“If it relates to my brother, perhaps you have not heard. He has regained his senses and told the sheriff of Kent all about the ill-advised duel. The challenger has left the country, and considering what Lewis has suffered already, the sheriff has decided not to pursue legal action.”
“I had heard that, yes, sir.”
“Then why are you here? Sorry not to claim that reward as well, from the man who hired you?”
“Finding your brother’s assailant wasn’t what he commissioned me todo.”
“No?” Anger and alarm wrestled within Nathaniel, but he clenched his jaw and waited to hear the man out.
“No.” Tompkins’s high forehead creased into many furrows. “Sorry, sir. A convenient subterfuge.”
Nathaniel guessed the answer, but still asked, “Why were you here, then?”
“I think you know, sir.”
Nathaniel merely stared at him, jaw ticking.
“I came here to find Miss Margaret Macy. Quite a reward was offered me for her return too, should I succeed.” He glanced up at Nathaniel, expectant.
Nathaniel clenched his fist at his side, torn between wanting to pummel the man and wanting to bolt from the room and find Margaret.
He said, “I take it, then, that Sterling Benton hired you?”
“Oh, not exactlyhired.But he did put up the reward.”
“Too bad you failed to find her.”
One brow rose. “Oh, but I did not fail.”
Nathaniel clenched both fists now. “Oh?”
“Come, sir. We are men of the world, the both of us. And I see how it is. I would have taken her too, had Preston not shown up here the very night I meant to snag Miss Macy. And as your reward was twice Benton’s, and as I never cared for the man, I took my leave of Kent without her, wishing the both of you happy.”
Nathaniel stared at the man, stunned.
“I only returned to tell you.” He sighed dramatically. “I needed someone to know I’d succeeded, even if I can’t tell anybody else.”
Nathaniel stepped forward, offering his hand. “Thank you, Tompkins.”
The man shook his hand firmly and smiled at last. “Thank you, sir.”
Nathaniel hesitated. “May I offer you something for your kindness?”
Pursing his lips, Tompkins shook his head. “No need. With my new reputation as the thief-taker who brought in the Poet Pirate, I’m set for life.”
Abruptly, Tompkins dug into his coat pocket. “By the way, sir. I’ve brought you some news from London. Hasn’t reached you here yet, I’d wager. I’ll leave it to you to do with it what you will.” He handed Nathaniel a torn and folded piece of newsprint.
Glancing at the torn page and seeing only a portion of the society section, Nathaniel tucked it into his pocket to read later.
No sooner had Mr. Tompkins taken his leave than Dr. Drummond arrived to pay a final call on his patient. Walking upstairs with the physician, Nathaniel quite forgot about the news smoldering in his pocket.
Endeavour to serve with such good will
and attention to the interest of your employers,
that they know they are blessed in having gotten
such a good servant, one who serves, not with
