After a pause during which they digested that, Vane asked, “So what are our chances of getting Larkins-presuming it’s he we catch in our trap-to point the finger at Ferrar?”
“Reasonable,” Del said. “Larkins has been with Ferrar for years, and has relished his time in the upper echelons of the Black Cobra cult. But when faced with the choice between a rope or transportation? I’d say it’s more likely he’ll cooperate than he won’t.”
Del looked down at Devil’s sketch, at their planning represented by the crosses and notes marked on it. “If we can hobble the Black Cobra before the others have to wrestle through his coils, I’ll be more than content.”
“As will we all,” Devil said.
An “indeed,” followed by soft “hear, hears” from the sofas, chaises and armchairs further down the room had the men exchanging uneasy glances. They were planning a dangerous foray, and their ladies were listening. All were aware of the looming problem. Only Tony and Gervase were immune.
But they had to make their plans, and there was no point trying to hide that-or the plans themselves-from the ladies.
Devil and Del studied the sketch of the cathedral yet again.
“Even though there’ll be ten of us-assuming Demon makes it back in time-we’ll be spread thin,” Del noted.
“True,” Devil returned. “But at least there are plenty of places to hide once we move away from the altar and that end of the nave.”
“One eventuality we haven’t considered,” Tony said. “What if he comes in force?”
Standing beside Devil, his fingertips brushing the desk, Del considered, eventually said, “I can’t see it. If I had to wager on it, I’d say he’ll come alone, or with only one, or two, others. More, and he’ll risk attracting attention-”
“Given the cultists are Indian,” Deliah put in from the nearest sofa, “it’s likely he won’t want them seen. They create too much notice. People will look, and remember which way they go.”
“Indeed.” Devil sat back, looked up at Del. “So we assume we’ll be facing no more than a handful, all most likely Englishmen.”
Del nodded. There seemed nothing more to add to their plan of action for inside the cathedral. Talk veered to the logistics of getting into position without alerting the enemy.
“A night march.” Lucifer sighed resignedly. “I’d hoped I’d left such horrors behind me.”
“At least,” Gabriel said, “there won’t be a bloody battlefield at the end of it.”
Ultimately they agreed they would leave at four o’clock the next morning. Despite the hideous hour, they would still have to travel by a circuitous route to make sure they didn’t inadvertently pass the enemy’s bolt-hole, wherever that might be.
“In order to circumnavigate the fens”-Devil pointed to the areas on a map he’d spread on his desk-“Chatteris, Horseley, and Langwood Fens, we’ll need to go up to Chatteris, then toward Sutton, but turn off onto minor lanes before we reach the village, and then progress by minor routes until we reach Ely and come down to the cathedral from the north.”
“What about Sangay?” Honoria asked. “You can’t seriously be thinking of having him walk that distance, not in this weather.”
“He’ll catch his death,” Catriona stated.
No one argued.
“I’ve thought of that.” Del turned to face the ladies. “We’ll have Sligo and Cobby dress as laborers and drive a loaded cart away from the place, apparently heading for the market in Ely. Sangay can hide in the back beneath a blanket, as if he’s stowed away. They’ll take the obvious route via Earith, Sutton, and then the main road directly east to Ely. That way they’ll approach the main street from the south. There’ll be an inn there they can stop at. Cobby and Sligo will go in as if for a late breakfast, leaving Sangay to slip out of the cart and over the lawns into the cathedral.”
“With the scroll-holder,” Gervase added.
Del nodded. “Exactly. If Larkins is watching for him as he said he will be, he’ll see him, then he’ll follow him inside.”
“That will work,” Devil confirmed. “There’s an inn perfectly situated across from the cathedral, and the area between the street and the main cathedral door is open ground-easy to spot a boy scampering across, especially one dressed as Sangay will be.”
The men glanced at the ladies. As a group, they nodded approvingly.
“And once inside the cathedral, there’ll be three of you watching over him-all within easy reach?” Deliah arched a brow at Del.
He nodded. “He won’t be alone, and he’ll know that.”
Inclining her head, appeased, she transferred her attention to the ball of yarn she was rolling.
Interpreting the ladies’ subsequent silence as permission to proceed, the men huddled closer and quickly revisited the details of their plan one last time. Then, at a look and a nod from Devil, Vane stepped back from the desk, with a glance enlisted Richard, Lucifer, and Gabriel, then the four strolled the short distance to stand in a line, chatting with the ladies.
Distracting them as Devil, Del, Gyles, Tony, and Gervase left the room.
As the five men made their way to Devil’s study, Gyles sighed. “Honoria noticed.”
“So did Francesca,” Devil returned.
Gyles pulled a face. “Fifteen minutes, do you think, before they hunt us down?”
“If we’re lucky.”
They wanted to work with Sangay, to rehearse him in his role, without the distraction of the ladies. Not that the women would distract Sangay that much. The evasion was more in the nature of self-preservation.
Gaining the study, Devil sent Webster to fetch Sligo, Cobby, and Sangay. When the three presented themselves, expectant and eager to learn of their roles, Del took them through the plan, explaining their strategy, then settled to take them, step by step, through the parts the three of them would play.
He’d reached the point where the cart with Sangay hidden in the back reached the outskirts of Ely, when he was interrupted by a light rap on the door.
They all looked at the innocent panels.
Although Devil didn’t respond, after an instant’s hesitation the knob turned, the door opened, and Deliah walked in.
After one comprehensive sweep of the room, her gaze settled on Sangay. “Are you all right, Sangay?”
Del managed not to roll his eyes.
Sangay’s innocent reply did more good. Bright-eyed, he nodded excitedly. “Oh, yes, miss. I’m to be a part of the plan, too. The colonel-sahib was just telling me.”
Switching his gaze back to Del, Sangay waited, eager and attentive.
Del looked at Deliah.
She looked back, eyes narrowing a fraction, then closed the door and came forward to sit in a chair near Sangay’s. “I’ll just listen, too.”
Sangay looked perfectly happy. Del squelched his own reaction, and calmly continued with his rehearsal of their plan.
When he got to the point of Cobby and Sligo leaving the cart and going into the inn, and Sangay slipping out and on his own going into the cathedral, Deliah frowned…but, thank heaven, kept her lips shut and allowed him to continue.
Del was at pains to stress to Sangay-and therefore to Deliah, representative of the ladies as she indubitably was-that once he set foot in the cathedral, Sangay would have numerous men protecting him, three of whom would be devoted to ensuring he came to no harm. Del was permitted to continue outlining the plan to the point where Sangay handed the scroll-holder to the evil-sahib, or whoever came to fetch it from him.
“And then,” Del said, holding the boy’s dark gaze, “you run. As if the devil was on your heels. You run to one of these three gentlemen.” He pointed to Tony, Gervase, and Gyles. “They’ll be dressed in these robes.”
Gyles held up one robe, displaying it. “We’ll look like monks, and have the hoods up, but you’ll know it’ll be us.”