Page 88 of Miss Flibbertigibbet and the Barbarian
Addie and Nicholas wordlessly agreed.
They trotted on, and a little while later, she ventured, “I take it we’re assuming that Kirkwood, in the role of agent, is taking The Barbarian to deliver the horse to his master. Where do you think his master might be?”
They bandied guesses about, but other than “somewhere to the north,” they really had no idea.
Once their speculating had run its course, they fell silent again.
And continued on.
Addie was hugely relieved when, in the late afternoon, Rory and Young Gillies dropped back to report that Kirkwood had stopped at a small tavern on the outskirts of Epworth, the next small town along the road.
They halted, gathered, and debated their options, and Young Gillies mentioned seeing a sign for a coaching inn that was, apparently, located in the center of Epworth.
“Jed and Mike are watching the tavern,” Young Gillies said, “and the blackguard was already settled, with the horses snug in the tavern’s barn, before we left to bring word to you.”
Nicholas asked, “If we drive straight past the tavern and on into the town, how likely is he to spot us, in particular, Lord Phillip and Mrs. Styles in the curricle?”
Rory and Young Gillies exchanged a look, then Young Gillies offered, “The tavern faces south, rather than looking onto the street. Reckon we’d be safe enough just rolling through like any other travelers.”
“He hasn’t shown any sign he’s aware of being followed,” Rory added.
With no alternative apparent, they agreed to accept the risk and trot straight past the tavern and on to the coaching inn.
With everyone ready, Nicholas broke the party up so that he, Addie, and Dickie, in a group, led the way, with the curricle following sufficiently far behind to appear to be unconnected, with Rory and Young Gillies riding along beside the carriage, screening its occupants from anyone looking out from the tavern. Harold and Oscar would bring up the rear, ambling along before stopping to relieve Jed and Mike, sending them on to the coaching inn.
The plan proceeded smoothly, and they reached the inn without raising any alarm. Nicholas and Phillip organized rooms for everyone; in that season, there weren’t that many people traveling along that road, and other than two traveling salesmen, they had the place to themselves.
When, after having left Harold and Oscar on watch, Jed and Mike reached the inn, they assured everyone that their quarry had, to all appearances, remained entirely oblivious of their passing.
“He never so much as looked out,” Mike said. “Only interested in his dinner, it seemed. We left him to it, with Harold and Oscar in one corner, having a pint and keeping an eye on him. We found a spot outside, comfy enough and out of the breeze, and we’ll set up there to keep watch overnight.”
Nicholas commended them, as did Phillip and Adriana, then the company split up, heading for their rooms to settle in.
They reconvened in the inn’s parlor, then repaired to the dining room to consume a surprisingly tasty meal.
When Adriana and Viola commented favorably on the quality and variety of dishes, the innkeeper confessed that his wife, the cook, was delighted to have more-discerning palates on which to practice her culinary skills. “From London, she is, and she misses the challenge.”
After paying appropriate homage to a delicious lemon tart, their party retreated to the parlor, which was empty save for them. They drew the comfortable armchairs into a group before a window overlooking the street and settled to pass the time.
Twilight was fading to night when the conversation turned to where Kirkwood was heading.
Dickie suggested, “Perhaps the tavern is his place to meet with whomever he’s fetched the horse for.”
“Or perhaps that person lives nearby.” Adriana frowned. “Is there any chance he’ll hand over the horse tonight?”
Nicholas considered that; it wasn’t a thought that had previously occurred to him but… “What would be the point? If someone arrives to fetch the horse tonight”—he leaned closer to the window and looked out at the sky—“on what is a virtually moonless night, they won’t be able to travel anywhere. Unless they’re a local and live very close, they’d have to remain at the tavern, too.”
“In which case,” Phillip concluded, “we’ll be able to confront both of them—Kirkwood and his master—tomorrow, before they have a chance to leave.”
“Our men will warn us if anyone arrives and seeks out Wesley,” Viola stated with a calm certainty that dampened the restlessness affecting the others.
Nicholas had had reservations about the wisdom of Viola joining their company, but she’d remained remarkably steady and steadfast throughout the long day, and he’d grown to be grateful for her calm, anchoring good sense. Her presence helped to counter the mercurial temperaments of the Sommervilles; in terms of drama, all three had had their moments.
Young Gillies and Rory appeared in the parlor doorway.
Nicholas beckoned them in.
The pair approached, and Young Gillies reported, “He’s settled in for the night, it seems. Harold and Oscar are still on watch, and Jed and Mike are in the kitchen having their supper.”
