Page 45 of Beatrix

Henry gripped his son-in-law’s shoulder with an approving nod. ‘We’ll discuss everything once the rest of the family have arrived.’ Aside from raising his eyebrows at his father-in-law’s cryptic remark, Rhys stifled any further questions, aware that there could be unknown ears listening.

Once the furore had died down, the new arrivals were shown to their rooms while the innkeeper’s wife prepared a cold collation for the whole family. As she bustled around the private parlour, she remarked to Charlotte how gratified she must be feeling at being able to bring so many long-lost members of the family together. She even had to dab her eyes with a handkerchief at one point.

To Charlotte’s credit, she didn’t actually get as far as calling the woman a bird-witted chucklehead to her face, but it was a close-run thing.

CHAPTER 19

The second arrival made itself known with no help from Billy. Indeed, the strident voice emanating from the cart pulling into the yard had Charlotte wondering how anyone with half a brain could possibly imagine it belonged to an actual relative of hers…

‘If that boy’s charged me full bleedin’ fare when ‘e knows full well, we’re ‘ere at the biddin’ of ‘a guest at ‘is pa’s establishment, I’ll ‘ave ‘is guts fer garters.’

Billy was out the door before anyone could stop him and returned moments later towing Gladys by the sleeve. ‘Arnold’s on ‘is way,’ the barmaid declared without preamble. ‘Reckon ‘e’ll be on the next train along wi a couple o’ cousins...’ She tapped her nose and winked.

Sure enough, Arnold arrived not half an hour later accompanied by said cousins. Beatrix eyed the two newcomers curiously. One was a broad, taciturn fellow with a boxer’s flattened nose, while the other was much leaner with eyes that had already catalogued the room before he’d properly crossed the threshold.

‘Jem an’ Spry,’ Arnold said by way of introduction, jerking a thumb at each in turn. ‘Jem worked in Bristol docks wi’ me afore the strike put paid ter that. ‘E’s got a way wi dogs… An’ Spry… Let’s say ‘e used to be a lock-smith afore ‘e took up trade wi’ a bit less regard fer wot’s on the other side o’ the door if you get me meanin’.’

Henry nodded as understanding gradually dawned. ‘Can we trust them?’ he asked cautiously.

‘Wi’ me life,’ Arnold answered without hesitation, ‘an’ I ‘ave, more’n once. They don’t talk much, but they’ll get things done.’ Jem gave a small nod, while Spry merely touched his cap.

If anyone noticed the surreptitious wink Arnold directed towards Charlotte, it wasn’t mentioned. Neither was her pink-faced response…

‘In my book, two extra pairs of ‘ands is worth a deal more than a dozen wot don’t know their business,’ Gladys declared, settling herself into the nearest chair as though she owned it. ‘Now, wot exactly are we walkin’ into?’

* * *

They all crowded into the private parlour, in numbers that strained both the furniture and the innkeeper’s patience. Beatrix found herself wedged between Bernice and Arabella, Aggie asleep across her feet. Once they’d finished eating and the plates removed, Ben laid out a rough sketch he’d drawn from memory, and piece by piece, the plan took shape.

After much debate, they rejected the initial suggestion that Gladys go in asking after a kitchen position due to the risk of her being simply sent on her way, putting a spoke in the wheel at the first hurdle. It was Billy’s audacious suggestion, at first dismissed out of hand, that eventually appeared the best way forward.

Once that decision had been made, Ben took the lead, having spent several hours putting together the outlines of a plan…

…The following morning, Gladys, Arnold and Billy would leave the inn after breakfast, ostensibly going for a walk.

‘I reckon it’ll take us nigh on an hour to get close,’ Gladys commented. ‘Why d’you want Arnold to come along? He ain’t exactly the kind o’ fella who don’t get noticed.’

‘He won’t come with you inside the gate,’ Ben told her. ‘But I’d like him standing watch as near to the main gate as he can get without showing himself.’ He turned to the large man, adding, ‘I’m not convinced there’s much you’ll be able to do to help Gladys once she and Billy are inside, but just in case...’ Arnold nodded without comment.

‘Gladys, you’ll need to convince the man at the main gate that you found Billy on the lane a mile or so away. He was hungry and dirty and had clearly had a nasty bang on his head. I’m certain you’ll make the story your own, but basically, the boy couldn’t remember his own name but kept repeating the word Grange, so you thought it best to take him there.’

‘I’ve a tongue on me can talk a vicar out of ‘is collection plate,’ Gladys chuckled, ‘so don’t you be troubling yerself about what I need to say.’

‘Wot about the bang on me ‘ead?’ Billy asked, clearly concerned somebody might actually have to give him one.

‘Don’t you worry none, lad, Arnold ‘ere’s good at makin things look wot they ain’t.’

‘You’ll be taking a big risk going in there,’ Ben pointed out. ‘The whole plan hinges on our hope that the guards and domestic staff won’t remember the face of each and every inmate… And once you’re inside, you’re on your own – with no certainty of either of you being able to leave.’

Billy scoffed at the last concern, declaring breezily that nothing and no one had managed to stop him going wherever he wanted since he could walk. ‘Ask me ma,’ he grinned.

‘Remember you ain’t got no memory o’ wot ‘appened to you,’ Gladys reminded him coldly. ‘Yer goin’ to need ter act like you don’t know yer arse from yer elbow. Bein’ a cocky little shit, ain’t goin’ to ‘elp no one.’

‘And most of the captives will have had their food laced with poppy to keep them docile,’ Rhys added seriously. ‘Act overconfident, and you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.’

Billy’s grin faded, and he gave a much more subdued nod. ‘I’ll do me bit,’ he promised.

‘We’ll need as much information as you can provide,’ Ben said. ‘But at the very least we could do with the back door out into the yard left unlocked and a rough guide as to how many guards and domestics are inside.’