“It’s my brother, Sydney, my lord.” Helen’s eyes went from him to Liberty, and then over his shoulder to Anthony and Jamie again. She was clearly uncomfortable in their presence.
“Continue with your story, Helen,” Liberty said, patting her maid’s hand.
He looked at her fingers tipped with short nails and felt something uncomfortable settle in his chest. A longing for his old friend he had no right to feel.
Their drinks and food arrived while Helen began her tale about Sydney and how they’d seen him earlier, and he made himself focus.
“And you say there were barrels on the back of the cart yourbrother drove?” Anthony asked from behind Toby.
“Yes, my lord.” Helen bobbed her head.
“I think it’s likely something to do with smuggling,” Liberty said. “We knocked on the warehouse door and—”
“You are not serious?” Toby demanded, now glaring at Liberty. “Why would you do such a bacon-brained thing?”
“I beg your pardon. You do not get to speak to me in that manner,” Liberty snapped back. “I did what I felt was needed, as Helen was upset about her brother. The man was not suspicious, as I stated. I thought it was the warehouse where I could get my mother’s Greek sideboard.”
Tobias rolled his eyes, feeling his anger rise. “God save me,” he hissed.
“I love those sideboards,” Anthony said. “Especially with the saber legs.”
“She should not have gone, is the point here,” Tobias snapped.
“Excellent cover, though, it has to be said,” Jamie added. “I too like saber-legged chairs.”
“Shut up,” Tobias hissed, knowing what his friends were doing. Deflecting away from the fact he wanted to roar at Liberty for her foolish actions. “It was a risk you should not have taken, Lady Liberty.”
“We now know that it is indeed spirits they sell or store in that warehouse,” Liberty gritted out. “I did what needed to be done to confirm that.”
They glared at each other, so much more than anger over what she’d done simmering between them. There was also the fact he’d learned he was to be guardian of a small child riding him, which was making Toby irrational, but he’d deal with that after this… her.
“There is something else,” Helen said, shooting Liberty a look.
“Something you’ve not shared with me yet, Helen?”
Helen nodded at Liberty’s question.
One look at her cool blue eyes told him nothing of what she was thinking. Liberty had learned to hide as Toby had. He wondered why? She then squinted.
“Where are your glasses?” Toby said before thinking better of it.
“Continue with your story,” Liberty said, ignoring him.
“Mother sent me a note from Bidham, just yesterday,” Helen said. “I was going to tell you, Lady Liberty, but I knew it would be upsetting for you.”
“What has happened?” Liberty said calmly. “You know you can tell me anything, Helen.”
Toby knew Anthony and Jamie were also listening intently.
“It’s Sally Ackers, my lady. She went missing one night while walking home from Pippen farm. She was found dead the day after we left Bidham.”
Toby thought through the people he’d once known in Bidham. The Ackers were a large family who lived a two-minute walk from the entrance into the village.
“She was the youngest?” Toby asked Helen. “From memory, a sickly child.”
“She was,” Liberty whispered.
“I’m sorry, my lady.”
