Page 78 of Tempting the Earl

“If the lass happened to hear a discussion taking place in the library, she might’ve been tempted to listen in. And if she’d managed to discover one of her brothers was facing possible execution while another was getting ready to leave town, she’d verra likely be tempted to take matters into her own hands. While she left you to address the issue with Mr. Owen, she’d also verra likely see it as her responsibility to address the issue with Mr. Thomas.”

Colin couldn’t help but point out, “That’s a lot of likelys and might haves.”

Ainsworth’s gaze was direct and calm. “I ken her, Colin. She’s going to be there.”

The White Crow Inn was a modest-sized brick building with large bay windows facing the street and roses planted out front. The common room was somewhat open to the lobby and contained only a few patrons. There was no sign of Caillie or her loyal collie.

“Can I help you?” asked a young serving woman as she came forward from a back room.

“We’re looking for a dark-haired lass accompanied by a black and white dog,” Ainsworth said quickly. “We believe she came here looking for one of your patrons, a Mr. Thomas. Have you seen them?”

“Oh, aye. The girl came in more than an hour ago at least.” The serving woman gave a scowl as she crossed her arms over her chest. “She’s a fierce little thing, making demands and such. Old Crawley doesn’t take such guff from anyone. She was about to be tossed out on her bum when Mr. Thomas, who was having his breakfast at the time, heard his name and intervened.”

“Where are they now?” Colin asked curtly.

The woman glanced to him and quickly noted his fine attire. “I don’t know. I was busy. I saw them talk for a few minutes and then they were gone.”

“Has Mr. Thomas checked out of the inn yet?”

One of the guests in the dining room gave a whistle, drawing the woman’s attention. She tossed the whistler a harried look before glancing back to Colin. “Don’t believe so. He’s in room six if you want to see for yourself,” she muttered as she bustled toward the demanding patron.

They quickly found Thomas’s room at the end of the hall on the second floor. Just as Colin lifted his hand to knock, a low rumble of laughter in what certainly could have been Mr. Thomas’s voice sounded from within. It was immediately followed by the familiar lilting tones of Caillie’s voice.

Not waiting for Colin to knock, Ainsworth grasped the doorknob and entered the room unannounced.

Caillie and Mr. Thomas sat in close conversation before an unlit fireplace with Bramble curled on the floor at the girl’s feet. The Welshman’s large, dark form was a stark contrast to that of the lithe girl perched in the chair beside him, yet the two of them looked perfectly comfortable in each other’s company.

Caillie gasped in surprise as they swept into the room while Mr. Thomas rose swiftly to his feet. “What in hell?” he asked in a dark, forbidding grumble.

“Hello,” Caillie exclaimed as Bramble jumped up and ran over to circle around their legs in an enthusiastic greeting. “What are you two doing here?”

“You ken well enough why we’re here, lassie,” Ainsworth replied sternly. “What were you thinking to run off from the house like that? Telling no one where you were going? Scaring me half to death?”

“Wait. You didn’t know she was here?” Mr. Thomas asked with a deep scowl.

Ainsworth rounded on him to demand incredulously, “Did you honestly think we’d send her to meet with a stranger alone?”

“I...” Thomas clearly had no response to that.

“There was no need to worry,” Caillie interrupted. “I simply wished to have a few words with my brother.”

Mr. Thomas visibly stiffened at her reference to their association, but he didn’t deny the term. Stepping up beside Ainsworth, Colin noted firmly, “You should’ve waited for one of us to accompany you.”

“But would you have?” the girl asked with a pointed look. “From what I heard, you were quite content to let Beynon leave town, never to be seen again.”

Colin glanced to the other man and noted his dark countenance and tense posture. “Mr. Thomas made it clear that’s what he wanted.”

“But he hadn’t even met me yet,” Caillie argued. “And he deserved to ken what was going on with Max.”

“What do you ken about Max Owen?” Ainsworth asked sharply.

“I ken he’s in serious trouble,” the girl replied in a pert tone. “And he needs our help. All of us.”

“Our conversation this morning was not for your ears, Caillie,” Colin noted.

“And why not?” the girl nearly shouted as she threw her hands up in exasperation. “They’re my brothers, too. Shouldnae I have as much say on how things are handled as you or Roderick?”

Colin glanced to Ainsworth, who looked back with an expression that clearly said she was leaving that question in his hands. He sighed and looked back to his young sister. Her mutinous expression was softened by her obvious concern and compassion. He wanted to tell her she was too young to worry about such things. That she should trust in their decisions.

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