Page 15 of To Heal a Broken Earl
“I’ll ask my wife. Betty, come here,” Mr. Kirk called, beckoning the woman who, five minutes earlier, had disappeared into the kitchen.
Mrs. Kirk emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a pot of tea, two teacups, and a plate of biscuits. She set the tray down on the counter of the bar. “Yes, husband? You called?”
“Wife, this gentleman has a question,” Mr. Kirk said, patting his wife on the shoulder. “We must try to help him.”
“Have you seen a woman and a small girl?” the man demanded again. “They are my wife and child, and I am trying to catch up to them before they get too far. We are meant to visit my parents in Kent, and I am worried about them traveling alone. I was delayed on a business matter in London and planned to meet them here. Alas, I seem to have missed their departure.”
Mrs. Kirk looked up at her husband, giving a horrified look. “Good heavens, no, m’lord!” She waved her hand around the tavern at the various ruffians and drunkards, all leaning intotheir tankards and looking like baths only happened at the point of a gun. “We are not the sort of establishment that would ’ave children in our tavern.”
“A yes or no is sufficient,” the man replied, clearly annoyed. “You’re certain they haven’t come through?” He held out a small purse. “It could be worth your while to help me.”
“We’re certain, aren’t we, Betty?” Mr. Kirk feigned interest in the purse, reaching out to hold it.
Mrs. Kirk gave a quick nod and smiled. “Yes, husband. We are certain. ’Tis such a rarity to see a child stay here. Why, it’s been nigh on three summers since the last child stayed here. Don’t you recall? It was storming, and the father’s carriage wheel broke, and he and his young son had no place to go.”
“Yes, wife. I recall that, now that you mention it,” Mr. Kirk agreed.
Mrs. Kirk looked at the stranger. “I’m sorry, m’lord, but we’ve seen no young woman or girl. We’d certainly know if they were here.”
After squeezing the small sack of coins, Mr. Kirk returned it. “It’s a goodly sum, m’lord, and I dearly wish we could help. But we ’aven’t seen yer wife and child.” He tapped his chin. “Therewasa carriage about an hour ago that changed horses. I didn’t see who was inside, as the transaction was with my stable.”
“Describe the carriage,” the man demanded.
“Oh dear!” Mrs. Kirk muttered. “I wish I could remember… But I didn’t realize we’d be questioned about it later. I’m very sorry, m’lord.”
“Let me take care of this, my dear,” Mr. Kirk muttered, stepping in front of her. “Black, no markings. I only noticed it because the driver wanted black horses, and we had exactly four to switch. Strange request, don’t you think?”
Good job, Kirk,Armstrong thought, amused at the man’s ingenuity and his lengthy explanations. The Kirks’ extensive discussion seemed to irritate the arsonist and unsettle him. The innkeeper and his wife had assisted Wilton and Armstrong numerous times over the past year. Not only was Mr. Kirk paid by Armstrong, but the Crown always gave a sizable token of appreciation for those businesses that aided in cases.
Once the arsonist left, Armstrong slid from behind the table and followed him, keeping to the dark side of the building. He watched him get into an older carriage, a black conveyance with red paint on its wheel rims. Could it have been stolen? There was also the question of why Mr. Kirk and his wife referred to the man asm’lord. What was it that would have led them to treat him as a member of the aristocracy? People in their positions rarely made that sort of mistake. Did they recognize him? Perhaps it was the man’s manner of speaking or his attire; he was dressed in a greatcoat and hat, as was Armstrong. Before leaving, he intended to ask for more details.
Still, he had an eerie sense that he’d met the arsonist somewhere before…but where and when?
~*~
Chapter Six
As the four stepped from the carriage, Emma noticed the outriders from Lord Armstrong’s security move through the shadows, toward the wharf. From the corner of her eye, she caught the slight nod Michael gave them. Knowing they were part of their group made her feel safer, especially since the arsonist was somewhere and she had no ideawhere.
Emma looked down at her niece and squeezed her tightly against her. “Sweetheart, I need to remind you—if anyone speaks to us, you must remember we will nod but not speak. Going to the wharf, we need to conduct ourselves exactly as we did at the tavern. Can we do it?”
“I can, Auntie. I promise,” Katie said.
Emma glanced at Doris, who had grown quiet. “Doris, how are you feeling?”
“I’ve been able to catch a few winks, my lady,” Doris said. “I feel rested.”
Emma bit her tongue. Every time she glanced Doris’s way, the older woman was asleep and snoring.
Behind her, Lord Wilton cleared his throat. “Ladies, we’re at the Thames. Do you think we can do this? Get to the pier without incident?”
“I do. Katie’s tired and will probably fall asleep on the boat—the sooner we get on the boat, the sooner we’ll be at our new home.”
Lord Wilton smiled. “There are a lot of regulars here, and we don’t want anyone to know that a lady and a little girl came through. They must think you are boys. It’s nice to think that the manor house could be a real home. It’s nothing less than what this one deserves,” he said, nodding at Katie.
Finding their way through the men on the wharf proved easy enough. Lively chatter from the seamen in the area offered a convenient background as they slipped around the groups of people with ease.
Within what seemed like minutes, Doris, Emma, and Katie were safely aboard a boat and on their way down the Thames. The craft, carved from pine, resembled a slender fish gliding effortlessly through the waves. Its elongated frame was perfect for cutting through the murky river water, shrouded by a thick blanket of fog.
