“They noticed you were watching them.”
“Yes, and I’m not obvious enough for that to be the case unless they know what to look for…which made me suspicious. I asked after them of the barkeep, who’s an old acquaintance of mine. He’s going to keep an eye out as well. I didn’t tell him why, and he didn’t ask. Good man, and he trusts me enoughto know if I ask him to keep an eye out, there’s a good reason for it.”
Collin set his teacup down. “Thank you. Sounds like you laid some good groundwork for us last night.”
“It’s a step.” Michael shrugged. “I’d suggest we go visit Luke next.”
Collin nodded in agreement. He took a final drink of his tea and set the cup aside. Standing, he shook out his coat a bit and waited for Michael. “Should we take my carriage or walk?”
Michael stood, his forehead knitting as he considered Collin’s question. “The less suspicion, the better. So, let’s do this: walk to the livery, have a drink at the tavern, and return and regroup back here. Here’s my thought on all this…” He paused and took a slow breath. “If those we’re trying to ferret out discover that you’re here, trying to ferret them out, I doubt they’ll be as easy to find. Best to blend in a little.”
“It’s a good plan,” Collin agreed.
“Pat? We’re headed to the livery,” Michael called out, and then led the way to the door.
Collin followed him as they took a left onto the street and started down toward the market where the shire house was located. Collin studied the streets and the buildings and gathered his bearings. It had been a while since he’d roamed Cambridge, and some things had changed, but much had stayedthe same. The streets were crowded with people going about their business, the scent of animals and bread wafting through the air as vendors meandered around a few stalls selling wares.
Michael nodded at a building ahead, and Collin tipped his chin in understanding. A shingle with the wordLiverywas hanging ahead.
The scent of linseed oil and leather permeated the air as Collin entered through the stable door. Michael lifted a hand in greeting as he called out, “Luke!”
The beast of a man turned, and his weathered face broke into an almost smile as he approached Michael. “Good day to you, Mitch.” His dark eyes shifted to Collin, no doubt taking in the fine cut of his coat and the fact he was certainly not a local gentleman.
“This is Lord Penderdale,” Michael said with a significant tone. “The real one.”
Luke’s brows shot up and he nodded once. “Ah, been talking to the watchmen, eh? Well, it was a tussle last night, for sure.”
Collin held out his hand in greeting. “I’d be very appreciative to hear your take on what transpired last night.”
The man took a deep breath, and Collin had a hard time understanding why anyone would pick a fight with him, other than desperation.
“I haven’t met too many people of quality in my life, but I know one when I see one, and last nightthe man saying he was you didn’t appear to be a titled gentleman.”
“Can you describe what he was wearing? What he looked like?” Michael asked.
“Same height as you, Mitch. London accent when he spoke, cockney. His clothes weren’t the same quality as your friend’s here, but they weren’t rags either.” He paused as if filtering the mental image for more detail. “His eyes were shifty too, like he was not at ease.”
“Well, if he was cheating, that makes sense.”
“Yeah, but he came in that way, checking over his shoulder. I was already playing with some friends, and he joined in the game.”
“I saw you there last night, so he came after I left. When would you say he arrived?” Michael asked.
Luke replied, “Yeah, you left about ten. I’d say he arrived a half hour after that.”
“And when did you call him out for cheating?” Collin asked.
“Well, I was suspicious right away because he wasn’t a good cheat. I’d say maybe a quarter hour into the game I called him out, and we took it out back. ’Tisn’t polite to fight in the bar, plus I like the place, don’t want to cause a mess because of some stupid fellow.”
“How generous of you,” Collin said, and meant it. How often he had seen fights at gentlemen’s clubs, the men not concerned if they broke furniture orharmed others. The fact that Luke had the foresight to consider those things spoke highly of him.
“Thank you, my lord,” Luke answered. “Well, I took him out back, and he got real scared real quick. He picked up this stick and came at me. I blocked the stick, which gave me one hell of a bruise on my arm, and gave him a solid facer. So, I’d reckon you’d just need to be searching for a man who took a facer and is sporting a purple bruise.”
“Excellent,” Michael told him. “Very helpful, Luke.”
“I try,” Luke replied with a smirk. “The watchman came over, the cheater ran away, and that was it. I went back in to my card game.”
Michael leaned forward with an amused expression. “Did you win?”
