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‘Why am I always to be excluded?’
He sighed. ‘Do I need to explain that all over again, Lisette? You are here under sufferance and this is not work for ladies. When the time comes I will tell you how we plan to effect your brother’s release, but until then I beg you to contain yourself in patience.’
‘Very well, but I hope it will be soon.’
When the meal was finished, Sam left the house and Jay changed into the shabby clothes he had worn the night before and went out again. If he had ever imagined that rescuing Michel Giradet from prison and carrying him in triumph to England under the noses of the Revolutionaries would be an adventure to be savoured, he thought it no more. It was fraught with difficulty and danger, made worse by the presence of Lisette. He worried that her independent spirit and penchant for going out on her own could lead her into trouble. Her meeting with Wentworth, however innocent, was worrying, too. If her true identity were discovered, they would all be in trouble.
She had denied giving it to Wentworth and, whatever else she was, she was honest, so that was something to be thankful for. But had the man guessed? Had he waylaid her in order to confirm his suspicions? How did he know where she would be and at what time? What did the man know about how Comte Giradet had arrived in England? What was his game? He might trust Lisette, but he definitely did not trust her uncle and the more she knew of the escape plans, the more vulnerable she was. He had to hold her at arm’s length and try to keep her in check for her own good, though it was the last thing he wanted to do.
Harry, Nat and Joe were waiting for him at the Cross Keys. None seemed any the worse for the previous night’s carousal. They were all dressed in the rough garb prevalent in Paris at that time. They had glasses of wine on the table in front of them and were studying a map of Paris. ‘I don’t know how accurate this is,’ Harry said when Jay joined them. ‘We will have to test it out. Our escape route must be planned, every inch of road, every corner, every alley.’
‘We have to get the man out of gaol first.’
‘What is the good of that if we don’t know what to do with him when we have him? No, my friend, we have to work backwards.’
Jay conceded the wisdom of that. ‘Sam has gone to reconnoitre the prison. If he is allowed to see Giradet, he might learn more and can tell him to be ready.’
‘Good,’ Harry said. ‘We will need your carriage and some good horses. Nat will find us all suitable disguises and Joe will ride ahead and bespoke fresh horses along our route and safe houses where we might rest a while.’
‘The fly in the ointment is Gerald Wentworth,’ Jay said. ‘He and Lisette met this morning and though she says it was by accident and they only passed the time of day, it is worrying. He is sly enough to wheedle information from her without her even knowing he had.’
‘Why would he want to?’ Nat asked.
‘That I do not know. Lisette met him in the Rue St Honore not far from Robespierre’s lodgings. I am wondering if he has some contact with that gentleman.’
‘Are you worried enough to think we should cancel our project?’
‘No, I must go through with it for Lisette’s sake, but if you think the risk is too great, then I beg you all not to hesitate, but return to England at once.’
‘Certainly not,’ Harry said. ‘But Wentworth will bear watching. He knows us too well, Jay, so perhaps Nat can keep an eye on him.’
‘I will do that,’ Nat said, then to Jay, ‘Do you know where he is lodging?’
‘No, but start in the Rue St Honore,’ Jay said. ‘You cannot miss him in the street, he dresses like the English aristocrat in frills and flounces and high heels. He is even more flamboyant than you are, Harry, though no one would think it to look at you now.’
Harry was used to being teased about his dress and, laughing, stood up. ‘Come, let us go on our perambulation. We will start from the barrier on the road to Pontoise and work our way back to La Force, taking careful note of side alleys, unoccupied houses and the presence of troops. Joe and Nat, off you go. Take as much gold coin as you think you will need, but beware of robbers. We will meet here again at five o’clock this evening.’
All four left the tavern.
Lisette decided to go back to the court and listen to more trials. Contrary to what Madame Gilbert had said, not all the accused were condemned. She wanted to make a note of the successful defences; such knowledge might be useful if Michel ever came to trial. After listening to a dozen trials, which for the most part only lasted a few minutes, she came to the conclusion that they were not based on logic or jurisprudence so much as the mood of the jury and she felt many had been bribed. That might have to be their way forwards.
