Page 40 of The Moonstone Pirate
In truth, Draco did not think the Irishman or the two lords depicted talking to him in Imogen’s drawing were the sort to take tea. He glanced across the street at the Kestrel Inn and decided to stop in again later for a chat with the innkeeper and a review of his guest registers.
But he had a few more stops to make before then.
He made his way over to the local tavern, the Three Lions, to question its proprietor, William Angel. These Angels turned up everywhere and held important positions in town, which reminded Draco that he ought to check in with the village constable, Malcolm Angel. He would attend to this right after he spoke to the harbor master.
But first, the tavern.
“No, my lord,” the amiable William Angel said. “Haven’t seen any Irishmen in here, and I watch my customers closely. One has to be careful, especially during the summer season when the London crowd descends on us, for thieves come along with them.”
Draco next made his way to the harbor master’s office and happened to run into Malcolm Angel along the way. “My nephew, Thaddius, told me you sent letters off to your Bow Street man as well as several other contacts.” He bent closer and whispered, “Including the Home Office. Is there a reason to involve the Home Office in this murder? Is this sad affair not more in the purview of the London magistrate?”
Since the Kestrel Inn doubled as the village postal office, Thaddius saw every piece of mail coming through Moonstone Landing. This was one aspect of quaint village life Draco did not particularly care for, because he disliked anyone knowing his business. “I thought it prudent to alert some of my well-placedcontacts in the Home Office as well. We need to rule out suspects as fast as possible.”
“And have them keep watch on them all?” Malcolm nodded. “Yes, the more people on the task in London, the better. Were you heading to the harbor master’s office? I’ll walk over with you. He’ll be more cooperative if I put in a word.”
“Thank you. Let me guess,” Draco said dryly, “he’s an Angel, too.”
The constable laughed. “No, but he’s married to my sister. What cause do you have to be asking about ships in our harbor?”
Draco knew he could not ignore answering the constable’s questions. Although he asked in a pleasant, off-handed manner, this man was smart and intuitive. He knew Draco had connected Driscoll’s death to something farther reaching than a disagreement between two men. That Draco had notified the Home Office and was now looking for a ship that had passed through Moonstone Landing must have confirmed the constable’s suspicions.
“I may as well bring you in on the latest discoveries,” Draco said.
Without alluding to the rebel plot, he quickly recounted all he’d learned, including what he had found out while sifting through Imogen’s drawings.
“I cannot say more about my reasons for contacting the Home Office, but I expect I will have to bring you, the Marquess of Burness, and Viscount Brennan up to date eventually. For now, I can only issue a warning to all of you, and a plea not to interfere. If it turns out Driscoll’s murder is connected to this Home Office matter, I will advise you. For now, the Trewicks and Driscoll’s friends are not ruled out as suspects, and your investigation of them should continue.”
“All right, I will keep what you have told me in strictest confidence. But this Home Office matter, my lord—you are in avillage with women and children that I am responsible to keep safe. You must let me know if there is cause to be worried.”
“I understand, but you are all kept safest for the moment by not knowing what is going on,” Draco insisted. “I am most concerned about your nephew. Will Thaddius keep his mouth shut about my mail? Otherwise, lives will be put in danger.”
“Including yours, I imagine. I’ll issue him a stern warning. He is no loose-lipped fool. Nor will he ever accept a bribe. He told me about your letters because I am the village constable, and he knows I am involved in the investigation.”
“Who else do you think he might tell?”
“No one else, I hope. I will lecture him again. In fact, I will do so right now. Go on ahead, my lord. I’ll catch up with you at the harbor master’s office,” Malcolm said, rubbing a thick, calloused hand across his neck. He was a big, barrel-chested man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, but his mind was as quick as that of any Crown agent in his prime. “By the way, how much does Lady Imogen know? These are her sketches you told me about, after all.”
“I’ve told her nothing.” Draco sighed. “But she is too clever for her own good, and I am concerned she will eventually figure it out. I’ve asked her to stop poking around, but the request fell upon deaf ears. I am truly worried for her safety if she continues to investigate.”
“Perhaps if you told her a little more, then—”
“No, I need to keep her out of this investigation from this point on. We are not dealing with some angry husband taking revenge on Driscoll. His death could be connected to something far more sinister, and Driscoll’s toady friends may not be so innocent after all.”
The constable grunted. “I should have held them here. I doubt I can get them back now.”
“The Home Office will put men to watching them,” Draco assured him. “I prefer to have them back in London and thinking they got away with something. They’ll have their guard down. As for Driscoll, I am now fairly confident he came here to meet someone specific, someone involved in serious crimes against the Crown. I have tried to impress upon Lady Imogen how dangerous this is, but I’m not sure she will accept to sit by quietly and do nothing. She’s a bright girl, and her mind does not stop working.”
They paused a moment while others walked by, then the constable gave his opinion. “Lady Imogen and her sister are quite special. Lady Ella was always thought of as the smart one because of her quieter, more thoughtful nature and the fact she looked after Lady Imogen like a mother hen. Lady Imogen was always the more impulsive one, the first to run over to a crying child or save a kitten caught in a tree. She has always been kind and compassionate. She is also daring and not afraid to work hard for a cause.”
“You seem to know them very well.”
“They worked closely with my son, Elmer, when volunteering at the army hospital. He adored Burness’s nieces and spoke of them constantly. Lady Ella was fearless, too. But she thought things through more logically. She used her head. Lady Imogen thinks with her heart. This is the best way to describe her.”
Draco nodded, because he had seen this very trait in Imogen. This was why he was so worried for her. She might feel compelled to save him if he got himself into trouble. Hopefully, that compulsion would wear off as he stayed away from her. This would not be so easy to do while his own family was staying at Westgate Hall.
He had left Parrot with her, but needed to take his dog back now that he meant to explore the caves on his property in earnest. He would also explore others in and around MoonstoneLanding. Imogen had mentioned in passing that his own caves had seen what she termed “pirate activity” as recently as a year or two ago.
This came as no surprise to Draco, since the manor house itself had been abandoned for years. A ship could sail in unnoticed at high tide on a moonless night, unload its cargo to be picked up by an agent later, and no one would be the wiser.
