“Did you say ‘tea’?” Collin asked.
Molly shook her head. “No.”
“Pray, continue.”
“They named their price, and I paid it. I’ll say this, it’s far less than I find in the shop. That’s for certain. They gave me a box and said good day. That’s it.”
“Simple and to the point,” Elizabeth stated.
“Indeed. Hmm.” Collin opened the box and fingered the loose leaves of the tea, inhaling the sweet and pungent scent. “It’s not bad quality.” He opened the box further to let Elizabeth see. “The leaves are curled, nonetheless not fractured into a million pieces, and there’s not an overabundance of stems. It’s better quality than I expected to find.”
“I can agree with that,” Molly stated.
“So, they are smuggling quality tea, but from where?” Elizabeth asked.
Collin studied the package; it was brown and nondescript. Nothing about it set it apart. “I’m not sure. That would be helpful to find out. However, I have a feeling they don’t wish for anyone to know.”
“I’m sure.”
“Was there anything different about the lad?”
Molly shook her head. “Nothing I could tell.”
Collin twisted his lips.
“You said earlier that there was usually a man or two in the background. Did you see anyone or was the lad alone?” Elizabeth asked Molly.
“I saw one man. He was leaning against the walland not paying much attention, but that probably meant he was listening to every word. I eyed him for a second, but his cap covered his face in shadow so I couldn’t see anything.”
“Just one man?” Elizabeth asked.
Collin glanced to her, curious why she was pressing that detail.
“Yes. One,” Molly answered.
“But before, there were two—every time or just occasionally?”
“I–I’m not sure, Miss Essex. My apologies.”
“It’s of no consequence. I was merely trying to consider if perhaps they always had two men watching and now there was one, they are feeling less threatened by discovery, or they have so many more places to sell that they are spread thin. Like you said, Lord Penderdale, it’s the process of eliminating possible information.”
Collin smiled. “Well done, Miss Essex. I’m impressed.”
“Another compliment? I’m not sure I quite know what to think,” she teased.
“I’ll try to insult you at least three more times to make up for it,” Collin replied, earning a playful glare.
“Good, wouldn’t want to think you appreciated intelligence in a woman. The world would have turned on its ear.”
“Ah, and here is where I get to insult you,” hescolded. “First, will you honor me with your arm, and I’ll escort you back home?”
“If I must.” She took his arm, watching as Molly waited a moment, then followed behind.
Collin regarded her. “I’m going to tell you a secret, but you must promise not to tell a soul.”
Elizabeth tipped her chin. “Another secret? I’m not sure I wish to have so many in my possession.”
“I think this secret will serve you well and may possibly change the way you perceive some things, including me,” he said convincingly.
