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The train s whistle shrieked and lurched into motion. They d been underway
for a couple of miles when the conductor entered and collected the fare from
Smelter, who hurriedly pushed the money at him.
 Now we can relax at last, Smelter said and smiled at them both. But Reese
had no intention of doing anything of the sort. He looked around the compartment,
searching for anything that might work as a weapon. The heavy brass lantern on
138 Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon
the wall, he decided. He moved so that he could feel the heat of Karl s body next to
him, as ready as he could be for whatever they d find in London. Or on this train.
Karl watched Jonathan, wondering if Smelter could sense the tension in the
man s stillness. The good doctor seemed to lapse back into his normal chatty self as
the train swayed toward London. He beamed at Karl, then at Jonathan, who only
stared back, unblinking.
 This train is quite good, Smelter said.  It travels at speeds of nearly forty
miles an hour, did you know? We shall reach London in less than an hour.
He reached for the curtains and covered the windows to the corridor.
 Ah, that is good. He sighed. He dipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out
a silver flask. A familiar sight to Karl, who d frequently taken a few swigs of the
excellent brandy Smelter carried. It was a joke in their retinue: Smelter and his
restorative flask was the first line of defense against cold evenings and boring
events.
 Your Excellency? Herr Reese? Smelter held out the flask, smiling broadly.
As always, he offered it to Karl first. Karl took it absently.
 No, said Jonathan, plucking it calmly from his hands. He aimed an
absolutely humorless smile at Smelter and watched the doctor as he said,  We need
to stay completely sober, Your Excellency.
 Of course, Karl said.
Jonathan held out the flask to the doctor.  But go ahead, Doctor. If your nerves
are overset, you should probably take some. A medicinal dose, I think you d call it?
His voice was quiet.
The doctor shook his head vigorously.  Oh, no, no. You are quite right, Herr
Reese. He eagerly reached for the flask. But Jonathan didn t let go of it.
 You still seem quite worried, Herr Doctor, Jonathan said.  I think it would be
best if you drink some of this. Don t you, Your Excellency?
The Nobleman and the Spy 139
Karl noticed that Smelter had gone pale.  I need to keep my wits about me,
the doctor said, sounding angry now.  I was wrong to turn to drink for comfort.
The anger was more like fear, Karl realized, his heart sinking.  Smelter. I
order you to drink some. Now, he commanded.
Smelter snatched the silver object from Jonathan and uncorked it. But Karl,
watching closely, saw he didn t open his lips as he put the thing to his mouth.
Bloody hell, as his uncle would say. Karl reached deep into his coat pocket.
But as he pretended to drink, Smelter reached into his own jacket pocket. A
moment later, he tossed the flask away. It bounced, and the contents splashed on
the seat, filling the compartment with the heavy scent of brandy. In his shaking
hand, he held a pistol pointed at Karl.
Old instincts kicked in, and Karl twisted sideways and down as he lunged
across the divide between the seats, the kitchen knife he d drawn from his pocket in
his hand. Next to him Jonathan kicked out. There was a heavy thud, and Smelter
shouted in pain.
Jonathan was absolutely silent as he slammed his fist into the doctor s back,
toppling him to the floor. Smelter lay on his stomach. The gun slid into the corner
near the window, and Karl scooped it up. He searched around for the knife and saw
the handle lying on the floor. It had snapped off. A shoddily made thing, he reflected
as he yanked the blade from the wooden seat beneath the cushion. No way to hold it
now, so he shoved it under the seat.
He sucked in a deep breath and forgot the knife as he watched Jonathan deal
with the doctor.
Smelter howled as Jonathan, still without a word, his face expressionless,
rolled him over and pinned him. He gripped the doctor s fat throat and slammed the
back of his head against the floor.  Who hired you?
Smelter cried out.  I can t& I don t know.
Jonathan lifted his head by the hair and smashed it on the floor with an
audible thump that made Karl wince.  Who?
140 Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon
 I ve never seen his face, Smelter gasped.
Again his head cracked against the floor. Karl opened his mouth to protest, but
held his breath. This was the side of Jonathan he d seen on the battlefield grim,
determined, deadly, but effective.
 Talk, or I ll throw you off this train at the next bridge.
The doctor began to sob, tears streaming down his cheeks and into his ears.
 I m telling you the truth. The man who hired me communicates with me by notes.
 Left where?
 Delivered by courier or sometimes by my contact.
 Who is your contact? What does he look like?
 I don t know his name, I swear, Smelter wailed as Jonathan lifted his head
again.  I can describe him.
 Then do so. He hauled the shaking fat man up by his collar and threw him
back onto the opposite seat.
 Tall. Blond, er, thin. With a scar on his forehead. From his hesitation,
Smelter was clearly inventing these details.
While Karl held the gun on the doctor, Jonathan searched the man for more
weapons. Then, barely out of breath, he sat down next to Karl.  Talk, he ordered.
 How long have you been working against me? The hand Karl held the gun
with may have been steady, but his voice shook. He straightened his back and tried
again.  Answer me, Smelter.
 I did not wish to. I did not! They came to me. He fell silent.
Jonathan asked,  When were you first approached?
The doctor blubbered and gasped for breath, wiping his streaming eyes and
nose with the cuff of his shirtsleeve. When Jonathan leaned menacingly toward
him, he gulped and began to speak in German, his English apparently deserting
him under stress.
The Nobleman and the Spy 141
 A little over a month ago, before we left Prague. I was in a certain club,
enjoying a fine young lady s company, as it were, when I was snatched from the bed,
blindfolded, and taken I know not where. My captors never took the blindfold off as
several men questioned me, then told me the part I must play in the conspiracy
against the erbgraf s life.
 And you went along with this, why? Karl still trembled, his blood raging
through his veins at the betrayal.
 They threatened my family. I had no choice.
 He s lying, Jonathan remarked almost conversationally, also in German.
 No, no. I swear it s the truth, Smelter wailed.  I was told the erbgraf must be
eliminated, and it would happen while we were in London. More information would
be forthcoming and I should wait for a missive. They let me go in front of my house.
 You could have told my father and me the truth. We would have protected
your family.
Smelter shook his head.  I know how these kinds of things work. I could not
take that chance with my children s lives.
 Describe the man you met with here in England, Jonathan said.
Smelter s complexion began to fade from bright red to merely pink as he began [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]