Page 104 of Marigold and the Marquess
“Thank you, love. Next, I’ll fetch Mr. Barrow and we’re going to wake this Ogilvie fellow. He must have a list of drivers who are working tonight.”
She clasped her hands and nodded. “I won’t delay you, Leo. Do whatever you must. I’ll take care of the Bow Street men.”
She began issuing instructions to their housekeeper and maids.
Leo took off with his footmen, relieved Marigold was not the helpless sort who would retire to her bedchamber and be of no use to anyone. These Farthingale women, even those as young as Marigold, were clever and competent.
He knew Marigold’s heart had to be breaking over Mallow, but she would not let it show while she tended to those wounded men.
Since taking a carriage through the London streets in search of Homer Barrow would waste too much time, he ordered Archimedes saddled. As soon as he and his footmen had settled the Bow Street runners, Leo hurried to his chamber to change out of his formal attire. He could not walk through the roughest dockside neighborhoods wearing these clothes. Besides, they were stained with blood.
He washed the bloodstains off his hands, then quickly changed into more suitable attire. The sort one wore when skulking through the seedier parts of London at night. He was about to ride off when a lad who identified himself as Wilbur Barrow arrived. “M’lord! Wait!” he cried, breathless but trying to relay a message. “My uncle asked me to check on his men.”
“Then you know both are hurt.”
The lad nodded. “I saw your footmen carry Henry into your home. He said the scoundrel rode off in one of Mr. Ogilvie’s hacks. I’ll take you straight to Ogilvie’s stables. He keeps a man on duty overnight and he’ll have the list of drivers. But I’m not sure how we are to track them down or even know which one to look for.”
“Let that be my worry. How did you get here?”
“I walked, m’lord.”
Leo sighed and extended a hand. “Here, climb up behind me. There’s no time to lose. Where are Ogilvie’s stables?”
It took them about ten minutes to reach their destination. As it turned out, Ogilvie himself was on duty. “M’lord, I have ten hacks out this evening. It is nigh on impossible to tell which driver picked up your man. I promise to question them when they return, but that won’t be for hours yet.”
“Do they all drive around in the same area?”
“No, I have them spread out,” he said, rubbing a plump hand along his prominent jowls.
“Where does each start off?”
“Well, each has an assigned street, but how will this help you? These are just starting points. Who knows where their fares will take them afterward?” The clock in Ogilvie’s office chimed two o’clock. “These drivers have been picking up fares for hours now.”
Leo shook his head. “I understand. Just give me the starting locations.”
Ogilvie listed each driver and his designated area.
“Let’s start with Abner Simmons,” Leo said. “His route is closest to the docks. Does he check in with you at all throughout the evening?”
“No, m’lord. Not unless there’s a problem with the horse or carriage. But Abner’s been working a double shift so he may come back early. I cannot promise, but there’s always a chance.”
“Wilbur, go find your uncle. Tell him what has happened and have him and a few of his best men begin asking around the docks for anyone seen with a little spaniel. You are then to come back here and question each driver as they return. Especially look out for this Abner Simmons. But if any driver tells you he picked up a gent with a small dog, make a note of the driver’s name, where he dropped off his fare, and get as good a description as possible of this gent. Write everything down. Do not think to keep it all in your head. I cannot risk mistakes.”
Leo was also concerned that Mallow, being so little, could be hidden beneath his abductor’s jacket so as not to be noticed. He hoped the resourceful pup would bark to attract attention. “There’s a tavern called the Blind Bear near the dockside warehouses. Do you know it?”
“No, m’lord. But my uncle will.” Leo gave the lad directions to the tavern because he wanted him to report there once he had gotten information from Ogilvie’s drivers. “Now you know it, too. I’ll be checking in at the Blind Bear every hour. Your uncle and you need to do the same. We cannot go off haphazardly on our own.”
“I understand, m’lord. We need to compare information. Narrow the search area. Approach this gent in teams, for he may be armed and dangerous. My uncle’s been training me. This will be my first assignment.”
Dear heaven.
Was he leading this innocent lad to the slaughter?
“Wilbur, you are not to make your way to the Blind Bear on your own. Have Mr. Ogilvie’s driver, the one who picked up that fare, bring you there. He is to remain with you until I have had the chance to question him. Got it?”
“Yes, m’lord.”
“Do not dismiss him for any reason. I do not care if he is exhausted.”
