“I don’t know his name. He wears a green—”
“Calls ’imself Jimmy,” Jeb answered before Adam had even finished his description. “New one. Quiet like. Keeps to himself.”
“Any idea where I might find this Jimmy?”
Jeb motioned with his prickly chin. “Here comes me John. He’d know.”
They walked toward John Handly, going about his duties despite the horrors of the day. He could always be relied on.
“What can I do for you, Your Grace?” John asked.
“I’m looking for a member of your staff. Jimmy.”
“With the green—?” John motioned at his neck.
Adam nodded.
“He’ll be around somewhere.” John glanced around the paddock. “He in some kind of trouble, Your Grace?”
“He helped Her Grace mount this morning, and she tells me he reeked of bacon, more than could have been accidental.” Tension coursed through Adam at the thought of someone intentionally harming his wife.
“On purpose, then?” John’s search grew noticeably keener.
“That is what I mean to find out.” If it proved true, the man would pay dearly.
John moved swiftly in the direction of the stables, searching the faces of his staff as he went. Adam kept pace with him, his jaw clenching more with each step.
“We’re looking for Jimmy,” John called out to a group of stable hands nearby.
“Ain’t seen him in a while,” one of them answered.
“I ’ave,” said another. “A minute ago, at the back of the stable. Putting some things in a bag, he were.”
John’s eyes shifted to Adam, and he could see the man had the same thought he did. Jimmy meant to slip away unnoticed. No one ran from the Dangerous Duke and got away.
“’At’s him, Faltsone.” Jeb pointed a knobby finger across the paddock.
Sure enough, a man with a green handkerchief tied messily around his neck moved swiftly along the far end of the stables. He walked with his head down.
“Jimmy!” John called out.
The man looked up. In an instant, Adam knew him—the groom was none other than the innkeeper at the Boar and Dagger.
His temper snapped. “Smith!”
The man took flight instantly. Adam didn’t hesitate.
“Stop him!” he bellowed to the stable hands.
The entire staff sprang into action, chasing the man down. He headed toward the front entry of Falstone Castle, his destination, no doubt, the forest beyond. He’d be harder to find once he passed outside.
Adam ran hard, pushed on by his anger. He would have the man’s neck!
“What if the wolves come back?” John managed to ask as they both sprinted after their prey.
“He tried to kill my wife,” Adam threw back. “If the wolves don’t tear him to pieces, I will.”
None of the stable staff were closer to the gate than Smith. He’d reach it without any of them stopping him.
