“The thing is,” Gilroy said, “a man should be a realist. When a woman seeks to charm you in the middle of an inquiry, it’s likely she’s less interested in you than in the ways you might be influenced.”
I bit back what I might have said, and only answered, “You assume I’d let myself be influenced.”
“You may believe you wouldn’t, but—”
The jovial man had moved again, to take a seat directly behind Gilroy. I’d been waiting for this moment.
Knowing everything I uttered would be overheard, I interrupted Gilroy. “You’d be wrong, because I don’t think we will ever have the evidence to prove the marriage. I don’t think it’s possible.”
He stared at me. Drank slowly. Then asked, “What changed your mind?”
“You did. With your persuasive arguments.”
“What arguments?”
“Your stubbornness then.”
Gilroy still looked wary. “So we’re in agreement?”
“Aye. The witnesses are dead. We’ve found no one who knew them as a married couple. I agree the inquiry is but a waste of time, and we should write to the commissioners and recommend that they dismiss the claim.”
“I see.” His mouth curved faintly, registering victory. “Then I suggest a toast to the occasion, Sergeant Williamson, for most of the commissioners will soon be in their beds. Our letter can wait till the morning.”
No doubt his true reason for wishing to celebrate was that he would soon be rid of me, but I still lifted my glass. Behind Gilroy, the jovial man rose and quietly headed toward the door, and at the edge of my vision I saw him step out of the tavern and into the night.
Gilroy said, “Here’s an end to our labors.”
A toast I could drink to, with hope.
*
I didn’t stay long at the Cross Keys after that.
As I walked back up the darkened High Street, it struck me that I had neither seen nor heard the man in grey since I’d come down the castle hill the morning before yesterday. Some people might have felt relieved. It made me feel on edge.
I tried to keep my footsteps quiet as I climbed the stairs to Lily’s lodgings, but she met me at the door.
“What is it?” she asked, when she saw my face. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” I stepped inside, and when she closed the door behind me, I said, “I’ve called off the inquiry. The wheels are set in motion now.”
Her own face fell. “You might have warned me this would be your plan.”
“Until an hour ago I didn’t have a plan. I am developing it as I go, that’s why it is in motion. It does still have moving parts. It may yet change.”
Lily did not find that very reassuring.
I said, “Trust me.” Then, because there was still one thing that she did not know, I briefly told her of the Duke of Hamilton’s involvement, and of Robert Moray’s strong belief the duke was trying to draw Colonel Graeme out to capture him.
“The duke’s spies know we’ve called off the inquiry,” I said, “and they’ll go straight to him with that information, so in his view you’ll be of no further use. You will be safe from him.”
“But not from Archie,” Lily argued. “He’ll be angry when he hears. He’ll want to meet me.”
“Which is why we need to get you now to safety.”
“Where?”
The nearest place that came to mind was Caldow’s Land, with Helen Turnbull. “We can tell her there were noises in the shop below, and they did make you nervous. She’ll not mind if you do sit with her awhile.”
“And where will you be?” Lily asked me.
“With the Regent Murray, meeting Archie in your place.”
She grabbed my sleeve and told me, “That is not a good plan.”
“Perhaps not, but I do warrant it will work.”
She shook her head a little helplessly, as though aware that nothing she could say would change my mind. “Why did you stay?”
I grinned and said, “Because you asked me to.”
Lily blushed. “That is not what I meant. I meant why did you stay in Edinburgh when you could have been clear of this? It never was your fight.”
“Of course it was.” I felt my grin fade as I told her, “I could not have left you.”
She was too close but she came closer still. “Why not?”
Showing her was easier than telling her. The kiss was light this time, but it did not last long.