Betrayal at Lisson Grove - Anne Perry [106]
Croxdale was still looking at him intently.
Pitt could think of nothing to say.
‘We need a man who knows what Narraway was doing and can pick up the reins he dropped,’ Croxdale said. ‘You are the only man who fits that description, Pitt. It’s a great deal to ask of you, but there is no one else, and your skills and integrity are things about which I believe Narraway was both right and honest.’
‘But . . . Austwick . . .’ Pitt stammered. ‘He—’
‘Is a good stopgap,’ Croxdale said coolly. ‘He is not the man for the job in such dangerous times as these. Frankly, he has not the ability to lead, or to make the difficult decisions of such magnitude. He was a good enough lieutenant.’
Pitt’s head swam. He had not the experience of decision-making, the mastery of the political stakes, or the nerve and self-belief to stake his own judgement above that of others and act, swiftly, secretly and with devastating power, as Narraway had had. Only in this moment, looking at Croxdale, did he grasp some of the magnitude of Narraway’s job.
‘Neither have I the skills,’ he said aloud. ‘And I haven’t been in the service long enough for the other men to have confidence in me. I will support Austwick to the best of my ability, but I haven’t the abilities to take on the leadership.’
Croxdale smiled. ‘I thought you would be modest. It is a good quality. Arrogance leads to mistakes. I’m sure you will seek advice, and take it – at least most of the time. But you have never lacked judgement before, or the courage to go with your own beliefs. I know your record, Pitt. Do you imagine you have gone unnoticed in the past?’ He asked it gently, as if with a certain degree of amusement.
‘I imagine not,’ Pitt conceded. ‘You will know a good deal about anyone, before taking them into the service at all. But—’
‘Not in your case,’ Croxdale contradicted him. ‘You were Narraway’s recruit. But I have made it my business to learn far more about you since then. Your country needs you now, Pitt. Narraway has effectively betrayed our trust.You were Narraway’s second-in-command.This is your duty, as well as your privilege to serve.’ He held out his hand.
Pitt was overwhelmed, not with pleasure or any sense of honour, but with mourning for Narraway, fear for Charlotte, and the knowledge that this weight of command, of power for good and ill, he did not want. It was not in his nature to act with certainty when the balance of judgement was so unclear, and the stakes were the lives of other men.
‘We look to you, Pitt,’ Croxdale said again. ‘Don’t fail your country, man!’
‘No, sir,’ Pitt said unhappily. ‘I will do everything I can, sir . . .’
‘Good.’ Croxdale smiled. ‘I knew you would. That is one thing Narraway was right about. I will inform the necessary people, including the Prime Minister, of course. Thank you, Pitt. We are grateful to you.’
Pitt accepted: he had little choice. Croxdale began to outline to him exactly what his task would be, his powers, and the rewards.
It was midnight when Pitt walked outside into the lamplit night and found Croxdale’s own carriage waiting to take him home.
Chapter Nine
Charlotte walked away from Cormac O’Neil’s home with as much composure as she could muster, but she had the sinking fear inside her that she looked as afraid and bewildered as she felt, and as helplessly angry. Whatever else Narraway might have been guilty of – and it could have been a great deal – she was certain that he had not killed Cormac O’Neil. She had arrived at the house almost on his heels. She had heard the dog begin to bark as Narraway went into the house, and continue more and more hysterically, knowing there was an intruder, and perhaps already aware of O’Neil’s death.
Had Cormac cried out? Had he even seen his killer, or had he been shot in the back? She had not heard a gun fire. That was it, of course! She had heard the dog bark, but no gunshot. The dog had barked at Narraway, but not at whoever had fired the shot.
She stopped in the street, standing rooted to the spot as the realisation shook her