[Previously: Lucius is dead, apparently killed by Davis.]


Cedric's first act, upon stepping down from the carriage, was to examine his uncle's body. He wanted to understand how Lucius had managed to fire the shot that he had felt whiz past his ear.

"The Earl, 'e were terrible angry, sur," Hinkling explained, taking up the tale from the shame-faced groom who'd become tongue-tied. "'E pushed over Wilt 'ere, and took 'is gun, quicker than lightnin'. They didn't think 'is lordship would be able to do such a thing, wot wif 'is right arm bein' 'urt and all, but afor Wilt or George knew wot 'e were about, 'e were aimin' the gun right at you. And wif 'is left 'and, too! If it 'adn't a bin for Davis there, you might be dead now, and mighty sorry we'd all be about that."

"Not sorrier than I," Cedric muttered, too low for the others to hear. "Well, Hinkling ... Wilt," he continued in a more normal tone, "please don't feel badly about what happened. My uncle was a very devious and ruthless man, who obviously wanted to kill me. I guess we all owe a debt of gratitude to Davis."

"Yes, sur, I guess we do. Wot should we do wif 'im now, Master Cedric?" Hinkling asked, pointing down at Lucius' body.

"I ... I'm not sure just yet. Give me a few moments."

Cedric walked away from the group around the body, motioning for Davis to follow him. When they'd gone several paces, and Cedric was sure that they could no longer be overheard, he stopped and waited for the other man to catch up.

"Davis, I ... I feel that I owe you an apology. I had thought you to be in league with my uncle, and now you've saved me from being murdered by his hand, I--"

"Begging your pardon, m'lord, but there is no need to apologise."

Cedric had started a bit at the other man's use of the honorific. It hadn't yet sunk in that he was now the Earl of Kentham. He had a few more surprises still to come.

Davis was continuing. "I wanted everyone to think I was up to no good, as it made it easier for me to do what I had to do. You see, m'lord, I was placed in your employ in an official capacity." So saying, he took a notebook out of his coat pocket and presented it to Cedric.

Cedric could only stare down at the credentials in his hands. "Bow Street? You're a--!"

"A Runner, yes m'lord."

"So you were investigating my uncle's involvement with the highwaymen then. I had thought that the Runners had given up on that." He handed Davis's papers back to him.

Davis took his time re-folding the papers, and avoided Cedric's eye while he did so. Cedric got the distinct impression that the other man was framing his words carefully. Finally, he looked up again and met Cedric's gaze squarely. "Actually, m'lord, I was ordered here because of the Earl's spying activities."

"What!" Cedric felt anger and revulsion welling up within him. Had there been nothing his uncle would not stoop to?

"I'm sorry, m'lord, to have to be the one to tell you this, but your uncle was the leader of a very profitable spying ring. He'd been selling British secrets to the French for some time, and we suspect that he'd been engaged upon similar lines selling other governments' secrets during at least part of his time abroad."

"So that's what it was," Cedric said, more to himself than to his companion, but Davis heard it nonetheless.

"What was that, m'lord?"

"I knew there had to be something ... something beyond the robberies. I just didn't know--! This explains those other visitors from France he would never let me meet! I never suspected that it could be ... this!" He'd been staring off in the distance, his attention more on his own thoughts than on Davis's question. Now, however, Cedric returned his gaze to the man before him, focusing on Davis once more. "There was too much money, you see. I looked after the estate's accounts, and I knew he was spending money we didn't have; money that couldn't quite have all come from the robberies, especially since ... well, especially since the Masked Avenger seemed to be able to prevent the theft of quite a bit of money and jewellery." Cedric hoped that Davis hadn't noticed his near slip. He wasn't at all certain what Bow Street's position might be regarding his masked alter-ego.

Davis, if he'd noticed anything odd, did not comment upon it. "You're right about the money, m'lord. It's hard for word of things like that not to get around. His excessive spending was one of the things that led us to him, but even with that, he was clever enough to elude us until just a few days ago."

"His sudden trip to London?" Cedric asked, the pieces falling into place.

"Yes, m'lord. We were able to catch one of his people actually handing over information to his French contact, and arrested him. That man, after a bit of persuasion, gave us other names. We tried to be discreet, but somehow word of the arrest reached the Earl's ears."

"I guess he went to London to remedy the situation but, when he found he couldn't, he came back here to take what he could and then bolt to France."

Davis nodded. "We had hoped to keep from him exactly what we did know, so that he wouldn't bolt and we could arrest him in London. But apparently he got wind of something anyway and ... well, I'm sorry for all that you, Mademoiselle Le Mersurer, and your people have been through today. It's not as we would have wanted it, m'lord."

Cedric turned away, feeling sick at heart. He'd never imagined anything like this! For the first time since his grandfather's death, he was glad that the old gentleman was not alive. If he had had to witness this! "What happens now?" he asked quietly.

"Nothing, m'lord."

"Nothing!" Stunned, Cedric whirled around. "How can you say that? My uncle has--"

"Your uncle is dead, m'lord. The spy ring is broken, and most of its participants are captured or dead, or soon will be. It is not our wish to ruin your house or drag your family into a scandal. In fact, we'd rather not publish any of the details of this spy business. We've no wish to encourage others to do as your uncle has done. Nor would we want to let the world know that one or two dangerous secrets were sold to the enemy before we were able to stop these people."

"I can see your point, of course, Davis, but ...." He gestured towards the body lying at the edge of the road. "It would seem to me that we cannot conceal this."

Davis allowed himself to smile, but in a professional capacity. "You are correct about that, m'lord, but my official report will state that the Earl was killed by accident during a robbery attempt. There will be no need to, um, state who had been doing the robbing."

He could see that Cedric was going to object, and he held up his hand to forestall him. "Please hear me out, m'lord. No good can come of letting the truth about this day's work get about. Even before I assumed my position at the Kentham stables, I had spent a great deal of time in the area. I've seen firsthand all the good your grandfather did for this area, and these people. I know you will follow his example, just as you have done since his death. Besides," he added, his smile more genuine now, "one of the men I must answer to was a great admirer of your grandfather. He would have my commission if I let anything happen to you, or to Kentham."

Cedric returned the smile, but perfunctorily. Davis's arguments were no doubt good ones, yet he was uneasy. Was this truly the right thing to do? What would his grandfather have done?

He would have done what was necessary to protect England, and Kentham.

The answer came to him from deep within his heart, and he knew it was right. There was a greater good to be served by not exposing Lucius, who was now beyond earthly punishment for his crimes. The ones who would be harmed by the scandal would be the very people Cedric had sworn himself to protect, both as steward of Kentham, and as the Masked Avenger.

"Very well, Davis, I will do as you've requested. What is our next step?"

"Thank you, m'lord. I know this cannot have been easy for you, and I'm grateful. The next step is for you to go back to Kentham, with your men. Leave the highwaymen and your uncle's body with me."

"But ... how will you manage? There will need to be some sort of funeral arrangements ... some sort of announcement. And, good god, what if my uncle left other papers of an incriminating nature in his desk at Kentham, or the townhouse in London!" Cedric's mind whirled with the possibilities.

"I'll manage quite easily, m'lord; I have help standing by. They will come on my signal. With your permission, I would like to visit you at Kentham tomorrow to discuss further plans."

"Yes, of course, I'll be glad to help in any way I can." Cedric bethought himself of another detail. "And Simms, my uncle's valet, what of him? He shouldn't be allowed to escape."

"No fear of that, m'lord," Davis reassured him. "By now he should have made the acquaintance of Runners who had been sent to watch the ports. We knew that your uncle might attempt to flee and would send a confederate ahead to procure a boatman. Simms won't have got far."

Cedric nodded, relieved to know that this particularly vicious criminal would not escape justice. He then gestured towards the three highwaymen. "What of them? Do you think my uncle would have taken them to France with him?"

"I doubt it, m'lord. Your uncle would, I think, have preferred to travel rather lightly through France, don't you? They had probably been promised a portion of the takings from Kentham as payment for being an escort, nothing more."

"Yes," Cedric agreed, "that makes sense." He studied his companion for a moment more. "Are you sure there isn't anything I might do to repay you?"

"Well, it would help if you could leave the horses those highwaymen were riding. I know they belong to Kentham, but perhaps you could trust me to return them?"

This time Cedric did grin at the Runner's joke. I think I could do that, yes." He held out his hand to the other man and, after a moment's hesitation, Davis took it in his own. "Mr. Davis, I wish I .... I'd like to thank you ... for all you've done, especially for saving my life today. That hardly seems adequate, however. I wish there was something else I could do."

Davis gripped Cedric's hand firmly. "You've already helped me, even if you didn't know it, m'lord. Thank you. Oh, and I will be talking with the Magistrate about the two thieves left behind at Kentham. I expect they have been collected from the cellar by now." Smiling, he released Cedric's hand and turned but, after he'd walked a couple of steps he stopped and approached Cedric once more. Puzzled to see what might come next Cedric waited.

"Just one more thing, m'lord ... if you should happen to see the Masked Avenger, tell him from me to be more careful in the future. He might not have a friend hiding in the bushes the next time he is ambushed."

Cedric's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "I will tell him ... if I see him. I understand that, even though he's recovering from his injury, he has decided to hang up his mask."

"Very wise, in my opinion, m'lord. Best to let the local folk believe him to be dead, and his secret with him. He's earned a rest."

"That he has, Mr. Davis. That he has."