The Solitary Envoy (37 page)

Erica looked askance at the hulking former soldier. “He has such keen insight.”

Daniel did not need to ask what she meant. “The major claims Wilberforce is like no other man he’s ever met.”

“He has voiced thoughts I have not even managed to shape for myself.”

Erica returned her eyes to the page. It seemed as though she could hear Wilberforce’s own voice speak as she read.

Living in this far-from-perfect world often means drawing back from the heights. Remember our earlier discussion, I urge you. Seek to relieve your family’s dire financial straits. This sum is rightfully yours. Christians should indeed stand up for justice, even their own. Only beware the lure of vengeance and the burden of rage, and take on neither. And know I stand to aid you wherever possible.

Yours ever in Christ,

William Wilberforce

Erica spent a long moment lost in thought. Daniel waited alongside her, as patient as the sun overhead. Gradually her thoughts coalesced into a clear plan.

“Would you happen to know where Mr. Wilberforce is to be working today?”

Evidently her question had been anticipated. “He said to tell you he has meetings running the day through, and they’ll keep him pinned to home base.”

She started for the front walk. “Come with me, please.”

“As I had planned, miss. The major says I’m to act as your guard.”

Erica felt some measure of comfort knowing this big man would accompany her. So long as she was to remain at the embassy, she would be safe. But mobility was required. Strange she could form such thoughts now. Yet her mind retained an astonishing clarity. For how long, she did not know. “We must hurry.”

Erica held herself with decorum as she moved back through the crowd. Many of the men tipped their hats to her, and she responded with a brief nod. Inside the minister’s outer chamber, she found Jacob surrounded by a bevy of somberfaced men. She offered what she hoped was a brilliant smile. “Mr. Harwell, might I trouble you for a moment?”

He came instantly to his feet. “Of course, miss. Might I say, your article is causing quite a stir—”

“Mr. Harwell, forgive me, a matter of rather pressing urgency has come to my attention. Might I have a private word?”

“Certainly. Gentlemen, if you would excuse us?”

“But the minister—”

“—will be with you momentarily. Thank you, gentlemen.” When the outer doors closed, Jacob said, “What is it?”

“Might I make use of your pen and paper?”

“Of course.”

Erica slipped into his chair and said to Daniel, “Tell him what you can.”

While the two men spoke, Erica wrote a hasty note. By the time she finished, Jacob was almost dancing in alarm. “Mr. Aldridge must be told.”

“And he most certainly shall be. But Daniel is here to protect me now, and we are all safe in the house. I need you to go with all haste to Mr. Gareth Powers.”

“He is the pamphleteer, is he not?”

“Just so. You will find him at the residence of Mr. William Wilberforce in Kensington Gore. Will you do that for me?”

“Anything.”

“You are indeed a friend. Please bring your response to me at …” Where should she go first? Erica pondered on this a long moment, streaming together all the fragments that were taking shape in her head.

“Erica?”

“You will find me awaiting your response outside the Bartholomew Merchant Bank.”

“Where the embassy has its accounts.” Jacob looked extremely concerned. “Is that quite safe?”

“Daniel will be with me. I shall require the carriage; can you make your own way?”

“I would be much faster on horseback.”

“Speed is everything, Jacob.”

But he was already reaching for his hat and coat.

Erica remained seated where she was. First she would tell Lavinia and ask her to inform her husband. Then … Oh yes, she knew precisely what she must do next. But only if Gareth agreed.

She bowed her head. No matter that a half-dozen faces peered through the now-open doorway. No matter that talk and smoke swirled about the downstairs chambers. This was too vital a matter to enter into without guidance.

When she lifted her eyes, she found Daniel waiting with the stolid calm of a mountain. She rose to her feet. “Let us begin.”

Chapter 31

Erica was amazed by her own reaction to the day. If anyone had described it to her in advance, relating all the events leading up to this moment and what she intended to do in response, she would have imagined herself collapsing from the strain. Instead, here she sat in the carriage, as collected as if she were popping out to the market for a loaf of bread. She felt a faint flutter of nerves, but they brooded off beyond the horizon somewhere, like a thundercloud that rumbled occasionally yet never approached. Even this awareness was calming in a strange sort of way, because she knew it had nothing to do with her. She was at peace because she was not alone.

Mr. Richmond sat on the carriage’s leather seat beside her with an arm’s breadth between them. The solicitor’s pudgy middle bulged against a waistcoat sewn with brilliant gold thread. He fiddled with his watch chain, drew out his pocket watch, and flipped open the cover. “How long must we wait here, do you reckon?”

“Two things must happen before we can enter,” she replied, as calm as ever she pleased.

“And they are?”

Erica didn’t answer. Instead she bowed her head and closed out the world.
Guide me, Father,
she prayed for the dozenth time that day. There was little else to be said, so she made the request a second time. Then she merely sat and waited, for in truth she had not lowered her face in order to speak more words. She had shut her eyes to draw closer to what she now felt, which was the presence of the most remarkable peace.

Were she to describe herself to a stranger, one word that most certainly would not come readily to mind was
calm
. Yet here she sat, beset by cares and pressures from all sides, content to reside in this realm of peace. It had been with her the entire day. And she knew it did not come from herself. It spoke to her more clearly than words and visions ever could, particularly upon a day such as this. It was more than a gift. It was a sign that God was near and that she was doing as she should.

Mr. Richmond said, “Here comes their solicitor.”

Erica opened her eyes. She was assailed by a flutter of fear as the stern and angular gentleman hurried from his carriage and entered the bank. That was one of the actions she had needed to see happen. “I am very glad your note worked.”

“I planted every seed of alarm I possibly could,” he said with evident satisfaction. “Though precisely what it is we are so concerned over, I am still waiting to hear.”

Erica had not planned on telling him anything. Not because she did not trust his confidentiality, but rather because he might attempt to alter her course of action. And though she was sure she was taking the right steps, she did not want to lose her forward impetus by having to defend herself against this solicitor’s professional doubt.

Yet all this changed by the way he fretted just then. What
we
are concerned about, he had said. She looked at him and said, “Thank you, Mr. Richmond.”

“Whatever for?”

“For being there in my hour of need.”

“My dear young lady, that is my professional duty.”

“But it is more than that,” she said, certain enough to correct him.

He started to object, then caught himself with a smile. “That very first time I saw you in my front hall, do you know what I thought of you?”

“I know you were cross.”

“Ah, but that was before I heard you out.” His smile was broader now. “After you departed, I was filled with a most sincere regret. I liked you tremendously, you see. And I feared that would be the last occasion I would have to meet you. I decided my world would be poorer for the lack.”

“You are too kind.”

“I am nothing of the sort. I am a professional solicitor, which means I am paid to be contentious.” But he was still smiling as he said it.

“I shall tell you what is the matter,” Erica said. “But only if you promise not to ask too many questions.
… and I fear I might lose both my edge and my nerve.”

“Very well.” He laced his hands over his ample belly. “I am eager to hear.”

His alarm grew steadily as she recounted the recent events. “But this is terrible!”

“I could not agree more.”

“And you think the bankers are behind this threat?”

“Gareth seems positive it is not the result of the pamphlet.”

Mr. Richmond pondered on this deeply for a moment, his lower lip protruding in a most unattractive pout. “I agree with his assessment. The Crown would be severely damaged by even the slightest hint that they took this sort of revenge. Particularly with your being connected to the embassy. No, they would wait long enough to ensure that blame would be attached elsewhere.”

“And these bankers are people who have attacked before under the guise of other conflicts.”

“Eh? What is this?”

Erica recounted the attack upon the Langston warehouse yet again and Gareth’s inquiries that cleared his own men of any wrongdoing.

Mr. Richmond regarded her with something akin to admiration. “A most remarkable deduction.”

“Do you disagree?”

“Not in the slightest.” He tapped his fingers upon the windowsill. “Though I find myself regretting the promise not to ask questions of you.”

Erica’s need to respond was cut off by the pounding of hooves. A cry came from behind them. “Miss Erica?”

“Jacob! In here!”

The instant between her response and the young man’s perspiring face appearing in the carriage window seemed to last forever. He took a deep breath and said, “Gareth Powers and Mr. Wilberforce both wish you every possible success.”

She felt the faint grip of nerves.
Do not distance yourself now, O Lord
. “They approve?”

“More than that. Mr. Powers says to tell you that your intention is brilliant. Mr. Wilberforce agrees and says that he will be praying fervently for your success.”

“Then it is time to begin,” she said, wishing she could hold the tremor from her voice and her limbs. “Mr. Richmond, if you would be so good?”

“Certainly, miss.” He opened the carriage door, stepped down, and offered her his hand.

“Jacob, I really should not ask you for anything more, but ask I must.”

“Name it,” the man said with alacrity.

“I would be immensely grateful if you would enter with us and offer the embassy’s official presence. You need say nothing, of course.”

“I should be honored to offer a friend in need whatever help I can.”

She reached for his hand and gripped it firmly. “Mr. Richmond, may I have the honor of presenting Jacob Harwell.”

“We have met at the embassy.”

“Indeed so. Your servant, sir.”

Erica said, “I would consider it a great boon if you might become friends, as you both are to me. Good, dear, and trusted friends.”

The solicitor said, “I have always considered the quality of friends a good measure of one’s worth.”

“My own father has often said the very same thing,” Jacob agreed.

Erica took a breath, steadied by the strength that surrounded her on every side. “Let us do this thing while I still have power in my heart and limbs.”

There was a most satisfactory expression of shock upon the banker’s narrow features as they entered. Mr. Bartholomew and his solicitor stood in the back corner, behind the waist-high wooden partition. It was his throne room, in a sense, the point from which he could survey his kingdom and all that transpired. But it also put him at a disadvantage, at least in this moment. For he had no way of hiding his alarm at Erica’s arrival. Was this how a diplomat would gauge the moment? Erica wondered. Being able to observe the opponent’s response, measure how it affected plans, and so forth. She had no idea. All she knew for certain was that she wished the entire affair were over. Even more than that, she wished it had never begun.

But life did not unfold according to her wishes—that was one truth on which she could rely. Perhaps part of maturity was coming to recognize this fact. Instead of crying over how things might be different and better, there was the need to accept, to pray, to strive, and to search for a meaning greater than the moment’s trial.

Her thoughts came with the same deliberate steadiness as her tread. She crossed the bank’s main chamber with a calmness she both felt and knew was contradicted by her racing heart.

Do not fail me now, O Lord
.

A senior clerk, dressed in formal topcoat and striped trousers, inserted himself between Erica and the banker. “Might I be of service, miss?”

“I wish to have a word with Mr. Bartholomew.”

“Your name?”

“He knows my name.”

“I am sorry, what—”

“Show the lady in,” the banker snapped. “Although I must warn you, miss, I have little time to waste upon nonsensical matters this day.”

“This will only take a moment of your most valuable time.” Erica waited for Jacob to pry open the swinging gate. She ignored the banker’s solicitor entirely. “I came merely to report that our ally in Parliament has agreed to postpone his public question for one further week.”

The two men sneered in unison. It was the solicitor who responded. “Undoubtedly he saw the futility of such an act.”

“You misunderstand me,” Erica said. She kept her voice calm. Her eyes rested unwaveringly upon the banker. “I requested the delay.”

“You—”

“Perhaps you have had an occasion to read the pamphlet I recently wrote. The one that has caused some minor stir of public attention.”

“Mere froth and fantasy,” the solicitor scorned. “Here today, forgotten tomorrow.”

“No doubt,” she agreed equably. “Even so, the publicity has been somewhat distressing in some quarters, or so I hear.”

“And that is of concern to us?”

“I cannot say. What I can speak of with some certainty, however, is that a second pamphlet might be of some concern to your good selves.” She let that sink in before adding, “One that is dedicated solely to asking questions about matters related to the recent conflict in America.”