“Repeat this gossip,” Gideon demanded.
“Mostly fast talk. Some said you needed a lesson about coming here and throwing your weight around. Some said you needed what they did the night the old duke threw you out, that you had no business coming back,” Frank said.
Peter nodded, braver with a friend talking.
“Who?” Marshall asked.
“What do you mean?” Peter asked.
“Who are the big talkers?”
The groom shrugged. “Duger always had a bad mouth in his cups. Bill Carter kept telling folk they should beat the truth out of you about Lizzy. Selwyn—” Peter glanced up sharply. “He’d be yer cousin now. No wonder he’s quieted lately. May’ve gone off to London anyway.”
“Who else?” Marshall demanded.
“Mostly Jem,” Peter said, drawing a ferocious frown from Frank.
“You mean Jem has been hanging around since he disappeared from here?” Gideon asked.
Frank nodded morosely.
“Jem Hawkins has been at the Cockcrow? Why didn’t you tell me?” Marshall shouted.
“He asked us not to. Jem’s a mate. Didn’t want to cause him trouble, did we?” Peter said.
Marshall cursed under his breath and bemoaned beetle-brained grooms.
“What exactly has Jem been saying about me?” Gideon asked coldly.
The two men shifted in their seats.
Frank glared at Peter. “Just the usual. What folks say.”
Gideon suspected folks would have nothing to say if Jem didn’t feed them rumors. “Specifically, please,” he said.
“Yer a bastard. Thinking you can take Woodglen’s a pipe dream,” Peter mumbled.
“True that, ain’t it?” Frank put in.
“Go on,” Gideon drawled, unabashed.
“Jem said you diddled with Woodglen money, taking what you want. Said you stole from the duke. Said the maids all have to hide from you even now that you’re married. Other folk ask if you dint take Lizzie, who did? Things like that,” Peter said.
Marshall cursed colorfully, out loud this time. “Damned Jem Hawkins put his own thieving ways on you, Kendrick. The snake.”
“Where might we find Jem Hawkins?” Gideon asked smoothly.
“Aside from the Cockcrow? Don’t know. He may be sleeping rough,” Frank said.
“Or at the smithy,” Peter suggested. “We done?”
“For now,” Gideon said. “I suggest you avoid the Cockcrow for a while.”
“Altogether if you hope to keep your jobs,” Marshall added.
Peter looked up at Marshall. “Jem’s the one stealing?” he asked.
“Damned right. Now get on with you,” Marshall growled.
