generalolaf: Thanks, and welcome! I knew you Kiwis had good taste.
Momento Mori/Tanzhang: Yes, the second one was in 1814, where John's mother etc was killed.
Loki: Well, by this stage rebels are mere irritants. With over 400,000 troops I can pretty much squash anything...but it did take a while!
c0d5579: Excellent, her Ladyship's plan has worked! Haha, glad to see you back!
Chapter 43 – Breaking the News
5/2/1820
“Alright, I’m coming! This better be good, or else-“ Perkins called as he pulled open the door. He was utterly surprised to see John Adams standing there, looking rather flustered. “Mister John?”
“Perkins, good man, I need to see father. Come on, Elijah!” John said, pushing past quickly, and patting the man on the shoulder.
“But sir, it’s night-time!” Perkins protested.
“An emergency that might bring down the British Empire is afoot, Perkins!” John said as he ran up the stairs. “This is not a time to wait!”
John knocked and pushed open the door to his father’s study. He knew he would be in there, as Benjamin worked until midnight most nights.
“John? What is the meaning of this?” Benjamin asked, jolting up. He peered at his son and Elijah in confusion.
“Father, it’s vital I tell you this. The rebels are beneath Parliament, they’re planning to blow it up!”
“John, if this is some sort of joke…” Benjamin begun sternly.
“It isn’t! I was there near Parliament, and I saw them rolling barrels into the house nearest there. I overheard them!”
“It’s true, sir, I saw them rolling the barrel. One of them was the man John described from the other day!”
John’s father looked at them, trying to process this outrageous, yet earnest, observation.
“All this excitement has had a clear effect on you, I can see,” Benjamin said calmly. “I will look into it in the morning, I promise.”
“They’ll blow the whole place up, Queen, Lords, Parliament, everyone!” John insisted. “You have to believe me, father. I swear this is not some dream or fantasy.”
Faced with this heartfelt comment, Benjamin seemed undecided. “Very well. I hope for both our sakes you are correct, my son. I will send a message to the appropriate people now. I need you to head back there and meet up with the soldiers and lead them to this place. I hope to God this is true,” Benjamin said with a sigh.
“Thank you, father! I just have one stop to make beforehand…”
“That went better than expected,” Elijah said as they left the house. John had paused only to retrieve his weapon from the safe.
“My father doesn’t really believe us, but he’s willing to try. And it’s your lucky night, Elijah.”
“Why’s that?”
“You get to meet her Ladyship.”
Elijah seemed to brighten up at that as they hurried along to their horses to ride through the darkened streets.
An hour later, as the grandfather clock was chiming seven, they were admitted to see her Ladyship. That part had been easier than John had expected, with the guards and servants instructed to let him in at any time.
Now, with Tempest behind her watching them, Lady Mendenhall entered and graciously accepted Elijah’s bow.
“Ah, Mr Hill, I presume! John has talked a lot about you!” she commented.
“Thank you, Lady. I’m glad he has time to spare for others!”
She smiled at the joke. “While it is of course a joy to see you at any time, John, what brings you here?” she asked.
“Lady, the rebels have burrowed under Parliament, and have put gunpowder beneath it. They are planning to explode it tomorrow at the opening. Masters is there, and some Frenchman in charge of the operation. I’ve told my father, and he’s sent messages to the soldiers.”
For a moment her Ladyship looked curious, but then she nodded. “Of course! And you saw them?”
“Yes, Lady, I saw the barrels, I saw and heard Masters.”
“Then we must act swiftly, John. What is today’s date?” She looked at the calendar. “The fifth? How appropriate,” she said gnomically. “John, Elijah, I want you to come with me immediately. The soldiers will bumble around and might wander into a trap. I need to be there to oversee matters.”
Elijah seemed amazed by this woman and her calm, relentless manner. “Lady, are you sure you should be so near the danger?”
She chuckled. “I know how to handle myself, I assure you. Right, John?”
“It’s true,” John said.
Elijah looked between them, but said nothing. He made no comment on Tempest either, though the black woman’s stern look clearly intrigued him.
“We’d best get going. Come, John, Elijah. This crisis must be averted.”
“I’m surprised you believe us so easily,” Elijah commented.
“I know John well enough to know that this is no idle comment. If he says this is a threat, I believe him.”
Into the unknown they were headed. Danger was sure to follow!