‘I didn’t.’ That was depressing news. If the king himself was against abolition, it was hard to imagine the cause making much progress in parliament.
‘I’m pleased to see you in a safe harbour, Miss Royal,’ Mr Equiano continued, nodding at the Miss Millers. ‘Let us hope we can soon say the same thing about our boy.’
As the meeting got under way, I looked round the room for Syd’s representative, but I could not see anyone I recognized. My curiosity was satisfied when I heard a commotion outside. Joseph strode into the room closely followed by Nick, both looking very excited.
‘We have news at last, your grace!’ Joseph announced to the duchess, quite forgetting his station as he burst in upon the meeting.
Nick bent double to regain his breath. ‘Just found out. They’ve moved the cargo. Pedro was put on board this evenin’. ’
‘Which ship? Where?’ asked Mr Sharp, alert for action.
‘The Jenny Wren, Captain Taylor. It’s lying in the Pool on the Greenwich side of the river.’
‘Right, let’s go!’ said Mr Sharp to Mr Equiano. ‘We’ll tackle Sir John Solmes and get the writ. Gentlemen, we’ll leave you to hold the ship until we arrive.’
In the general bustle to leave, Nick wormed his way over to me and shook my hand. ‘Good to see you again, Cat.’
‘And you, Nick. Whom do we have to thank for tonight’s news?’
Nick shrugged. ‘Don’t know ’is name – a little ragged fellow, though ’e ponged of fish sure enough. You know, Cat, I think Shepherd is tryin’ to be clever. ’E thought Syd’d be too busy to notice but the Billingsgate lads were on to ’is game. I’ve got to go and tell Syd now. You stay put. I’ll see you back ’ere – with the Prince, I ’ope.’
Nick darted out the way he had come. Soon after, Frank and Charlie left with Mr Sharp and Mr Equiano. Elias Jones, a determined look on his face, led the remaining men off to find the Jenny Wren and keep her in port. Soon only we women remained behind, sitting around the fire in silence.
‘What do we do now?’ I asked, wishing I had some task I could perform. I hated having to wait for others to act.
‘Let us pray for our brothers, particularly Brother Pedro,’ said Miss Miller, folding her hands and closing her eyes.
And all of us did pray, or tried to. Heavenly guidance or my own restlessness, I’ve no idea, but my thoughts kept returning to the boy who’d brought the message – the boy Nick did not know. It was like an itch I couldn’t quite reach to scratch. You see, I’d been caught out by Billy Shepherd that way before. He’d once used a stranger to lure me into the Rookeries. Nick had said Shepherd was clever, but I knew him to be more than that: he was the most devious person alive. If his name was wrapped up in a bit of business, I’d bet my last farthing that it was not what it seemed, that he would have twisted it in some way to his advantage. Look at his invitation to see Pedro: he’d wanted to take me so he could control what we did with the information. He loved to be in charge. Putting myself in his smelly shoes for a moment, he would have guessed that Syd was having him watched. He knew we were waiting for him to move Pedro to the river. Would he really carry Pedro on board without trying to distract us from his purpose? It was too straightforward – therefore, it wasn’t right.
‘It’s a diversion,’ I announced suddenly to the silent room.
‘What’s that you say, child?’ asked Miss Miller, her eyes snapping open.
‘Billy Shepherd – he’s sending us on a wild goose chase. The messenger boy was a decoy. If he’s sent a message that Pedro’s on the south side of the river, you can bet that he’s on the north.’ I was on my feet, tying on my bonnet.
‘That’s preposterous!’ exclaimed Miss Miller.
‘Are you sure?’ said the duchess, frowning.
‘Yes, positive. I know Billy Shepherd better than most, possibly better than anyone. I know what he’s doing.’
‘Where are you going, Cat?’ asked Lizzie. I had my hand on the doorknob.
I couldn’t understand why they were all staring at me. Didn’t they realize that we had a job to do? ‘Well, I for one can’t just sit here. We’ve got to chase the men and tell them they’re going the wrong way. And some of us have to find the right ship. Come on.’
Lizzie was the first to get over her surprise and place her confidence in my instincts. She got up. ‘You’re right. Mama, you and I must go after Mr Sharp. Where should we bring them?’
‘Try Billingsgate – that’s where I’m starting.’
‘That you most certainly are not!’ protested Miss Miller. ‘We can’t let you wander around the docks at this time of night on your own.’
‘Then we’d better not let her go on her own, sister,’ said Miss Fortitude resolutely, buttoning up her gloves.
‘I’ll send for a cab,’ said Miss Prudence, disappearing out of the door.
‘And someone had better fetch Syd. Where was his match, Lizzie?’
‘In a tavern on Fleet Street.’
We looked at each other. A woman going in a place like that on her own would have to have a lot of guts, particularly if she was about to stop a match in its tracks.
‘I’ll go,’ volunteered Milly, picking up her umbrella. ‘Can you lend me a footman or two?’
The duchess nodded. ‘Of course. Joseph and one of the others will accompany you. No, hang that! There must be ten of those lazy doorstops around the place – take them all. It’s about time they earned their keep. We’ll rendezvous in Billingsgate.’
Mrs Jones, the farmer’s wife to whom I owed my shoes, offered to go in pursuit of her husband. That settled, we parted in the lobby as the hackney cabs and carriages drew up.
‘Cat, good luck!’ called Milly as she waved me off in the cab. Lizzie was too late to hush her. Well, if anyone heard, I could do nothing about it. I had no time to worry about my own safety. Our efforts would count for nothing if we could not find Pedro’s ship before it sailed on the tide. Once he left British waters, no magistrate’s writ would save him.