Chapter 15

Phileas Fogg set up a meeting with William Robertson four weeks after their first encounter. The man had been a family friend and had been personally in charge of the duchess's safety all her life. Rebecca and Phileas had agreed to bring the man into their confidence in the light of the newest evidence against her. Neither one of them, costume or not, could truly believe for a second that Katharine could be the notorious spy. She was too young and did not have the nature to be what she was accused of.

The letter Chatsworth had sent to Rebecca yesterday had been the most damning evidence of all. It gave a source for the queen's intelligence and a way for her to get hold of it. It painted Katharine the blackest sort of blackmailer, fem fatal'e, spy, and traitor.

Rebecca had believed none of it. She had spent over a month in the woman's company. "I would swear to the woman's innocence on at least that count," Rebecca said. "Innocence is not easily faked. I have watched Katharine interact with her suitor and with you. There was no way anyone could convince me that woman had ever been more than kissed, much less made love to."

Fogg strongly agreed, but he had other memories that didn't mesh with that picture. He needed to know more about why Katharine had been at the masquerade ball. After his personal experiences, he was not as willing to say she was that innocent.

Katharine had indeed been the woman in the costume. He had kept that woman's image fresh in his mind and had become certain of it. She had spoken nothing but French and had duped him into believing that she had been French for the entire night. The girl had played her part perfectly. The flirtation offered to him had been consummate. He would have guessed her at least five years older. Young innocent girls of her rank would not have attended a ball alone to meet with an older man. She had been there to meet him. The question was, why?

Robertson met them at Fogg's home late in the evening. He went through the same disarming routine as before. This time he also relieved himself of the dirk. That did not guarantee that the man had nothing else. "I would have thought all this had been for show last time you came," Fogg said.

The old man smiled gamely. "I was a ship marine longer than you have been alive and carried full armament for many years. I feel naked without it, that sword especially. There was a time when a man could name his price and travel the world if he could use one of those well. I did just that in my youth."

Phileas would have plied the man for those stories, but not tonight. He led his guest into the study, thankful that the sword was in the hall closet shut away. The temptation came to have Passepartout put those weapons under lock and key. What he and Rebecca would say would not be received well.

Fogg showed the old gentleman to a chair near Rebecca. Robertson bowed to her and sat. Phileas stood by the mantel for the interview while Passepartout took up a post by the teacart.

"Did you discover any surveillance involving my lady?" Robertson said.

"No," Rebecca said. "None accept the one to be started."

"The Secret Service will be involved officially?" Robertson seemed happy, but would not be for long.

"The Secret Service will investigate Katharine," Rebecca said.

"I do not follow." Robertson said.

Phileas took over the telling of the bad news.

"Sir, Queen Mary is a code name for a spy that has been selling out our agents abroad for over six years. The message insinuates Katharine is that spy." Fogg saw the man tense. He plunged on. "At first, we could not credit it. She is too young and could not come by such information. We have discovered that she has been in London and at social events where known information drops have been accomplished. That proves nothing, but there was a ball where Rebecca and I set a trap for Queen Mary. I sat with the woman. I talked to her, danced with her. She disappeared before we could catch her distributing information. On that night, the spy wore a particular costume. One that was specially made. Rebecca saw that costume back then and again this week in a trunk at Lady Weatherly's home. Katharine freely admitted that the dress was hers."

Through that recitation, Mr. Robertson sat quietly, waiting.

Phileas said, "I have since gone over the events and am convinced that the woman was Katharine. She spoke only French to me. Does she speak that language, sir?"

Robertson looked at the floor, then back at Fogg boldly. "She does indeed, and so most educated ladies of her rank. My lady speaks it like a native because she learned it from natives. Her mother was French. The late Duchess taught her daughter the language before she died. Her other teacher was a woman from the south of France."

"Going to a fancy-dress ball in a particular costume means nothing. You say yourself you did not catch her doing anything wrong. You, therefore, have nothing to tie my lady to these crimes."

"We have this," Rebecca said. "This is a copy of a letter, a death confession of one who swears that Katharine is Queen Mary. It gives a source for her getting the information and how she gained her power over him. It is not pretty information. And as you know, death confessions are unimpeachable."

Robertson held out his hand and took the letter from Rebecca's hand. He read the first portion, then looked up at the Foggs, stunned. He finished reading and laid it on the same table he had laid his dirk. Knife or letter, they were both equally sharp and cutting. The man took a long intake of breath and let it out slowly.

"I have known the girl all her life," Robertson said. "I served her father. My job is to see to her safety since his death. This letter is trash! Slander!" Robertson then blasted. "She has never been allowed alone with anyone. She has gone nowhere unescorted in Scotland or here in London. I would not allow it. Lady Eleanor would never allow it. Lord McCollum never allowed it! And that… smitten pup, Lord McCollum has not and will not allow it! He worships at the girl's feet. The boy took his own cousin out for a beating, for taking her attention from him. The girl is as pure as a born and raised nun. I guarantee it!" With that statement, he glared at his company, daring anyone to refute him.

"All right." Phileas picked up the pieces and tried to enlist the man into the course of action he had planned.

"Your word and those of her family will not be enough to clear her," he said. "Rebecca agrees, but I have questions that need to be answered. The first of which is why was she at that ball dressed up as Queen Mary of Scotland? Why was she hiding her identity so much? I assure you, the lady comported herself with the finesse of the finest of actresses. We observed no escort with her at that ball, so we cannot verify what you say about her never being alone."

"I can get your answers," Robertson said. "We–you and I will ask her."

"She has already admitted to Miss Rebecca that she attended this ball," Robertson said. "The dress has been seen. You two seem to remember the outfit vividly. We will ask her and see how she answers. Any other matters you want to venture?" He challenged.

"There is still the letter," Rebecca reminded him.

"Rot and rubbish!" Robertson swore. "Slander! The man who wrote the thing was lying. When do you want to meet with my duchess?"

"Tomorrow will do," Fogg answered quietly.

"I will take her away from the house for lunch. You tell me where you wish to meet, and we will question her." Robertson stood. "I should come along too," Rebecca added. "I am the one she told about being at the ball."

"Good enough then," Robertson agreed. With that, he cemented a place and time, then bowed to the Foggs before heading for the door.

This visit Passepartout was ahead of him. The valet saw their houseguest rearmed and into a carriage within ten minutes. When he returned to the study, the manservant made an exaggerated sign of relief. "I expecting him to be skewering us all for saying such things about his duchess. He handled it well, no?"

"Quite well, yes," Rebecca said.

"He either has great confidence in his assessment or is completely taken in." Phileas said.