Madge’s eyes riveted on the gold coin. She drew up a chair next to Deveraux’s and sat down, her eyes never leaving the gleaming money. “Yes, sar.”
“Does he have a name?”
“Not that I be knowin’,” she confessed, a twinge of fear in her eyes that her answer would see the gold coin disappear. “Though I didst hear someone call him ’Arry. . . . Gerby, I think called ’im that. You know, the groom from your castle.”
“My brother’s castle,” he corrected automatically.
She shrugged, then she smiled and boldly walked the fingers of one hand up his arm.
He grabbed her hand and put it back down on the table, over the gold coin, holding it there. “What was this Harry saying?”
She shrugged again and pouted a little. Fitzhugh caught Deveraux’s eye and winked. He drew a gold coin from his pocket,holding it up between two fingers. It caught what dim light streamed through a grimy, soot-streaked window and glistened.
Madge licked her lips. “Well, it does seem to me that he were sayin’ as ’ow that woman at the castle were involved with kidnappin’ the earl’s daughter. Got right lively ’ere t’ other night when folks from the castle were ’ere. Lots a yellin’ and swearing. Did a good night’s business, we did.”
“What was all the yelling and swearing about?” Deveraux asked softly. Fitzhugh laid the coin an inch away from the woman’s fingers.
“Said they was gonna take care of ’er and see no ’arm come to the family. Let ’er know right enough they knowed what she’s about. Make ’er life ’ell so she’d think twice about doin’ anythin'.’’ She wriggled her fingers underneath his hand, trying to inch forward.
“Where is this, ah—Bow Street Runner?”
She shrugged. “Lit out last night sometime during the night, he did. Left money on the pillow real gentlemanly like.”
Deveraux lifted his hand from hers, and like a striking snake, her hand shot forward to capture the second gold coin. She tucked them both in her bodice.
“You’ve been very helpful,” Deveraux said, chucking her under the chin. He lifted his tankard to drain it.
“Come back again, and I be pleased to show you ’ow right helpful I can be,” she drawled, thrusting her chest forward to brush against his arm as he rose to leave.
Outside, the men made their way back through the village toward the blacksmiths. They were halfway there when one of the Nevin carriages bowled down the lane. Seeing Nigel and Fitzhugh, Lady Lucille pulled up.
“What’s the matter? You look like the very devil, Nigel,” Lucy teased.
“Isn’t Miss Leonard with you?” he asked, trying to identify the other woman sitting beyond his sister.
“No. She was to come, but Miss Benedict got it into her head that if we were going to buy ribbons for Chrissy’s dress, then she must come, too. She insists she’s protecting Chrissy, as if anything could happen now that the whole district is on alert!”
“Is that so, Miss Benedict?” Deveraux inquired with chilling politeness.
“Nigel, what is?—”
He waved his sister to silence, his attention centered on the governess sitting primly next to Chrissy. “And from what—or should I say, from whom—are you protecting Chrissy?”
The governess was taken aback by his manner but answered briskly. “From Miss Leonard, sir. We—the staff—know her to be the person responsible for Lady Christiana’s kidnapping.”
Chrissy’s and Lucy’s mouths opened in dumb surprise. “What?” they said together.
She gave them a gentle, superior smile. “I know it is hard to believe, but there it is.”
“As heard from a Bow Street Runner, is that correct, Miss Benedict?”
“What Bow Street Runner?” demanded Lucy, her hands accidentally tightening on the reins. The horse sidled backward, and Fitzhugh grabbed the harness. She scowled at her clumsiness and nodded her thanks toward Fitzhugh, then returned her attention to her brother. “What are you talking about?”
“It means, little sister, that not content with setting fire to a dovecote or attempting to steal a horse, our enemies are now attempting to create dissension within the ranks. Howard North has been very busy hereabouts, letting people believe he is a Bow Street Runner engaged in solving the mystery of Chrissy’s kidnapping. But I never notified or engaged Bow Street, nor didI offer a reward, which is, I understand, the prime manner in which the Runners do business.”
The governess blanched. “You did not contact Bow Street?”
“Haven’t I just said so, woman?” Deveraux snapped. He shook his head in wonder at the stupidity of their loyal staff. With a staff as loyal as that, they’d soon find themselves all murdered in their beds! “What I did was leave specific instructions that I was to be advised of any strangers in the area. I have not been, and as a consequence, North has been operating with impunity right at our back door!”
