He stopped in front of Featherspoon still on the floor. “How much does Macgregor pay you for these children?”
Within seconds, the color of the man’s skin changed from an angry red to a panicked white. “Macgregor?”
“You heard me,” Trevor snarled in aggravation. “Norman told me yousoldhim to Macgregor. Even Louisa had worked for the lout.” He reached down and grasped the lapels of the man’s waistcoat and jerked him to a standing position. “You cannot lie to me about Macgregor. I know you sold children to Satan’s spawn.”
“Macgregor knew I couldn’t possibly find all the children a good home. He assured me he would help.”
Trevor shook his head. “I don’t believe that for one moment. You knew what kind of man Macgregor was. You knew what kind of life those children would have.”
“No… no. You must believe me. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Why? Was Macgregor blackmailing you?”
“I—I—I…”
“Tell me,” Trevor barked.
Featherspoon broke down and sobbed like the pathetic—foxed—man he was. Trevor dropped him back on the floor. Standing over him, he rubbed his forehead as the man curled up and cried like a babe. Trevor was helpless, and he hated feeling this way. But apparently, shaking the man and making threats weren’t going to do a thing.
“Tell me one more thing,” Trevor said a little more calmly. “Where can I find him? If you are not man enough to put a stop to the man’s sick ways of raising children, then I will. I amnotafraid of Macgregor.”
“I—I don’t know.” Featherspoon sniffed and wiped his nose on his shirtsleeve. “Macgregor never stays in one place for very long. He could be anywhere—even back in Scotland for all I know.”
“He’s here in England, I assure you. I have come across three members of his band of thieves already.”
The blubbering fool wouldn’t answer Trevor. Featherspoon kept shaking his head and saying he didn’t know. Perhaps thiswas not the best time to talk with the man since he was sick with the morning effects from his drinking spree. However, Trevor wondered if he could catch Featherspoon sober at all.
“When your memory clears,” Trevor told him, “locate me and we shall do business. I’ll pay well to find this man.” He turned and marched out of the house, more frustrated now than when he’d entered.
He mounted his horse, but before riding away, glanced around the barren land. If Macgregor paid Featherspoon for each child, where did the money go? No, there had to be more to the story. Obviously, Featherspoon was not getting paid well, which meant Macgregor was blackmailing.
Trevor peered back at the small rundown cottage. He needed to somehow make Featherspoon believe that he would help him—that Macgregor needed to be put out of business immediately.
Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, he urged his horse forward. But after moving a short distance, he heard Featherspoon’s shout. Quickly, Trevor stopped his horse, and spun around toward the house. Featherspoon stood on the porch holding a pistol. The wicked glint in the other man’s eyes caused Trevor to hitch a breath.
I’m a dead man.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Slowly, Trevor liftedhis hands in the air. “Featherspoon, I’m unarmed. Do you really wish to shoot an unarmed man? If you shoot me, you will no longer have honor and your bad name will follow you forever.”
“I don’t need trouble,” the man shouted from the steps. “You, my lord, are trouble.”
“I beg to differ. All I want is to find answers for my friend, Louisa. She needs to know about her past. As soon as I get these answers, I will leave you alone.”
“Louisa was a problem, and that subject should be dropped. Her past is not worth looking into, I assure you.”
Featherspoon’s confusing words made Trevor want to curse—and shake the man senseless. But for now, Trevor needed to talk him out of firing his pistol. “If you will allow me, I can help you. I suspect you are in trouble, and I think I can assist you in some way.”
“You cannot help me. Nobody can.” He swayed a little, then quickly steadied himself.
“Please let me try.” Slowly, Trevor dismounted and took careful steps toward the man pointing the pistol.
“Stay right where you are,” Featherspoon shouted.
Trevor inhaled deeply, praying he could convince this man to put the weapon down. “All I want is to know about Louisa. Whatis her last name? Where did she come from?” He shrugged. “That’s all the information I’m after.”
Tears gathered in the man’s eyes. “It did not happen the way it was supposed to. I was promised money. I was never paid.”
