Catherine was there. She’d come in through the front door as though she no longer had a need to hide what they were doing. But Luke knew the truth of it. What they were about to do they would have to carry with them to the grave.
They all sat in chairs in a circle.
“Let’s begin,” Luke said.
“Shouldn’t we wait for Jack?” Bill asked.
“He’s not invited.”
Bill looked at the others, as though he expected someone to object, to defend Jack, and when no one did, he settled back. He was the healer among them. He always wanted to fix things, make them right. But some things, once broken, would never be the same.
“As you’re aware, I set up an opportunity to confront Avendale at Heatherwood. Presently, he is my prisoner, being kept in the manor’s cellar. The man is a danger. To his wife, his son, Catherine, and me. If it were only me, I’d let it go and deal with him one on one, but I’m not willing to risk the others.” He especially wasn’t willing to risk Catherine.
“So what’s the plan?” Jim asked.
“If any of you have doubts, you should walk out now.”
They all stayed seated.
Luke felt the tightening in his chest, cleared his throat at the demonstration of their faith in him. Apparently Jim wasn’t the only one who would follow him into hell without asking why they were taking the journey. “Thank you for that.”
Taking a deep breath, he gave his attention to Bill. “We need a body. A man, recently buried, would no doubt be best. We’ll want him dressed in these items, as well as the two rings. I’ve included a note that tells which ring goes on which finger on which hand.” Luke took a bundle from where it rested beside his chair and extended it to Bill. He’d taken Avendale’s clothing and jewelry before leaving Heatherwood.
Bill took the parcel without hesitating. “It’s been a long while since I’ve done any grave robbing, but it’s a skill once learned, never forgotten.”
“After he’s dressed, we’ll want him burned beyond recognition.”
Bill nodded. “I’ll see to it.”
“Take comfort in the fact that his final resting place will be very grand indeed.” Luke turned to Jim. “I’m looking for someone being transported to a penal colony for life. Age doesn’t matter, as long as the documents can be changed to reflect a man of thirty-four.”
Jim nodded somberly. “A boy of fourteen was recently sentenced to transportation to Tasmania. I believe it was for life, for picking pockets.”
“Bloody hell, that could have been any of us,” Bill said. “Whose pockets did he pick? Prince Albert’s?”
“That was my thought—but for the teachings of Feagan, there go I.” Jim looked at Frannie. “Can you make a fourteen look like a thirty-four?”
She grinned cockily. “In my sleep.”
“I’ll get his papers to you.”
“We’ll also want to arrange respectable employment for the lad,” Luke told her.
She gave him an odd look before nodding. Probably because that would have been Jack’s job, to see that the lad was placed somewhere safe.
“I’ll take care of it,” Frannie said.
Luke looked at Catherine, sitting beside him. He wanted to take her hand, but it seemed wrong with Frannie sitting there. “Now then, here’s the hard part.”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”
“I never questioned for a moment that you wouldn’t.” Still, he knew it would be difficult for her. He sighed. “You need to inform the Duchess of Avendale that her husband died in the fire at Heatherwood, a fire that was started when an ember jumped out of the fireplace unobserved, until it was too late.”
“But that’s not what happened.”
“Which is why I said yours is the hardest part. You’re going to have to lie to her, Catherine, to everyone. Once we’ve all seen to our tasks, it’ll be as though what you told her is the truth. We’ll present her with an unrecognizable burned body wearing Avendale’s clothes and rings. And she will never see him again.”
“I don’t understand why I can’t tell her the truth.”
“Because the fewer who know, the better. Laws are being broken here, Catherine. We’re all at risk. And while it’s possible she could hold her tongue on this matter, he was her husband. With distance and time, she may forget what marriage to him was like or she may decide she prefers marriage to a beast over widowhood. She may try to find a way to bring him back. It would have been easier all the way around if I’d left him in the fire, but I didn’t, so we must make the best of it and leave no doubt that the Duke of Avendale is dead so his son might inherit.”