“Oh, yes, I know her all right. Helped her find somewhere to stay while she waited for her birthday.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you do that, me lord?”
“Because she was hiding in my coach and begged me to take her to a posting stage where she might pick up the stagecoach to London.”
“He’s lying!”
“Ask him why he didn’t return her at once to her home!”
The Greenaways were in again.
This time Benjamin took a hand, moving a step or two in their direction. “I’ve to ask as you’ll allow me to be pursuing of my investigations without interruption, sir and madam. You’ve been and laid your information, and it weren’t by my wish as you chose to accompany me on me duty.”
Marjorie was up now. “To see this wretch didn’t try to cozen you with his nonsense and lies, of course.”
Benjamin held up a hand. “I’m a runner, madam. We ain’t in the habit of being cozened. Nor we don’t allow no one to give us no Canterbury tale. But I can’t be asking questions if you keep butting in, and that’s a fact.”
The woman reddened again and Walter pushed forward. “Don’t you speak to my sister like that!”
Benjamin remained stolid, but polite. “If you’ll remove her from this here room, sir, while I settle with his lordship here, I won’t have to speak to her at all.”
Walter pulled his sister back to the chair and whispered in her ear.
“Oh, very well,” she said in a disgruntled tone and sat back down, retrieving the glass she’d left on a side table and taking a gulp of whatever it was Meech had served them.
Alex watched Greenaway take the other chair, similarly resuming his drink, and waited for the runner to return to him. The fellow gave a nod of satisfaction and came back.
“Now then, me lord, if you please.”
Alex began to entertain the hope it might be easier than he’d supposed to be rid of the business. “It’s as I told you. Young Miss Greenaway was looking to get to London and escaped from these two into my coach.”
The runner eyed him with obvious doubt. “Begging your pardon, me lord, seems to me as a well-behaved young lady wouldn’t go accosting no stranger for help.”
Alex seethed at the implication but kept his voice even. “She’s a very unusual young lady.”
“Seems to me as it’d be a dangerous undertaking, me lord.”
“So it was. Damned dangerous. Told her as much myself. What’s more, told her I’d take her back to her guardians.”
Alex knew what was coming and mentally revised his story.
“But you didn’t go for to take her back, me lord. Why was that then?”
“Because she told me these guardians of hers were constraining her to marry Greenaway’s partner, so they could get hold of the money she has in trust.” The runner blinked, and it was plain this part of the tale was new to him. Alex curled his lip, glancing back at the two by the fire. “Didn’t see fit to divulge that to your magistrate, I dare say.”
Greenaway was red in the face and Marjorie looked furious.
Benjamin went across, addressing himself to the brother. “Is this true, sir?”
“Nothing to do with the case. What business was it of his if my cousin was betrothed or not?”
“Betrothed, sir? To whom?”
“None of your damned business!”
To Alex’s admiration, Benjamin, stolid before the man, merely looked him in the eye. Greenaway began to bluster.
“Look, man, this ain’t to the point. I mean, the girl’s my ward — for another week at least. Naught to do with anyone if I choose to give her hand to —”
