The Trouble With Harriet by Wilma Counts

Author:Wilma Counts [Counts, Wilma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2015-05-08T04:00:00+00:00

Ten

Harriet was deeply shaken by the apparent attempt on the Prince’s life, by seeing firsthand the desperation in the faces of the people in the crowd. Their animal-like savagery had unnerved her. Her dominant emotion, however, was anger—anger that people could be driven to such extremes in a modern country whose leaders professed to care about the welfare of its citizens.

Widowed Harriet Knightly, whose political standing was nil and whose social standing was respectable but by no means exalted, could do and say little about these matters. But the Gadfly could. And did.

Meeting with Mr. Watson at yet another bookshop, she gave him her latest essay. She was surprised when, instead of merely tucking the papers into a portfolio as he usually did, he began to peruse the document. His brow knit in a worried frown.

“Is something amiss?” she asked in a low voice.

“This is ... uh ... very volatile.”

“Too strong, you mean? But it is all true. Every word is factual.”

“I know. But since that business at Spa Fields a few months ago, persons in authority are taking a dimmer view of anything they consider threatening. And this attack on the Prince will likely make matters worse.”

“The Spa Fields incidents were largely exaggerated rhetoric, I think.” Harriet had been at Timberly so was not in London during what some newspapers had labeled the “Spa Fields Riots.” She had, however, heard and read detailed reports of the incidents since.

“Those fellows came dangerously close to preaching revolution to a receptive crowd,” Mr. Watson said.

“Mr. Hunt and Mr. Castle were simply carried away with their own enthusiasm, I am sure.”

“That may be. ‘Orator’ Hunt is a firebrand on a speaker’s platform. But Castle’s attack on the King and the Church—even only a verbal attack—did not sit well.”

“Are you worried that you will come under suspicion?”

“I already have,” he said simply.

“Wha-at?” Surprise pitched her voice higher than she intended.

He took her elbow to steer her deeper among the shelves of books. He spoke in a low tone. “And—what is more to the point—so have you.”

“I?” It was an alarmed squeak.

“Indirectly. Two men—they were from the government—came to me seeking the identity of this Gadfly person.”

“I trust you did not reveal it.”

He gave her a brief glare of impatience. “Of course not! Told them even I did not know the proper identity of Gadfly. No sense letting people like that know more than you need them to know.”

She chuckled. “Thank you, Mr. Watson. I appreciate your support.”

“Well ...” He colored slightly and cleared his throat. “Hmmm. I probably should not say this—I mean, after all, I am in the business of selling magazines-and Lord knows Gadfly sells magazines! But if things keep going as they have, Gadfly might be in danger. Have a care, madam.”

“I shall take your words as a caution, and I am grateful for them. But, really, I think government authorities have merely panicked and will soon return to their staid, indifferent selves.”

In the days that followed, however, Harriet had to

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