
Alicia watched him go. She owed Torrington a debt for sending him. Maggs was as careful of her brothers as she could wish.
Jenkins cleared the tea things and removed the tray; Adriana returned to her sketching. Alicia sat with the list in her hand, and wished Tony—Torrington—was there.
That evening, Alicia had elected to attend Lady Carmichael’s ball. Thus advised by Maggs, Tony saw no reason to arrive early; better to let the first rush ebb before making his way up the Carmichaels’ stairs.
He’d spent the best part of his afternoon with Mr. King, learning more about Alicia, specifically about her finances. As he’d suspected, she had had a contract with King, but to his surprise, the man hadn’t jumped at his offer to buy out said contract.
A degree of verbal fencing had ensued, until both he and King had agreed to show their hands. Once he’d made the nature of his interest clear, King had been much more accommodating; he’d agreed to burn Alicia’s contract in Tony’s presence in return for a bank draft for the appropriate amount. As King’s goal was to ensure that no one, not even he, could hold the contract over Alicia’s head, and as his only aim was to lift the financial burden from her shoulders, he’d been happy to agree.