Buckingham Palace Gardens - Anne Perry [152]
“I didn’t see it until now,” Pitt replied to Narraway’s original question.
“What? You are trying my patience, Pitt.” Narraway took another slice of toast from the rack and buttered it.
Pitt passed him the marmalade. “We lost the carter because he changed appearance. Which says he was in some form of disguise, even if only different clothes, attitude, and manner, and a good deal of dirt on his face.”
“Because he was not a carter by occupation,” Narraway agreed.
“We know that too. It doesn’t tell us who he was, or more importantly, where he is now.”
“It tells us he might be known without the disguise.”
“Ah…” Narraway took the point this time.
“What do we know about him?” Pitt went on. “Dunkeld must trust him, not only not to betray him, but his competence, his nerve, his ability to find the right sort of woman who would be taken for Sadie at a very rough glance…”
“Very rough?” Narraway questioned. “She was identified as Sadie.”
“By Dunkeld himself,” Pitt reminded him. “She only had to answer a verbal description: brown hair, blue eyes, average height, handsome build.”
“But he had to be there at the Palace doors with her in a box, not long after midnight,” Narraway agreed. “So he was someone Dunkeld trusted. We’ve no idea who that is. Could be dozens of people.”
Pitt leaned further forward over the table. “But who told Dunkeld how the woman in Cape Town was slashed? He wasn’t there. He made a point of saying that, and you confirmed it. The murder wasn’t common knowledge; in fact the whole episode was pretty well covered up.”
Narraway frowned. “Are you saying he was there?”
“No! I’m saying that someone who was there told him about it. And he trusted them enough in this for them to conspire together. He put his career, even his life, in their hands. Why did they do this for him?”
“Someone equally interested in the project,” Narraway answered. “Which comes back to Sorokine, Marquand, or Quase. But none of them left the Palace! They could have told him about the woman, if one of them killed her, but why in God’s name would they trust him with information like that? It could get them hanged! And if they’d trust Dunkeld never to use it against them, either they truly are insane, or else they had a hold on him so great he wouldn’t dare betray them? Is that what you are saying? It doesn’t tell me who the carter is. A three-way conspiracy?”
“No, just two,” Pitt shook his head. “Dunkeld wanted to get rid of Sorokine.”
“Sorokine could still be the madman from Cape Town,” Narraway cut across him. “Perhaps he’s done it again, since then, and Dunkeld knew, and that’s how he found out the method.”
“Too complicated, and still doesn’t tell us who the carter is,” Pitt told him, at last taking another bite of his toast and drinking half his tea before it was cold. He filled the cup again from the pot.
“Then what does?” Narraway ignored his own tea.
“We are assuming the plan is not working.” Pitt’s mind was racing from one improbability to another. “What if it is?”
“Dunkeld will hang for treason,” Narraway replied. “His daughter is dead and his wife despises him and is in love with Sorokine, whom he hates. I would say that is about as much failure as it’s possible to have.”
“Not Dunkeld’s plan, his co-conspirator’s,” Pitt corrected. “The carter, whoever he is.” At last it was beginning to clear in his mind, threads were emerging. “Who has won?”
“No one, unless getting rid of Dunkeld was what they wanted,” Narraway replied. “But Sorokine turned down the leadership, and neither Marquand nor Quase were offered it. They have even less autonomy under Forbes than they had before.”
“But Forbes had no part before, and now he has complete control, and the Prince’s profound gratitude,” Pitt said.
Narraway stiffened. “Forbes? But he doesn’t even approve of the damn railroad! His financial interest is in shipping!” A sudden spark lit in his eyes and slowly they widened.
“Exactly,” Pitt breathed out. “And what better position