Page 42 of A Duchess to Fight For
“We’ll sit. Louisa?”
“Yes, let’s. Mother, we’ll take the circular path then return to the carriage?”
“I’d like that,” she said.
The three of them sat in silence, taking a moment to enjoy the stillness of the park.
Percy’s eyelids opened wide at the sound of voices. He looked over at Louisa and Amelia, bringing his index finger to his lips so they would not speak. He stood and looked both ways on the path.
He turned to the ladies and pointed at the shrubs behind them. Over ten feet tall and thick with old growth, it was easy to hear what was behind them and all but impossible to see.
“He wants to bring in three horses that were sprained in one way or another. The owner has worked with them until they show no signs of injury. Two of them are good looking, and I think they’ll sell. The third might be a total loss.”
“So buy the two,” the other man said.
“Can’t. They’re a package deal.”
Percy knew the voice of the auctioneer. It was unique because it was raspy.
“Then you have to get Barton to talk up the third one. The deal doesn’t make much sense if the third one doesn’t sell. The profit on this purchase is too high to pass up.”
Victor said, “I know, I know. I’ll talk to Barton this week. He’s been staying away from the horses for the past couple of weeks, I don’t know why. I guess I’ll have to remind him who the boss is on this whole scheme. Sometimes he forgets to say ‘how high’ when I tell him to jump.”
Percy, Amelia and Louisa stayed quiet long past the time the men were out of earshot. Then Percy let off a long breath, and the ladies did the same.
“That was interesting,” Louisa said.
Amelia shook her head. “Wasn’t it?”
Louisa looked at Percy. “Why on earth would those men come all the way to Hyde Park then walk all the way to the middle of the park to have that conversation?”
“Because they thought it was the last place in London they would be overheard.”
Louisa barked out a laugh.
“They may also think they are being followed and no one would be able to follow them in here without getting caught.
“Would you ladies mind if we went home? I would like to speak to the Duke.”
Amelia stood. “Not at all, Percy.” She turned to Louisa, who was standing.
“Of course.”
*****
Frederick was with Hobart at the warehouse, so Percy got back in his carriage and went there. When he walked in through the barn door, Percy was reminded of how large their operation was. Crates stacked on crates. He thought again about the devastation if the place had burned down.
Percy found Frederick and Hobart in Hobart’s office. After greetings, he was given a drink as he sat. It was obvious neither Frederick nor Hobart was on their first drink.
“No wonder you like this location so much, Frederick. It’s easy to see there’s a sort of comfort in sitting amongst tangible proof that things do indeed get done. The stacks of crates are impressive.”
Hobart said, “It’s a nice feeling when they are all stacked in the bowels of a ship getting ready to sail. Like a mother bird kicking her chicks from the nest.”
He laughed.
“Then it starts all over again the next day,” Hobart finished.
Percy put his drink down and went to the office door. He leaned on the doorjamb and turned.
