“Will Ables?”
He came to his feet immediately and doffed his cap, a bit too quickly for a man recently injured. Surely a sudden movement should have caused him some head pain, but not a wince did he show.
“That be me, mum,” he said.
“Please, don’t get up,” she told him, smiling. “I’ve heard of your mishap. Actually, I came to see how you are faring, after such a harrowing experience.”
“A what, mum?”
“Your run-in with the horse thieves. That was rather brave of you, if I do say so.”
“It weren’t nothin’,” he replied, blushing at the compliment. “Just part of me job.”
“Yes, I suppose. But did the doctor say you would be all right?”
“Didn’t need no doctor. Me head’s taken worse knocks before.”
“But surely a doctor came to examine you?” She’d need the man’s name, so she could talk to him as well.
“For a little lump?” he scoffed. “I told ’em it weren’t needful.”
Kimberly lifted a brow. No doctor, no one to verify that the groom really had been hit over the head. Well, hadn’t she suspected that might be the case?
“Was that wise, Mr. Ables? What if you had needed stitches or the like? Here, why don’t you let me have a look at your lump, just to make sure—”
He jumped back from her so quickly, he nearly toppled over the bale of hay. And his look, when he found his balance, was a bit accusatory. Clearly she’d taken him by surprise. But he soon recovered, putting on a pretentious smile.
“No need to bother, mum. I told ye it weren’t nothin’. No broken skin, no bleedin’. Actually, the lump’s all but gone, it is.”
Kimberly nodded, though she’d eat her winter bonnet if there had been a lump on his head to begin with. It was really too bad the duke hadn’t insisted a doctor examine the man when the injury supposedly occurred. He could have found out then and there that the man was lying, and lying he was. Kimberly was almost positive now.
But too many days had passed to prove it. A lump, if there had been one, could have receded already. Since it offered no proof, she had to think of some other way.
She wondered what he’d say if she just flat out called him a liar. Deny it, of course. She sighed inwardly. That would accomplish nothing.
“It’s such a shame, the horses haven’t been retrieved yet,” Kimberly remarked. “But at least that Scot didn’t get away with it, thanks to you. Imagine, stealing from your host? Such utter gall, not to mention bad form. Why, that’s as bad as stealing from your employer.”
His blush came again, a guilty one this time, she’d warrant. But it was her praise he latched onto.
“I don’t know the bloke personal-like,” Will said. “But I’d ’eard ’im a time or two. It’s ’ard to mistake, that voice of ’is.”
“I know what you mean. His brogue is so thick, isn’t it? Very easy to recognize.”
“Aye, that it is.”
He was lying again, agreeing with her, when she was stating untruths herself. Lachlan’s brogue was light. It made her so furious, she had to look away from him for a moment, until she could get her anger under control.
But this was something she could at least make use of, she realized. Will Ablesdidn’tknow Lachlan’s voice, he’d probably never heard it before. If he heard three Scots together, including Lachlan, he’d have a devil’s time trying to figure which was which.
The duke needed to be apprised of this—no, not Devlin. He didn’t like Lachlan, had wanted him gone from the beginning. He was satisfied with his guilt, pleased about it, she didn’t doubt, since he could now oust the Highlander with a clear conscience. Short of having the real thief in hand, he would scoff at anything that suggested Lachlan’s innocence.
No, she’d tell Megan about what she’d discovered. The duchess might have been exasperated and annoyed with Lachlan, but Kimberly didn’t think she personally disliked him. She’d be fair. And the two of them might even be able to arrange a little demonstration to force Will Ables to prove his claim.
Nowthatwas an excellent idea. Kimberly was so pleased with it, she was even able to look at the man again without her eyes frying him on the spot.
“Well, I’m glad to know you’re feeling up to scratch and able to resume your duties,” she told the man in parting. “Of course, you’ve fewer charges to look after at the moment. But hopefully that will be rectified soon. I’m sure the duke won’t rest until he has the animals back where they belong, and that audacious thief behind bars.”
“Are you sayin’ ’e’s still around, the Scot? ’E’s not been locked up yet?”
