“Her victim was left bound and gagged in a shed, wearing Lady Birks’s outfit, and bludgeoned to death, deliberately confusing identification. Meanwhile, Lady Birks took this lady’s place in the stagecoach to London, apparently changing coaches twice enroute. I am notifying the Bow Street Office and London Magistrates by the same express post. I pray my message reaches you all before Lady Birks can arrive in London.”
“I must get word to the Arnolds,” Edmund said urgently. “We should set armed guards at both houses and go out as little as possible until this woman is caught again. Perhaps Diana would be better here with us… I must think. Where are Sophia and Beatrice?”
“They’re upstairs, perfectly safe. I didn’t know what time you’d be back, so I’ve already sent out a message to Bow Street myself. They may call on you, I suspect, since you’ve met Lady Birks and were part of the original arresting party.”
Edmund nodded as they walked towards the study. He opened a locked drawer where he kept a small pistol and slipped it into his jacket before he sat down at his desk.
“With Mr. Langford’s letter, I hope the Bow Street Runners are putting out alerts across the city already,” he said. “Let’s hope that London’s professional criminal investigators and law enforcers are more of a match to Lady Birks than the local guards and constables.”
He took out ink, a quill and paper and then shook his head.
“Rather than write, I’d like to quickly ride back to the Arnolds in person, but I don’t want to leave you and the girls here alone and unprotected.”
“You’re not the only one who can shoot straight, Edmund,” Unity reminded him crisply with a flash of her own pistol which had been concealed in the pocket of her skirts. His surprise made her smile.
“You forget, Edmund, that your father held a commission in the army until you were five and I was a soldier’s wife living in Scotland during the Jacobite uprising. We didn’t know whom we could trust. Your father made sure I could protect myself, and you, from raiders and spies while he took his regiment north. Paid guards are all very well, but it doesn’t do to be defenseless.”
“Mother, you are a marvel,” Edmund said with some relief. “In that case, I will take the message myself and return as quickly as I can. But first, we must see to paid guards. They have their place, as you say.”
“I’ve already spoken to Grigson about security for this house. He will be bringing in some suitable men for you to interview tonight.”
Edmund nodded.
“I will make sure we have those who are trained and armed as required. Do the other staff know, apart from Grigson?”
“They know that they’re not to bring in anyone from outside and that there’s a dangerous female murderer on the loose who might try to get into the house. The youngest maid was apparently so scared that she fainted.”
“At least the wedding announcement for theTimesdidn’t mention the venue,” Edmund mused.
Calling for his horse to be saddled quickly, he went to fetch his coat and riding boots.
* * *
Jacob was already at the Arnolds’ house in Belgravia when Edmund arrived. Lord Wycliff had been dining at his club with Percy when a message from Diana summoned the latter home urgently.
Lord Templeton sat upright in a comfortable chair by the fireplace in the drawing room, leaning forward on the cane he was still using to help him walk. Having lost so much weight due to the poisoning, his face looked gaunt and spare, but there was spirit and energy in his manner again.
“That infernal woman couldn’t even rest easy in a grave,” he was saying to his wife as Edmund entered the room. He then launched into a more fulsome blast of bitter, if deserved, invective against Lady Birks.
“Where’s Kitty?” Edmund whispered to Percy and Jacob as Lord Templeton’s words made his wife blush.
“Upstairs in her room,” Percy answered. “Diana is checking on her now. This latest news has been too much…”
“Lord Templeton, Lady Templeton,” Edmund called, drawing their attention to his arrival.
“Edmund, thank you so much for coming back,” Lady Templeton said, standing up to draw him further into the room. “Mr. Langford said that he had written to you too. Such appalling news. You must be as concerned as we are.”
“It’s horrific,” Edmund agreed. “There are clearly no depths she won’t sink to. We must have armed guards at both houses.”
Then, without prevarication, he added, “I would urge you also to consider temporarily moving the household to a secret location until Lady Birks is apprehended.”
“During the Season?” Jacob asked doubtfully. “Every empty house in London is rented, Edmund, and all the suitable hotels were bought out months ago. Even if the Arnolds went to stay with friends, they would be known and found as easily as here.”
“That young fellow is quite right,” Lord Templeton said from his chair. “And why should we be hounded from our home by that madwoman? No, what you said first was right, Edmund. We must have armed guards. Jenson is a good man with a gun, and we have Percy. But we’ll need more, especially with me in this state.”
“Let me stay with you, Lord Templeton,” Jacob offered. “I’m an excellent shot, and I have no wife or children of my own to consider. If you agree, I’ll send for my man to bring over my two best pistols and ammunition right now.”
“Could you fight a woman, eh?” Lord Templeton questioned. “I’m not sure Percy could, although he’s a strong enough hunter. Personally, I’d put a bullet between her eyes as soon as I’d look at her if my hands weren’t still so shaky from that poison.”