Tommy made a face. “Not the ensemble I’d wear to Oktoberfest.”
“More importantly,” Chloe said, “he’s been withholding wages from his workers for years and gambling with the spoils.”
Kunigunde curled her lip in anger. “Mr. Durbridge would rather wager stolen money on a game of whist than guard those he’s meant to be protecting.”
“Obviously we’re stealing it back,” Graham said.
“And then some.” Chloe smiled. “Mr. Throckmorten has been winning lately, so his pot is particularly flush. He keeps the ill-gotten gains in a clay jar that looks like—”
Marjorie held up a sketch depicting the caricature of a clay pig. A small square was missing from the top of its rump. The sides of coins and the corner of a banknote peeked out.
“Too much stolen blunt to fit in an ordinary pocketbook.” Graham shook his head in disgust. “You’d need a reticule bigger than your head to carry that thing.”
Tommy held up a finger and fished through Princess Mechtilda’s costume trunk. She retrieved a thick canvas satchel, roomy enough to fit a few loaves of bread.
Elizabeth made a face. “Why would Princess Mechtilda own something so cheap and ugly?”
“It’s not for you,” Tommy answered. “You can’t play highwayman and be Princess Mechtilda at the same time. You and Chloe entertain Mrs. Throckmorten whilst the rest of us sneak off.”
Jacob frowned. “We cannot descend upon Mr. Throckmorten and Mr. Durbridge en masse without causing a scene.”
“I love scenes,” said Tommy. “But you’re right. This requires subtlety. Two Wynchesters, at most. One to make the theft and perhaps another who can provide a distraction if necessary.”
Before Graham could volunteer, Kunigunde said, “I’ll do it.”
Hope radiated throughout his chest. She did want to be one of them!
Chloe looked skeptical. “Have youanyexperience robbing, stealing, pickpocketing, pilfering, or any other manner of nicking objects undetected?”
“I abducted an antbear,” Kunigunde offered.
Chloe arched a brow at Jacob.
“He was being oppressed,” he explained. “We liberated him from captivity.”
“I won’t do the stealing,” Kunigunde said. “But I did stow away on a boat and evade my brothers. More importantly, I am an excellentguard. I can deflect attention if necessary, and provide defense with pleasure.” She slid a pair of throwing knives from beneath the lapels of her royal coat to illustrate.
“I’ll go with her,” Graham said quickly. “I can steal anything.”
“I said the mission requiressubtlety,” Tommy reminded him. “Not a circus.”
“I can be subtle,” he protested.
“Kunigunde will be there,” Marjorie said. “She’ll maintain order.”
“She’ll also need to keep silent,” Philippa said. “If anyone hears her accent, they’ll know it’s us.”
“Or the Germans,” Elizabeth muttered.
“Well, you can’t go likethat.” Tommy gestured at Graham’s livery and Kunigunde’s royal uniform. “I’ll dress you to blend with the locals.”
“How far is Mr. Durbridge’s house?” Chloe asked.
“A few miles,” Kunigunde answered.
Tommy pulled out a map. “This is where we are…and that’s where Mr. Durbridge lives. ‘Rose Manor.’ Two tall hedgerows separate his property from his neighbors. The primary access points are the main road, and the rear path through the woods.”
Kunigunde peeked over Graham’s shoulder. “The good news is, with all these houses and offshoots from the river paths, once the rotters lose sight of us, they’ll have no idea where we’ve gone.”
