I believe this interrogation is over,’ Mr Donaldson said, rising to his feet. ‘Colonel, you may take the prisoner now.’
He walked to the door and it wasn’t until he touched the handle that Manning called to him.
‘Sir, I shall tell you everything, if you promise to safeguard my family.’ He chewed his lower lip and fixed his gaze on Mr Donaldson’s back.
Gabriel was fighting the urge to shut his eyes. Olivia was too young to die now.
Turning slowly, Mr Donaldson walked back to the table and sat down. ‘I will do what I can to keep your family safe.’
‘I need your word as a gentleman.’
Mr Donaldson visibly bristled, but after pursing his lips together, he gave a curt nod. ‘You have it.’
‘Very well, I’ve gathered the information on the Regent’s whereabouts from my acquaintances.’
‘Tell us the names of those acquaintances.’
Manning shifted once more in his seat and he looked about the room before his gaze returned to Mr Donaldson. He took a deep breath. ‘Lady Abernathy and the Duchess of Winterbourne.’
The silence in the room was deafening.
Gabriel broke out in a cold sweat and his heart twisted in pain. If only he could pretend this day had never happened. But it had—and Olivia’s name was now linked to an assassination attempt on Prinny.
His right hand clenched into a tight fist. He glanced at his brother and the expression on Andrew’s face told him, in no uncertain terms, that he thought Gabriel was a fool for allowing other men to conduct this interview. Now, he wished he had listened. But strangely enough it was to protect Olivia more than he worried about saving himself.
He focused his attention back to the interrogation room. It appeared some of the candles had gone out and he squinted to adjust to the lower light. Colonel Collingsworth and Mr Donaldson were staring at one another in silent communication and Manning’s eyes shifted between the two men while he chewed his lip.
Finally, Mr Donaldson cleared his throat. ‘What information did Lady Abernathy give you?’
Manning’s right leg bounced rapidly. ‘She told me of the Prince Regent’s trip to Brighton on the fourth.’
‘I see. And did you forward this by a note left at Hatchard’s?’
‘I did.’
‘And the Duchess of Winterbourne, what information has she provided you with?’
Both of Manning’s legs were bouncing now as he rubbed the back of his neck. ‘She told me of a trip she was taking with him to visit a Mr Owen to purchase a painting by Titian, and today I heard about his plans to attend Lord and Lady Nettleford’s ball.’
Both Donaldson and the Colonel turned to the wall hiding Gabriel and Andrew. If Gabriel didn’t know any better, he would have thought they could see him rubbing his hands on his thighs. The smooth buckskin helped dry his sweaty palms.
Mr Donaldson leaned forward. ‘And this information the Duchess of Winterbourne provided you with, what did you do with it?’
‘I wrote the information down and placed it in the book at Hatchard’s.’
‘Did these women who provided you with information know you would be forwarding it to someone else?’
‘No. No. Of course not.’
‘You are certain they were not part of this?’
‘Yes. I’m certain.’
‘Did you ever discuss harming the Prince Regent in any way with Lady Abernathy or the Duchess of Winterbourne?’
Manning’s eyes widened. ‘No. Lady Abernathy is the gentlest of souls and Lady Winterbourne looks upon the Prince Regent like a father. Neither could ever consciously hurt him. And I have no desire to see him harmed. I told you I had no knowledge what was to be done with the information. I just wanted to protect my son.’
‘Who takes this information you leave?’
‘I do not know. I was told to place the information on page eighty-nine in the book and leave.’
‘And you never remained, out of sight, to see who comes to collect it?’
‘No, I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.’
Mr Donaldson turned to Colonel Collingsworth. ‘I have no further questions. Do you?’
Colonel Collingsworth shook his head.
‘Very well, then. You will remain in Colonel Collingsworth’s custody until we determine if you will stand trial.’
Manning squeaked. ‘But I told you I had no knowledge of a plan to murder the Prince Regent.’
Mr Donaldson stood and turned towards the door. ‘Then you should have no problem convincing a jury of that should that be your fate.’
Falling back in his chair, Gabriel rubbed his eyes. He could breathe again.
‘You’re one lucky devil,’ Andrew said, standing up and stretching. ‘That could have ended very differently. Do you think he was telling the truth? About Olivia?’
‘I do.’ He felt it in his bones. And Manning was right, Prinny was like a father to Olivia. Guilt ate away at him that he had even considered she would want to see the man dead. It was disturbing to know the man on the other side of the wall understood his wife better than he did.
Andrew opened his mouth to speak, as Mr Donaldson stormed into the room, pointing an accusing finger at Gabriel. ‘Dem you. You knew she would be named.’
Gabriel stood, preferring to face Mr Donaldson at eye level. ‘She had nothing to do with the attempt on Prince George’s life.’
‘She bloody well did! Your wife’s information was used to determine where he would be the day he was shot at.’
‘My wife gossiped to an artist while he was painting her portrait to pass the time. She had no notion he would take that information and give it to someone intending to harm our sovereign. You heard him.’
‘And how can you be so sure? Surely you do not expect me to believe that she discussed this with you over the breakfast table? The two of you barely speak to one another.’
The state of his marriage was common knowledge. While veiled comments in the past had annoyed Gabriel, more because he considered his private life his business and no one else’s, this time he battled with himself to keep his right fist from crashing into Donaldson’s jaw.
Just as he was about to inform the man that he could go to hell, Andrew stepped up to his side. ‘I am certain he was telling the truth. In fact, the Duchess of Winterbourne told me about her conversation with the artist,’ he said, not even glancing at Gabriel.
‘Why would she have told you?’
‘Because I asked her.’
‘You expect me to believe this?’
Andrew raised his chin and moved his hands behind his back. ‘You have my word as a gentleman.’
Gabriel glanced up, expecting lighting to strike Andrew through the roof of the house.
‘You have had no time to question her since he was apprehended,’ Mr Donaldson said, eyeing Andrew sceptically.
‘We discussed her portrait session recently over dinner. I enquired how she could sit for someone for days and not grow bored. She said their conversations helped to pass the time and she gave me examples of what they discuss.’
‘She still may have been aware this information would be passed on.’
As far as Gabriel knew, Mr Donaldson had never spoken to Olivia. He