“Enough of this nonsense,” Count Anton pushed his way past Mrs. Barrow. “We will search ze house!”
“You will do no such thing!’ Mrs. Barrow told him. “Sir Walter, are you going to let this foreigner shove his way into an English gentleman’s home? And you lot—get back!” she added to the entourage.
Gabe decided it was time to make his entrance. He sauntered down the stairs. “What the devil is all this commotion about?” he drawled. “Mrs. Barrow, I told you I did not wish to be disturbed.”
Seeing the magistrate, he cut across her apologies, saying, “Ah, Sir Walter, excellent. Have you apprehended the culprits?”
Sir Walter looked surprised. “Culprits?” he repeated cautiously. “What culprits?”
“The ones who terrorized Miss Tibthorpe and burned down her cottage.”
The squire’s eyebrows flew up in surprise and Gabe nodded. “Appalling, isn’t it? Whatever is the country coming to when a lone woman is terrorized by thugs and her cottage burned down.” He glanced disdainfully at Count Anton and added, “Who is your friend, Sir Walter? I don’t recognize the uniform. Not English, I hope. Surely not even Prinny would design such a ridicul—such a uniform.”
The count regarded him with an expression of haughty contempt. He was indeed a handsome devil, thought Gabe, but it was a beauty that repelled. His eyes were strange, as if they had no color. They flickered and he gave Gabe a severe, military bow. “I, sir, am Count Anton, prince regent of Zindaria, and I demand you release ze princess of Zindaria and her son, Crown Prince Nikolai.”
Gabe stared at him for a long moment and then turned to the squire. “Do you haveanyidea what he’s talking about?”
The squire’s ruddy face turned even redder. “Captain Renfrew, sir,” he began in embarrassment. “The count insists these people are being held here. He carries letters of authority from his government—”
“Iamthe government of my country,” Count Anton snapped. He stared narrowly at the marks of Gabe’s injuries and glanced at the hand with the mark of his boot heel.
“Perhaps, but this is England. You have no authority here.” Gabe gave him a cold smile.
The count’s lips thinnned. “I demand you—”
“Your demands mean nothing here!” Gabe’s voice cut across him like a whiplash. “And I don’t take to posturing bullyboys marching into my house and issuing demands.”
Sir Walter made placatory gestures. “Gentlemen, gentlemen, I am sure there is no need for this hostility. Count Anton, Captain Renfrew is a gentleman known to me, the son of the earl of Alverleigh and a fine officer, mentioned several times in dispatches. As I assured you earlier, he cannot possibly have anything to do with the kidnapping of your crown prince.” He gave a look of appeal to Gabe. “Captain Renfrew, all this could be cleared up in a moment if you’d just allow us to search the house…”
Gabe fixed him with the sort of look that could make a troop of hardened soldiers hang their heads.“Search my house?”
The squire looked uncomfortable, but held his ground. “It’s a grave accusation, sir, and one with government implications. I’m sure it’s a mistake, but it would be better all round if we just cleared the air.”
The man was embarrassed, Gabe saw. He was already half convinced he’d come on a fool’s errand.
Gabe gave a curt nod. “Very well, explain.” He folded his arms and waited.
“We’re wasting time,” the count began.
Gabe shot him a hard look. “I could always just throw you out on your arse.”
“Captain Renfrew, Count, if you please,” Sir Walter said. “The count has received reports that in the last two days you have had a strange woman and a small boy living here.”
“He has, has he?” Gabe said. “What the devil business is it of his who I have here?”
“You have! Admit it!” the count snarled.
Gabe gave him a frigid stare.
“Captain Renfrew, please,” the squire begged.
Gabe shrugged. “There is a lady and a boy staying here, Sir Walter, though if that boy is a crown prince of anywhere I’d be astonished. Still, I suppose he could have been stolen by gypsies at birth…”
“He was stolen by you!”
Gabe unfolded his arms. “You are becoming excessively tedious, my man. You need a good thrashing and a lesson in manners.”
The squire stepped in between them. “Gentlemen, gentlemen, please. Captain Renfrew, if I could just meet this lady, all this could be sorted out.”
