Page 13 of The Elusive Phoebe (The Widows of Lavender Cottage #1)

Chapter Nine

T anner was the last person Archie ever wanted to see again and now he was forced into his proximity more than once in as many days. “What do you want, Tanner?”

He stepped back, his face showing his surprise. “Drinks with an old friend?”

Archie shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m just reliving the moment you stole my clergy position and ruined my chances with the love of my life.” His eyebrows raised, waiting to hear what the man would say to that.

He opened his mouth and closed it and then hesitated as though he might walk away.

Archie waved for drinks. “Come, sit. Let’s have the conversation. ”

Tanner smirked, but there was a vulnerability in his face that belied the arrogance he tried to present. “Lytton. I was sorry to witness your parents’ passing.”

Archie nodded. He was sorry too, but not as sorry as Tanner might think. He’d lost his mother long before she died and his father had destroyed his health and happiness worrying about the financial disaster he’d caused.

“I hear you’ve done well for yourself?” Tanner tried again.

“Textiles. And yes, I have.”

A man brought their drinks. Tanner downed his at once.

Archie now had two cups of Whiskey as yet untouched.

“What brings you to London?” Archie might have pity on the man.

He might even be grateful if one was grateful for their trials, for the most difficult moments in life that also brought blessings.

In hindsight, Phoebe’s parents would have never allowed him to marry her even as a respectable clergy in their town.

The money they felt they needed, the resources to rebuild their lives and to offer Phoebe what they thought she would need were much greater than what a clergyman could provide.

And both Phoebe’s father and his own had needed the immediate resources to save their estates, or so his father had wished. He had ruined all their lives.

Tanner had just been one more person standing in his way at the time and he’d never forgiven him. But why was he in London? Did the man hope to find a wife?

“I’m actually here to find you.” He leaned forward. “I thought you would be interested to know that Lord Smalling is not what he appeared to be.”

Archie nearly choked on his first swallow of whiskey.

His gaze narrowed. Obviously, he knew that Lord Smalling was not all he appeared to be.

Phoebe had never been seen again. Who hid their wives?

But Tanner seemed to think he had something of value to share and had come all the way to London to share it.

Archie checked to see who might be listening to their conversation and when all seemed distracted or too far to hear them, he moved his chair to be unbearably close to the man.

“Well then, tell me what you traveled all this way to say.”

“Not many know this, but I have family in Ireland.”

Archie waited. And he hoped the man told the shorter version of the story .

“What I am about to say implicates my family.” He clutched Archie’s sleeve. “But it might save them. Can I trust you?” The man’s eyes were wide and desperate.

Archie wanted nothing more than to scoot away. But somehow this related to Lord Smalling and therefore possibly Phoebe. He pried Tanner’s fingers off his sleeve. “Get a hold of yourself man. You can trust me, to a point. I’ll not be committing treason for you if that’s what you’re asking.”

He shook his head, so quickly, Archie wondered if he’d hear his jowls moving.

“Not at all. I’m not a part of any of this.

But I have family who wish to be Catholic, and they’re in a group in Ireland.

They’ve been peaceful about it, trying to make change slowly.

But recently their leader went a little crazy, much more radical than they’d expected and while they tried to get out of the group, things happened. ”

Archie watched him. “And?”

“Yes. And. This group was working on a terrible plan.” He leaned forward and whispered something Archie did not hear.

“Pardon?”

He whispered it again.

“Come man. I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

“The French.” He said at full volume .

Some heads turned at that but then looked away.

“The Irish were colluding with the French?” He scoffed. It sounded a bit ridiculous, almost too ridiculous.

“And.” He pressed his fingers into the tabletop. “Lord Smalling was seen with the lot of them.”

Archie considered this new bit of information. That was exceedingly odd. “How reliable are you? Are your sources?”

“I’m certain. My Uncle saw the man himself.”

“And how does he know Lord Smalling?”

“Because he came to visit our town, to marry…” He paused then with an apologetic grimace, he continued. “You know. And when he saw Lord Smalling, he recognized him right away.”

“Did you ever find out why or what he was doing?”

Tanner shook his head. “Just that he was there, but I think we can assume he was up to no good. Why else would he be there?”

Archie nodded, now deep in thought. Of all the things Tanner could tell him, this was the most unexpected. What would he do with this information?

“There is a bit more.” Tanner reached for a drank one of Archie’s cups of whiskey .

“Out with it, man.”

“There are those in England, and Ireland too, who are tracking down anyone and everyone who could be involved.” He drank the rest of his cup. “Being traitors, they wish them to disappear.”

“Well maybe they should. Prison, deportment, that’s where we send traitors.”

Tanner’s face lost its color and he shook his head. “No. Death. But not by the government or anything. They just disappear, accidents, carriage accidents.” He paused dramatically. Lord Smalling had died by carriage accident. “And their possessions confiscated.”

“Which wouldn’t happen in Lord Smalling’s situation as he has a widow…” His voice trailed off as his thoughts caught up the pace. Was Phoebe in danger? He shot to his feet, knocking his chair back behind him.

Most men in the place turned to look in his direction.

He swayed for a moment as though imbibed with liquor, lifted his hand in a mock salute and then scooted the chair back to the table.

Eyes turned away, bored by what they thought was a man in his cups.

“Where is your family in all this? Are they…radicals?”

“They were in this radical group, not knowing how radical it was. When the talk turned to actual fighting, a war with England, involving France…” His face went white. “They tried to leave.”

Archie’s thoughts clouded with suspicion.

Perhaps Tanner knew, perhaps he didn’t. Either way, Phoebe might be caught up in something she had nothing to do with.

And Archie wanted nothing more than to protect her, now that he had the means.

There was nowhere they couldn’t go to hide.

She could be safe for the rest of her days if they needed to ensure such a thing even with drastic measures.

The urgency to find her thrummed through his blood, shook the beat of his heart out of its regular rhythm, upset his breathing, and took over every rational thought. He hadn’t helped her the first time she needed him. But heaven help him. He would be there for her now.

A quiet little reminder tried to influence his course, that perhaps she did not desire his help, but he determined to address that later. She would surely appreciate his assistance in keeping her safe. Perhaps she didn’t know what danger she was in.

“I can help you I think, with names, people who might be involved here in London.” He clutched Archie’s sleeve again. “But you must protect my family. ”

Archie yanked his arm away. “And how do you propose I do that? Are they in Ireland?”

“They are. They can’t get away without causing suspicion. The group is tamping down on everyone.”