Page 99 of The Moonstone Pirate
“Yes, he’ll ride out first thing in the morning.”
Thaddius nodded. “He’s sending Sergeant Ames. He’s a good man. Trustworthy.”
Bloody hell.
How did Thaddius know who was being sent? Draco did not even know that information, and he had just left the fort.
Thaddius seemed to read his mind. “I noticed Sergeant Ames walking over to the stable,” he said with a grin. “No doubt he wants to have a look at the horse before he rides off to notify Lord Eldridge.”
The local bank manager and the village’s land agent scurried past and waved to him and Thaddius. “We’re going to look at the horse,” the bank manager said.
“We hear he’s a beauty,” the land agent added. “Lord Eldridge will be pleased to have him back.”
Others were now gathering around the stable.
Blessed saints.
Draco had only left Brennan’s office a few minutes ago, and half the town already knew not only that Mrs. Halsey’s brother had committed the crime, but that the horse had been found and delivered to the Kestrel Inn stable.
He expected it would take another five minutes for word to reach Westgate Hall and Imogen.
“Thaddius, tell me what you know about two of your guests—a Mr. Sewell, who arrived here yesterday with his wife, and Mr. Gray, who also arrived yesterday with his wife. I believe they aresolicitors from Exeter here on holiday. This is what Mrs. Halsey mentioned.”
“Yes.” Thaddius scooted behind his desk to have a look at his register. “They were here last year about this same time.”
“And how about in April of this year?”
“That ledger is in my office, my lord. Give me a moment and I’ll have a look.”
Draco nodded. “I’ll come with you. And you can hand me the mail while you are at it. I’ll take anything you have for Lady Imogen, as well. I’m headed over there next to see my cousin.”
“I heard she and your uncle will be staying at Westgate Hall for the week. It is for the best. Your poor cousin must have been quite overset to see you shot. Did you want information on the ladies in the tea shop at the time, as well?”
Draco arched an eyebrow. “Do you know who was in the shop?”
“Oh, yes. They are local ladies, quite respectable, and have been going there for years. They wouldn’t have anything to do with Walter, I can assure you. Just ask Lady Phoebe or her sisters. They all belong to the Ladies Auxiliary that Lady Phoebe’s sister, Duchess Hen, established. They volunteer at the hospital, undertake all sorts of beautification projects in the village, and run charity teas to raise funds for the local church and other worthy causes. Orphans. Widows. Wounded soldiers.”
“All right.” Draco had not intended to ask questions about these pillars of local society, but it was just as well that Thaddius had ruled them out. To his mind, the incident of the shot fired through Mrs. Halsey’s window was resolved.
He was curious about those two men with respect to the rebel plot. If Healy and Burke had been replaced as rebel agents, then who was to come in their stead? Of course, it seemed farfetched that it would be those two solicitors, but why not take a few minutes to rule them out? Those looks they had beencasting him before Walter created chaos felt like more than mere curiosity. It was as though they were quietly checking him out, trying to take the measure of him.
Perhaps getting shot had him seeing villains everywhere.
Thaddius motioned for one of his assistants to take over for him at the front desk. “Would you care for tea? Refreshments, my lord?”
“No, thank you. I am perfectly fine.” Draco settled in one of the comfortable chairs in Thaddius’s office and watched as the innkeeper settled behind his desk and lifted a burlap satchel off the floor.
“The mail pouch,” he said, dumping its contents onto his desk, then handing over two pieces of mail. “Nothing here for you, but here are two letters for Lady Imogen from her sister. That will put a smile on her face. She misses her sister very much.”
“So I gather.” Draco was also heartened because one of those letters possibly contained instructions for him from the Home Office. Enough time had passed that if the mail coach in which he had sent his first missive had traveled fast, and the clerks receiving his letters had immediately forwarded them to the higher echelons, and those in the higher echelons had immediately replied to him…he may well have new instructions.
Thaddius set aside the mail pouch and removed the April guest register from one of the drawers in his desk. “You were curious about those two gentlemen, Mr. Sewell and Mr. Gray. I can confirm they are both solicitors from Exeter here on holiday with their wives. Nice enough gentlemen. A bit stuffy. Their wives are not above putting on airs, either. But that is not surprising. Most who come to our little village from the larger cities consider us to be ignorant and beneath their notice. Why yes, they were here in April of this year, as well. Why do you ask?”
“Do you happen to know if they were acquainted with Lord Healey or Lord Burke?”
Thaddius leaned forward in his chair. “My lord, do you think they are knaves?”
Draco shook his head. “No, I am merely asking if you’ve heard anything about them.”
