“Well, that isn’t good,” Elise said, sounding slightly shocked.
“I didn’t think so,” Kit agreed.
“But good for you for freeing that girl,” she continued stoutly, apparently ignoring the part about killing. “Did she make it home safely?”
“If she did as I instructed, she did.” Then he’d purposely drawn Holbert out so that the man would chase Kit instead of chasing after her.
Elise looked around as if finally noticing the shabbiness of their surroundings. “I don’t think I like this place.”
“I’m not fond of it either. But it is the best in the area.”
“Oh dear,” she said under her breath.
“We could leave—” Kit offered, but she cut him off.
“Where is this Devil’s Door?”
“Down the road.”
The worry line appeared between her brows. “Will you come with me?”
“Of course.” He’d had every intention offollowing her every step of the way since the moment she’d insisted on this ill-advised trip.
She walked over to the door. “Tamsyn will stay here?”
“I wouldn’t want her out there.”
Elise nodded her agreement. “Let me change. I can’t see my father wearing everything I own.”
Kit bowed out. A moment later, she came out into the hall. She wore the blue day dress and the straw hat. She had rebraided her hair.
Outside, he led her to the Devil’s Door. The place was as dingy as the Thorn. But then, men didn’t need much to gamble. Many could go without drink or food once they started playing.
Several tables of men were already seriously at it when Kit and Elise arrived. There was also a faro table but no one sat there.
The owner was a brute of a man named Davis. Kit put a protective arm around Elise and a smattering of coins on the table next to where Davis stood. “Where is Old John?” he asked for Elise.
“Not here yet.” Davis shot him a side-eye. “And I don’t think you should be here either. Holbert was very angry.”
Kit ignored the comment. “Where does Old John live?” He’d never known.
“Down the road. He has a place there. It has goats.”
“Down the roadwhere?” Kit pressed. “Can you give a hint to the direction?”
“Past the church.” Davis shook his head. “Thatis all I know. And why are you asking so many questions?”
“I owe him money,” Kit lied.
Davis snorted. “Are you daft? You returned to pay Old John with Holbert on your tail?”
Kit sighed. This was becoming tiresome. “I hear that Holbert hasn’t been seen around Moorcock.”
“I saw him yesterday sometime.”
Now this was news Kit needed. He had assumed Holbert was still chasing around England for him. “Around here?”
“Where else? I never leave this place.”
