“Yes, sir. Apparently her well-being is very important to someone in London.”
“So you didn’t shoot at her?”
“Good God, no sir.” He looked most affronted at Paul’s question. “I don’t shoot people, sir. Ever.”
“Then who the hell did?” James was baffled.
“I have a theory about that, Sir James,” said Hodgkins. “There’s a lad taken on by Fisher down at the Inn. Pewsey is his name.”
“Yes. He’s at the FitzArden Hall stables now, for a few days, I think he said.” James stared. “You believeheshot Paul?”
“Can’t say for sure. But I heard him making inquiries about Miss Harry. He’s a bit of a lad with the girls, if you know what I mean, so he was able to do so without attracting a lot of attention. But I heard it. Doesn’t take a lot to attractmyattention.” He squared his shoulders with pride. “So when I learned he’d got himself a spot up at your stables, Sir James, I got itchy to see if I could find out why.”
“And did you?” James asked the question, ready to believe that Hodgkins could do just about anything at this point. He was stunned at the revelations, but they all made sense. How could he have not seen any of this? It had been right under his damned nose.
“Didn’t have time, sir. The chance to take that carriage over past FitzArden Hall was too good to be true, and I’d hoped to nose around a bit in your stables on the way back. Maybe overhear a conversation or two. Types like Pewsey tend to brag. Can’t always keep their mouths shut.” He sighed.
“And…?” encouraged Paul.
“He wasn’t there.” Hodgkins shifted on his chair. “There were only two lads in the stables last night, Sir James. I heard them. So I left and made that snap decision to cut through past Ridlington. The rest you know.” He spread his hands wide. “Was it Pewsey in the wood? Could have been. I don’t know with any certainty at all. But logic would tell me that yes, he was known to be looking for Miss Selkirk, yes, he had asked about her and yes, he’d found himself a position near to her vicinity. If she was his target, he’d achieved the perfect placement.”
Hodgkins precise summation chilled James to his marrow. “You’ve been in the military, haven’t you?”
“I have had that honour, sir. Yes.” Hodgkins said that with an obvious degree of finality. His audience couldn’t fail to miss the full stop at the end of that sentence.
“Right then,” said Paul, a worried look on his face. “We should see if we can locate Pewsey, for questioning at least. And then we must take steps to ensure Harry’s safety.”
James nodded. “Yes to both. But you, my friend, can do nothing right now, but rest.” He turned to Hodgkins. “Will you need to report this incident to London?”
Hodgkins nodded. “I rather think I will, sir. Yes. And maybe put a word out that we’re looking for Pewsey. A few extra pairs of eyes here and there wouldn’t go amiss.”
“You’ll be staying around here?” asked Paul.
“Yes. Working at the inn is a perfect chance for me to get a good luck at any and all newcomers. I couldn’t find a better place if I tried. As long as you ensure Miss Harry’s safety?” He glanced at the two men. “And let me know if there are any changes, or if she gets one of those women’s bees in her bonnet and takes off on you.”
Paul snorted. “She won’t be allowed to do anything so silly.”
James grinned. “We’ll do our best to keep the bees away.” Then his face dropped into more serious lines. “Must we keep her indoors? That will be difficult.”
“I doubt that’ll be necessary.” Hodgkins rubbed a weary hand over his face. “For the next few days yes, I think it would be a good idea. But after that, just try not to let her wander alone? Just until we’ve done what we can to take Pewsey off the map.”
“Makes sense.” Paul nodded. “I’ll do my best to keep her here for a bit. Injured hero needing nursing and all that.”
“Whatever will work,” said Hodgkins, rising from his seat. “I will leave you to it, gentlemen. Remember please. Not a word of this, or my matters, to anyone else. I am trusting you with some secrets that might prove dangerous to me, should they become known.”
Both James and Paul gave their solemn oaths and hands were shaken before Hodgkins left, assured that his unexpected line of work would remain a secret.
The two men stared at each other.
“This is where it gets complicated, isn’t it?” sighed James.
“Bollocks,” swore Paul.
