‘And while one problem has been solved, another still remains.’
‘I’m very cognisant of that.’
‘It has caused me much soul searching,’ said Grocott. ‘I was unwittingly embroiled in the plot and am stricken with remorse.’
‘Don’t take it to heart,’ advised the other.
‘But I must, my lord. I should have realised that it was too great a coincidence. We lose one servant and another one drops into our hands straight away. Had I not been so unguarded at my club, a great deal of anguish would have been spared. As it is, I’ve finally remembered who put the name of Levitt in my ears.’
‘You thought it might have been Sir Roger Hollington.’
‘I checked with him,’ said Grocott, ‘and he denied it. The person he nominated was Joss Crowther, barely an acquaintance of mine. I’ve no means of furthering that acquaintance because he has withdrawn to an estate he owns in Normandy. In short, I’m ashamed to confess, he was a co-conspirator.’
‘There are French spies everywhere, Grocott. That’s why I employ so many agents of my own to counter their activities. Peter Skillen is the best of them.’
‘Let’s hope that he can frustrate the designs of these people.’
‘I’m sure that he’s working on a way to do just that.’ Sidmouth took his seat behind the desk. ‘Meanwhile, of course, we have the good news that Horner is to return to her duties. After recent events, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d wanted to shake the dust of the Home Office from her feet for ever.’
‘I’m told that she was determined to resume work.’
‘She wants to put the horrors of the past behind her.’
He picked up some papers from the desk and looked through them. That was usually the signal for the undersecretary to leave so Grocott moved to the door.
‘One moment,’ said Sidmouth, raising his head, ‘there’s something I meant to ask you. Have you seen Beyton today?’
‘Why do you ask, my lord?’
‘I passed him on the stairs earlier on and he was completely cowed. He hardly noticed that I was there. Is he ailing in some way?’
‘I really don’t know, my lord. Now that you mention it, however, Beyton has been rather taciturn of late. When I told him that he was in line for a promotion, he was delighted. He should be revelling in the news.’
David Beyton was the first to arrive at the Home Office the next morning. Letting himself in, he went straight to the room that he shared with the other senior clerks. A shock awaited him. The desks of his three colleagues had been cleared of any papers and polished to a high sheen by Anne Horner. She’d not tidied away anything on Beyton’s desk. Instead, she’d put a wastepaper basket on it. When he looked inside, it contained the pile of banknotes he’d once given her by way of a belated apology. In the wake of his domestic turmoil, it was a wounding blow. Removing the object from the desk, Beyton sat down, took out a sheet of paper and began to write a letter of resignation.
‘The situation has changed,’ said Diamond.
‘I don’t think so,’ argued Jane.
‘You read the report in the newspaper. In the light of what happened with those fugitives from prison, security arrangements have been reviewed. That means far more guards will be around the main platform and the seating will be changed. We’ll have no idea in advance where our target will be.’
‘I agree with Vincent,’ said Ruth. ‘We must adapt our plan.’
‘But we’d lose the very essence of it,’ asserted Jane.
‘That can’t be helped.’
‘The whole point of the exercise was that it would take place in public in front of a vast audience. It was to be a visible demonstration that France is not without its true patriots. We’d be sending a message that would echo around Europe.’
‘We will still do that, Jane.’
‘But not in the most effective way.’
‘The matter is settled,’ declared Diamond. ‘We follow the new plan. Apart from anything else, it makes it far easier to ensure the safety of all of us. In a huge crowd in Hyde Park, we’d have had no real control. With the new plan, we do.’
‘Very well,’ said Jane, moodily, ‘I agree to the change, but it’s against my better judgement.’
He enfolded her in his arms. ‘You say that now but, when it’s all over, you’ll want to celebrate just as much as we do. Vive la France!’
‘Vive la France!’ said the women in unison.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was a figure of towering importance. Victories achieved in India and Portugal had made him a national hero but his success at Waterloo, when outnumbered by the French, had sealed his reputation as a soldier of the highest order. Having fought off the many English politicians who wanted to dismember and, thereby, weaken France, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the forces occupying Paris but was brought back to London to be at the heart of the celebrations in Hyde Park. A grateful nation was ready to acclaim their saviour.