Smitty’s brow furrowed in anger. “I will take the dog if you don’t want her. I don’t care what the missus says. That dog deserves better than those men.”
Slade had already grown fond of Gracie. “You misunderstand. The dog stays with me. Gracie has already won the heartsand the carriageof my mother and sister. She will be unmercifully spoiled.”She had also ensnared his heart. He paused and gave a slow grin. “These men may have some information that I need. I will make it worth your while if you can recall information about the two men—who they were meeting, what they looked like, how they spoke—anything that would help me find them.”
“Did you know she dances?” Smitty nodded at Gracie and snapped his finger. To his surprise, Gracie stood on her rear legs and moved about, doing what looked remarkably like a waltz.
“I shall share this talent with my family,” Slade rejoined with a smirk. He reached into his pocket and dug out a sovereign, allowing it to sparkle in the sunlight.
“I recall little. There were two of them. One was short, with red hair and a beard. The other was older—he had dark hair and a long black mustache. They argued over the dog—mostly about whose responsibility she was. I found that odd.”
“Did they say why they had the dog?” The vision of Gracie freezing still disturbed him, and Slade wanted to know more about it.
“No. However, I rather thought they planned to trade her, from some of their comments. They had little care for her.”
At once, Slade looked at his dog and realized how miserable her life had been. She looked up at him and smiled, her crooked bottom canine splaying out against the shiny black lips and a tongue that seemed to twirl in delight. She was a rare one, indeed. “Thank you for your information. If you should think of anything else, please contact me.” He started to hand the coin and give his name, but noticed the man ready to speak, and stopped.
“There was one more thing I just remembered. The redheaded one said they’d be picking up coin owed them at the boardwalk,” he added. “I doubt that would mean anything.”
Slade passed him the sovereign and a piece of paper. “If you remember anything else, here is my address. Please send word. It is very important to me.”
“I don’t read but my missus does. Thank you kindly for your generosity, my lord,” Smitty said, giving a small bow after pocketing the coin safely in his vest pocket.
While the blacksmith’s information gave Slade more questions than answers, it pointed even more toward his father having been targeted. He wondered if Graham had been as well, still pondering words from his brother’s letter. He suddenly recalled a saying his brother was fond of.Keep thy friends close and thy enemies closer.Who did Graham consider to be his enemies? His brother had also said to trust his instincts.
The small dog walked beside him as they reentered the tavern to break their fast with his family in the dining room. She looked up at him with a look of gratitude and affection on her face. “I know, girl. I suspected your life had been rough. You are part of our family now.”
Her whole body wagged in response.
Two days later
Bella enjoyedthe time with her family, but the ride had been tedious. Her mother had commented when they passed the point where the duke and his son had been in the accident and her thoughts had not strayed from the mental picture the scenery created for her. She knew exactly where it happened, having been to London several times over her lifetime. It had been such a heartbreak. Mary had murmured a prayer as they moved through the passage.
They had all remained quiet for such a long time after passing through the curve. After a few minutes, her father finally spoke.
“I plan to see what I can do to find funds to make that a safer passage. I will hope to find like-minded people, like Lords Ross and Haynes, who have also known friends to perish along this route. I shall make a special appeal for the duke and his son,” he said, staring out the window.
“That would be nice, Papa. There have been too many tragedies on this route in the winter months. To have the road widened and made safer sounds like a nice tribute to your friend. How would they accomplish it?” Bella asked quietly.
“The road is slanted at that turn. They need to carve out more roads against the mountain. An engineer might determine an easy fix. However, perhaps an alternative route around this curve could be established. We shall see.” He folded the paper he had been reading earlier and tapped his knee, clearly pleased with the idea.
Her mother reached over and laid her gloved hand on his knee. Losing the duke and then his son had been a shock to her family. Her father and the duke had been friends for as long as she could remember.
They were at least one day behind Slade’s family. Grimacing, she realized she never knew how to address him in public these days. With the death of his father, he was a marquess. Then, to lose his brother—it had all been too much to contemplate. He had asked that she think of him as she knew him, realizing he must struggle terribly with all of this. He had been very close to both his father and brother—especially his brother.
As their entourage neared London, she felt her excitement for the holiday season bubbling—even though they were only in London to shop. New dresses always excited her. It meant that she had more to give to Mary, although she never voiced that to anyone. However, it was something important to her and had always been that way.
“Your father sent word to open up our townhouse a week ago. The staff should expect us. I am sure that Mrs. Smith will have some hot food and tea ready for us,” the countess commented. Mama readjusted her feet on the warming brick. “It seems the rain added a bonus nip to the air,” she added cheekily. “I would have preferred drier weather to travel to London.”
“I agree,” Bella murmured, her gaze transfixed on the grey skyline the city offered. It was so different from what they had left behind in Dover. In the country, when it rained, the air did not seem as heavy and grey.Was she already regretting her trip?She had not even had the chance to see Slade. At least the long ride was finally over. That thought alone lifted her spirits.
The rain stopped, and snowflakes fell outside the window.
“Mama, it looks like we may see snow. I am glad you reminded me to bring our muffs,” Bella said in distracted tones. “It might entertain to see the park covered in snow. I do not recall ever seeing such a thing in London.”
“It would be lovely, my dear,” replied her mother. “Recent years have seen some freezing winters, especially these last two years. It might be nice to have snow in London, although it is difficult for horses to traverse.”
“Was it just two years ago we had no summer? I had forgotten, Mama. Lady Diana reminded me recently about the River Thames Frost Fair her family attended in London at this time of year. Her family was in London for the Season the last year they held the Frost Fair. The fairs were so rare, they made it a family event. It all sounded so exciting. Perhaps we will see another one.”
“I don’t know. It’s certainly cold enough,” Papa remarked jokingly. “I went to one of those as a boy. Great fun. They even had a small circus on it. But the Thames must freeze hard enough to support the weight of the event. That’s thick ice—much thicker even than required for ponds to freeze for skating at home.”
