Page 68 of A Castaway in Cornwall
“No, I...” She clasped damp hands. Surely this was not a courting call.
His next words soon put those concerns to rest ... while raising others.
“Perry and I visited the Wadebridge coffee house this morning—the best place to learn the latest news and war reports, you know. They bring in many newspapers from around the country, to serve the interests of their varied clientele. At all events, we saw a notice I thought you might find ... interesting.”
“Oh?”
He handed a recent issue to her, then watched her face as she read.
Escaped from Norman Cross
Three French prisoners:
Capt. A. Carnell
D. Marchal
F. LaRoche
Dangerous. Also suspectedof theft.
Reward for successful recapture.
Superintending Prison Agent, Capt. Wm Hanwell.
Huntingdonshire.
Dangerous?Did the insertion of the word refer to the name listed directly before it, or to all three men? The notice was not perfectly clear.
She thought again of the bicorn hat she’d found withA. Carnellembroidered within. She also thought of François LaRoche, staying with the Roskillys.
She looked up at Treeve. “You don’t think...?”
“Think? Me? You know me better than that.” His chuckle sounded forced. “My brother, however, wondered if we oughtto go to the authorities. I prefer to avoid authorities myself, so I talked him out of it.
“I did, however, go to Pentire House and confront Monsieur LaRoche with this, since we recognized his name. I’ve just come from there. LaRoche explained it away. He says he was an informant in that prisoner-of-war camp, actually working for the British among all the Frenchmen being held there. Said he followed two escaped prisoners here and plans to report their whereabouts to the authorities. He accuses your Mr. Lucas of being this Captain Carnell.”
Laura’s stomach knotted. “And did you believe his claims? First saying he is here legally, and now, what ... a spy?”
“Mr. Roskilly certainly believed him. I must say he is very convincing, throwing out dates of battles and names of British commanders he has supposedly worked for.”
“If that is true, why would British authorities list his name with the escaped prisoners?”
“To maintain his disguise, he says. Apparently, the Frenchmen he sailed with believed him a fellow prisoner.”
“I don’t know...” Laura murmured. “I have my doubts about LaRoche.”
“I do as well.” He hesitated. “I did want to caution you, though. Because of your ... houseguest.”
“Thank you, Treeve. And thank you for telling me in person instead of jumping to conclusions and going to the authorities.”
“Do you want me to do anything about it? Talk to him? Or to the constable?”
She shook her head. “Leave it to me.”
“As you wish.” Treeve pressed her hand and took his leave, only to be accosted by Eseld in the hall, peppering him with questions and flirtation.
Alone in the parlour, Laura had already jumped to her ownconclusions. She thought back again to finding the initialsT.O.in the clothing of the shipwreck victim with the strawberry birthmark. Alexander had no such markings in his garments, but if his friend,D. Marchal, was an escaped prisoner, that was very incriminating for Alexander as well.
