Page 98 of The Moonstone Pirate
Rather than tie the stallion to the wagon, Draco chose to ride him the short distance into town. He delivered him into Matchett’s care. “Well, I’ll be a donkey’s arse,” the man exclaimed as Draco rode up. “Blessed saints, I ain’t never seen a finer beast in all my life. He’s a beauty.”
“Indeed, he is. He appears unharmed, but you had better check him out, Mr. Matchett. Treat him like a king. I’ll pay for whatever Lord Eldridge refuses to cover.”
“Very generous of you, m’lord. I’m sure Lord Eldridge won’t stiff me. I wonder if there’s a reward.”
“It belongs to Mrs. Halsey if there is one offered,” Draco said. “She happened to be on her way home and found the horse wandering on her property.”
“And promptly reported it to you, her being a good citizen? Oh, I see.” He cast Draco a conspiratorial wink. “So it was her wastrel brother after all who took this fine animal, and then just abandoned it in her care because he ain’t never taken care of anyone or anything in his entire life. Well, I hope that reward covers the cost of her window.”
“I’m sure Lord Eldridge will be generous.”
Since Constable Angel was still on the hunt for the culprit, Draco walked to the fort to seek the assistance of Major Brennan.
“Of course—I’ll send one of my men off to Lord Eldridge’s farm first thing in the morning to report the good news,” Brennan said. “If the weather holds, he should make the ride to Thurlestone within a day. There’s no urgency, is there? No sense sending him off when there’s only a few hours of daylight left.”
“I suppose not. Matchett will take excellent care of that beast. But you had better post guards by the stable. Others may have the same idea as Mrs. Halsey’s brother.” Draco groaned. “I cannot believe that wastrel is still at large. I don’t know how he’s managed to elude Parrot and the constables for hours now.”
Brennan shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll be back soon, hopefully with Walter bound and gagged. I’ll put my men to guard that horse immediately. Wouldn’t want anyone blamed if something happens before Lord Eldridge gets here. He’s fairly powerful in these parts. And I’ll instruct that he is to be brought directly to me whenever he arrives. I’ll handle the details. He won’t dare cheat Mrs. Halsey out of her reward if I am making the arrangements.”
Draco understood that cold look in Brennan’s eyes. “You don’t think much of your peers, do you?”
The major arched an eyebrow. “Do you? We are in similar circumstances, having arrived late to our titles and raised never to expect much throughout our lives. You still bridle visibly whenever anyone addresses you as Woodley.”
Draco nodded. “That’s true. Let me know if you need assistance loosening his purse strings.”
Brennan laughed. “You are best kept out of this. Don’t you have enough to worry about between meeting your Irishman tomorrow and breaking up that rebel plot?”
“I suppose.” Draco cast him a wry grin. “At least we have one mystery solved. I don’t know much about Lord Eldridge. Do you?”
“I had reason to meet him years ago while scouting sites for the new army hospital, which, as you can see, was ultimately built here. He’s a pompous ass. Impossibly full of himself and struts around as though he were king of Devon and Cornwall. But he’ll behave in my presence, since I am a viscount. Having a title is useful, at times. There will be fewer questions askedif I am the one providing the answers he is seeking. We don’t want Mr. Matchett rattling on about Mrs. Halsey’s brother. That bounder deserves to be arrested, but it is best to keep his connection to Mrs. Halsey quiet, especially since she is to receive the reward.”
“Are we sure there is one offered?”
“Without a doubt. That horse is worth a fortune. I would not be surprised if Eldridge came himself to collect the beast. A regal horse for a man who thinks of himself as a king.”
Draco nodded. “Then it is all settled. As to your handling everything, agreed. I would probably punch him in the nose if he spouted off to me. I cannot abide self-important blowhards.”
“Well, that’s resolved. Will you go home now and rest?”
“Soon. I have one more stop to make. There’s mail to pick up at the Kestrel Inn. Plus I want to question Thaddius about the two gentlemen in the tea shop at the time of the incident.”
Brennan frowned. “Why ask about them? Haven’t we identified the culprit?”
“Just curious about them, that’s all. They were looking at me quite intensely even before the shooting incident, and then exchanged looks between them afterward. It is probably nothing, but I sensed something off about them. Figured I would ask while it was fresh on my mind.”
“All right, I’ll leave you to it.”
Draco bade him farewell and walked over to the Kestrel Inn.
Thaddius rushed forward to greet him. “Should you be walking around in your condition, my lord?”
“It is but a scratch,” Draco replied, trying not to lose patience, since everyone was asking him the same question. Well, this was what came from settling in a place where the locals looked after each other.
“I heard you found the stolen horse.”
Draco supposed Matchett had told him everything and was busy repeating the story to everyone who passed by his stable. “Yes.”
“That Walter… They ought to ship that worthless sod to the other side of the world. Let him be a blight on someone else’s doorstep. I hear Major Brennan will be sending one of his soldiers to Lord Eldridge’s stud farm with the good news.”
