“Thank you, Uncle,” she whispered.
She turned and scanned the folk crowded into the room. Alvin Hinson surprised her, as did Dr. Gratis. Evelyn Duger wept openly. There were other villagers, and Mia worried they were there to spread lies about Gideon. Mrs. Millbrook sat next to Mrs. Demming. Mrs. Morrit stood, pinch lipped, in the back.
Mia returned to Gideon’s side, just as Lady Tavernash sailed in on her son’s arm. They ignored most of the room and approached Uncle Ludlow directly. “What is happening here, my lord? Why are all these people milling about my drawing room?” the lady demanded.
“There were difficulties in the village yesterday,” the viscount replied. “Perhaps you might like to observe the proceedings.”
Lady Tavernash glanced at her son, raised a haughty chin, and took a seat with Felton beside her.
Fillmore slipped in to stand next to Mrs. Morrit just before Marshall arrived with all four grooms following. They surrounded three prisoners with hands tied in front of them and led them to three wooden chairs placed near the viscount for that purpose. Lady Tavernash blanched at the sight of Jem. The grooms and Marshall stood along the side.
“We’ll begin with the issue of the attempt to abduct Daniel Kendrick yesterday. I call on the groom Frank to testify.”
Jem appeared contemptuous and Carter surprised. Duger’s hands shook, and he kept his eyes on the floor. Lady Tavernash kept her expression blank.
Uncle Ludlow smiled at the groom. “I understand you are a regular attendee at Mr. Rogers’s establishment in Nether Abbas.” That brought general laughter. “Is that so?”
“Aye. Loyal, I am,” Frank said. More laughter.
“Can you please repeat for me some of the talk you’ve heard?”
Frank described various vicious lies about Gideon, all of them familiar.
“And did this talk take the form of threats to the Kendricks?” the viscount asked.
“Yes, my lord. There was some as wished to drive Mr. Kendrick away,” Frank said. “They said as how he ought to have a good thrashing. At least.”
“I see. Was kidnapping mentioned? Or murder?”
“Not in my hearing,” Frank said.
“Are any of those who made threats present?” Uncle Ludlow asked.
Frank laughed. “Oh, aye. Sitting right in front of you. Carter, Jem, and Sam Duger. Others, too,” he said, glancing at Rogers.
Mia’s uncle let him step away and called Sam Duger.
“Softest target,” Gideon whispered.
Sure enough. It took little prodding to get Duger to describe how threats to beat Gideon morphed into a plot to kidnap Daniel and sell him to press-gangs in Weymouth. “Why would you do that?” Uncle Ludlow demanded.
“Kendrick is strutting around Woodglen like he owns it, claiming it ought to go to his son,” Sam Duger said.
Mia wondered if she was the only one who watched Lady Tavernash’s lips tighten at that.
Sam wasn’t finished. “Besides, Carter here said Kendrick deserves to lose one of his, him taking Lizzy and all.”
A murmur met that announcement, and Carter glared pure hatred at Gideon. One voice, small but sharp and clear, cut through the noise. “Da? What is going on?”
Mia spun around to see Lizzy Carter standing in the doorway, next to Dr. Standish. She approached the front.
“I heard you were looking for me. Why would you think Mr. Kendrick did something? It was her that arranged it.” All eyes followed the girl’s finger. It pointed at Lady Tavernash.
*
“Sorry for thedelay, Kendrick. Took me days to find her working for a merchant’s widow in Shaftsbury as a tweeny,” Standish said, drawing up a chair next to Gideon while Viscount Clavering called for order. They’d been right. Lizzy had run to the bigger town for work.
“The Tavernash witch arranged it and set rumors loose blaming you,” Mia said out loud, fire in her eyes.
