Page 66 of Betrayal from Beyond
As usual, when she entered a business that needed a guiding hand, Kara’s fingers itched to get to work. A thorough scrubbing, a bit more light, a good menu and a touch of care… That was all it would take to turn this place around. It was almost like it wastryingto be dissolute.
The patrons didn’t seem to mind the shabby surroundings. They looked to be a mix of laborers, clerks, country folk, and lower servants. A step above the kind one might find in London’s low spots, at least. But here and there a more questionable sort stood out, and there were more bosom-flaunting serving wenches than such a small taproom called for. Indeed, just as they paused on the threshold of the room, she saw a laughing barmaid take a grizzled man’s hand and lead him toward a narrow stair at the far side of the room.
Ah.Now they knew what they were dealing with.
It became obvious when the three of them were spotted. All the raucous conversation and coarse laughter abruptly died away, only to start again, louder than before.
“Well, then,” Gyda said. “They know we are here. We might as well see what we can see.”
The closer they came to finding Petra, the more predatory Gyda’s manner became. Kara watched her reach up and remove the pins anchoring her hair. She shook out her mane of braids and blonde locks and cast a feral grin around the taproom. Stalking over to the bar, she leaned in to speak with the woman manning the taps.
Kara followed, with Niall on her heels.
The woman behind the bar shook her head at Gyda. “We don’t tell tales on our customers.”
“A good business practice, in general.” Gyda cast an amused glance around the taproom. “But in this case, we are here to warn Mr. Dalton. He won’t continue as your customer, or anyone else’s either, if he keeps on as he’s going now.”
The woman ran her gaze over by Gyda, then looked past her to eye Kara and Niall.
Kara returned her look of frank assessment, then stepped forward. “Is this your establishment?”
The woman raised her chin. Older than Kara, she looked thin and worn, but pride still shone from her. “It is.”
Nodding, Kara looked around. “As a business owner myself, I commend your loyalty to your customer. But in this case, loyalty would demand that you help us locate Mr. Dalton. I fear he is in some danger.”
“This is about the woman, isn’t it?”
Gyda nodded. “Oh, it most certainly is.”
Kara pulled one of Sculley’s sketches from her bag. “Is this the woman you meant?”
“Aye. That’s her.” The tavern keeper shook her head. “A teacher over at the girl’s school, they say she is, but she’s the last sort I’d think you’d want around innocent young ladies. She’s only been here a time or two, and that’s only lately, but I picked her out for a hard one.” She looked with approval at Gyda. “But I wouldn’t give her long odds against you.” She thrust her chin toward an empty table along the back wall. “Sit there. Order something. Dalton’s not here now, but he’ll be along, if his pattern holds. I’ll give you the nod when he arrives.” She shrugged. “But I warn you, the wait might be long.”
Behind Kara, Niall cleared his throat. “Thank you. Ales all around, please.”
“Nothing to eat?” The woman’s disapproval shone clear.
Kara had no desire to discover what was giving off the gamey smell hanging in the air. “Bread and cheese, then.”
The tavern keeper nodded, and a certain tension fell away from the room as they turned to take the table. Kara paused, though, before taking her seat. “If we’ll have to wait, perhaps I should take the chance to send word to Turner. I can send a messenger to tell him what we’ve found so far, and he could send word back to the Meryton if he or Stayme have learned anything of significance.”
Niall stood. “I’ll go and see about it.”
“No. You should stay. I wondered if Mr. Dalton might be more likely to talk freely with you. Masculine sympathies, and all that.”
“She might be right,” Gyda said.
“Whom will you send, though?” asked Niall. “I did see a livery, and they might have someone to hire, and a mount as well. But I don’t want you out on the streets here alone.”
“I’ll ask,” she said, nodding toward the tavernkeeper. “She’ll likely have paper and pen, and if she doesn’t have a messenger Ican hire, I’ll ask her to send out to the livery for someone to come here.”
Niall reluctantly agreed, and Kara went back to the bar to broach the subject.
“Aye, you can use my office to write out your message. I’d let you hire out my groom, but he’s broke his foot, and the doctor has him on crutches. The livery is a good idea, though, and the boy is well enough to hobble down the street to have them send a lad to you.”
“Thank you. I do appreciate your help,” said Kara.
“A moment, though, eh? Let me pour these lads another round and then I’ll take you upstairs to the office.”
