Page 175 of A Perilous Passion

She searched his nervous face. “Does your mama know about this?”

He shook his head vigorously. “The gentleman said it was secret, and I must save it for when I get married. But I don’t want to get married. I hate girls.”

Charlotte’s next question was stern but quiet. “What gentleman?”

“Telling’s more than my life’s worth.”

Why would a stranger give a small child a half-sovereign and order him to secrecy? Her pulse raced because she knew exactly why.

And her heart quailed at the thought of little Jacky being blown to bits when he went to earn his coin.

“Jacky, I have to ask you some very important questions. If I’m right, nod your head. If I’m wrong, shake it. That way, you won’t have to say anything out loud, and it won’t be telling. So you haven’t broken your word to the gentleman. Understand?”

Looking about warily, he nodded.

“The man who gave you this money, have you ever seen him before?”

Shake.

Not Culverdale then, but one of his cronies.

“Did the man talk with a strange accent?”

Vigorous nodding.

A French spy, then.

“Were you to start a big fire in return for the coin?”

Another nod.

Her heart thundered. “Did he show you where?”

Jacky nodded again, looking relieved, as if glad to unburden himself of his secret.

“Good boy. Now, you’re going to take a walk with me and Mama, and show me the place where the wood for the bonfire’s been stacked. Or as close as we can get without leaving the path.” She thought for a moment. “Let’s not tell Mama. It’ll be our secret. When we’re there, I want you to stop and pretend you’ve got a stone in your shoe. Understand?”

He nodded again. “Yes, Miss.”

After some persuasion, he let her take charge of the half-sovereign, and agreed that he would, under no circumstances, light the bonfire as he’d been told to. She promised no harm would come to him for disobeying the stranger—and prayed she would find a way to keep her promise.

Once again, the answer lay solidly with Rafe.

If Jacky gave him a description of the stranger, as well as the location of another confirmed beacon, he’d be that much closer to unraveling the traitor’s ghastly plot. When that happened, Jacky and all the other children seduced by the glint of the traitor’s gold would be safe.

The only downside was that she’d have to see Rafe again. And after the events of last night, she didn’t know if he’d let her come anywhere near him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Once again, Charlotte was walking at a rapid pace toward Dovehouse Farm. Luckily, Mama had fallen asleep after luncheon and Aunt Flora was out, so Charlotte left a note to say she’d just popped out again to look at some jacquard weave fabric she’d seen at the milliner’s. As an afterthought, she added a postscript saying she also had a mind to visit Thea, and that Mama should leave the back door unbolted, in case she returned home late.

Thanks to Jacky Scadden, Charlotte now knew roughly how to find one more beacon. She felt duty bound to inform Rafe as quickly as possible, but she wasn’t prepared to trust Thomas the Carrier with such vital information.

Deep down, she knew there was another reason she needed to go in person. Not just patriotism, nor a desire to punish those who used innocent children for their dirty work. The real reason was to please Rafe.

She was desperate to see him again and to rejoice in the pleasure of his satisfied grin when she gave him another piece of his puzzle.

As she came within sight of the milestone that marked the turning to the farm, she paused. Was she just setting herself up for even more heartbreak? Rafe would be thankful for her news, certainly, but what would he do after that? Deny, yet again, the power of the force that drew them together?