Long Spoon Lane - Anne Perry [47]
“They’ll find them!” Charlotte said a trifle more sharply than she had meant to. Jack’s remark had sounded like a criticism of Pitt. “You can’t expect to solve a murder in a couple of days.”
Jack looked tired, even though it was barely midday. “No,” he agreed wearily.
Emily was very pale. She looked at Jack almost as if she could no longer see Charlotte. “Then if you can’t win, don’t ruin your career trying,” she said with a gulp. “That’s pointless. Don’t speak for it, but don’t speak against it either. Leave it to Somerset Carlisle, and Charles Voisey. I won’t go to anyone for help, I promise!”
He said nothing.
“Jack!” She took a step towards him. “Jack?”
Charlotte felt a shiver of surprise, and alarm. For the first time she realized how truly afraid Emily was, and she wondered how long she herself had lived with fear that Pitt would be hurt, either emotionally or physically. She could see the urgency in Emily, because she was unaccustomed to such turmoil within. Emily was used to being safe. And she could read very clearly the anger in Jack, the knowledge that he was forced into something that frightened him, and yet from which he could see no escape. There was going to be pain, and a clash of wills in which she should not intrude.
Charlotte rose to her feet. “Perhaps we should leave this after all.” She smiled at Emily, who was too consumed in her confrontation with Jack to notice.
“Charlotte’s right,” Emily said firmly. “And perhaps it isn’t so bad anyway. The police have to stop crime. We all want that.”
“That isn’t the issue,” Jack replied. “It’s how they do it. And anarchy isn’t the only crime.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Emily agreed. “Everyone says that robbery, burglary, and arson are increasing as well. And violence in the streets, not to mention prostitution, forgery, and anything else you care to think of.”
“That isn’t what I meant.” He looked unhappy, as if the entire discussion were against his will. “I have to oppose the bill, Emily. It’s wrong. It’s…”
“No, you don’t!” she said hotly. “You can’t win anyway. Just leave it for someone else. Let Charles Voisey do it, if he wants to. Who cares what happens to him? Or Somerset Carlisle, if he’s stupid enough.” She took a step towards him, touching her hands lightly on the lapels of his jacket. The sunlight sparked fire in the diamonds on her ring. “Please, Jack! You are worth far more than ruining your career fighting a cause that’s lost anyway.” She drew in her breath to continue.
“That isn’t all, Emily,” he said hurriedly.
He took her hands gently and eased them away from him.
“What else is there?” Emily was angry. “The police have guns anyway. They must have, or they couldn’t have had a battle in Long Spoon Lane! Let them have more, if they need them. If they stop too many people in the street or search their homes, then Parliament can reverse the bill.”
“You can’t just turn the tide of feeling because you want to,” he replied.
Charlotte stepped closer to him. “Jack, you said that wasn’t all. What else is there?”
“It’s only suggested,” he said, but his face was heavy with the weight of it. “It might not happen, but I have to fight it as if it will.” He looked back at Emily. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “There’s no choice. They want to include the right for police to question domestic servants without the knowledge or permission of anyone else in the house.”
Emily was astounded. “Question them about what? Stolen goods? Guns? What, for heaven’s sake?”
“No one will know, will they?” The old, easy smile played about his mouth for a moment, then it was gone. “That’s exactly the point. Who was here, how much money was spent, where your coachman took