Page 56 of Beguiled
“I don’t want these,” Euan said, sounding almost offended. He made to toss them back, and David held up his hand.
“I won’t allow you to help unless you agree to use those coins,” David said, implacable.
“What? Why?” Euan bridled with offence.
“Firstly, because it is Chalmers’s prerogative to help his own daughter and it is the only way hecanhelp. And secondly, because the last thing Elizabeth needs at this moment is to feel beholden to another male—or more than she needs to, anyway.”
Euan thought about that. “All right,” he said at last, nodding. “I can see the sense in what you say, and I have no wish to make anything more difficult for her than it needs to be.”
“Good. Let us discuss how we will arrange things, then. The streets around the theatre will be very congested, and it will be imperative that you get away quickly.”
Euan had thought about it already. He’d planned a route by coach that went west then south, rather than taking the more direct east-coast route to London. With Chalmers’s money he could do even better: hire a private carriage, at least for the first part of the journey, significantly reducing the risk of discovery at one of the main coaching inns.
“You could have a carriage wait for you near the theatre, not too near but perhaps on Regent Road,” David said. “We only need to separate her from Kinnell for a few minutes to get her away. The crowds on the streets will swallow you both up quick enough, and ten minutes’ walk will take you to Regent Road.”
Euan nodded. “Where shall I meet you and when? The crowds will be as much a hindrance as a help, I expect. And there will be soldiers who will want to know why I’m loitering around a building that has the King in it.”
“I had very little time to speak with Elizabeth at the ball—we had to make some sort of plan, so I said she should make her way to the front doors at half past nine. Aim to be near the front doors of the theatre a few minutes before that. Loitering round the back will be too suspicious and probably impossible to boot.” He paused. “And Euan—”
“Yes?”
“Be watchful. Take care you are not followed.”
Euan frowned. He stared at David for several long moments. “That’s the second time you’ve mentioned the possibility of someone following me. Why?”
David stared back, his mind in turmoil. He had not wanted to break Murdo’s confidence—and since Euan had been planning nothing untoward, it hadn’t seemed so terrible to keep the full truth from him. But now things were different. Elizabeth’s flight was at stake, and Euanwouldbe acting suspiciously, lingering near the doors of a building the King would eventually emerge from.
He took a deep breath. “The truth is—the truth is I’ve been told you’re on a list of troublemakers being watched by Crown agents. It’s possible you are being followed, but I don’t know for sure.”
Euan’s jaw tightened, and his angry gaze was an accusation. “You knew this? And you didn’t tell me till now?”
“I’m sorry. I was told in confidence, and I thought that if you were only writing and not planning to break the law—”
“For God’s sake, Davy, if someone’s following me, it isn’t to see if I break the law! It’s to see who I meet with, who I talk to. It’s to identify other ‘troublemakers’ and watch them too!”
David stared at Euan, dismayed. Murdo had said that too, hadn’t he?
“If you’re seen with MacLennan, it might affect you. Guilt by association…”
The fact was, when Euan had turned up at David’s door, David could no more have turned him away than he could have turned away his own brother. He’d taken the risk of association willingly. But now it struck him forcibly that it wasn’t only himself that may have been affected. Anyone else that Euan had met with may have fallen under suspicion.
“Christ!” he breathed, his voice shaking. “You’re right. I should have told you.”
Euan’s angry expression softened. He sighed.
“Ah, Davy.” He put a hand on David’s arm. “You don’t need to worry about anyone but yourself, all right? I’ve seen barely anyone since I came back to Scotland.” He squeezed David’s arm briefly, then let go. “And now you’ve told me, I’ll be sure to shake them off. God knows I’ve had to do it before, and more than once.”
David sent him a watery smile. “All right, but be careful. This might be Elizabeth’s only chance.”
Euan nodded. “I know that. I know it all too well.”
Chapter Sixteen
Tuesday, 27thAugust, 1822
David had arranged to meet Murdo at seven o’clock on the night of the royal performance. They were meeting at the foot of North Bridge, a few minutes’ walk from the Theatre Royal.
As he drew near to their meeting place, David began to grow concerned at the numbers of people thronging the streets. Even as far from the theatre as this, there were dense crowds milling, and whilst the general mood was elated, there was a distinct edge of aggression, doubtless fuelled by the ale and spirits that were flowing freely. Murdo was already waiting when David arrived, as splendid as always in his elegant garb, but with a frown on his handsome face.