Page 1 of A Rogue to Forget

Chapter One

Glasgow, Scotland

April, 1823

The sounds of the night were interesting, Henry Campbell pondered as he headed home. His horse nickered, probably complaining at being out at such late an hour. As he went past the now closed Kerr Tea Shop, he could not help but recall the last time he’d entered the front doors.

It was a gathering place for those out and about who required refreshment and perhaps a pastry. There always seemed to be a table open amidst the busy place and a warm and friendly smile from whomever came to serve.

At this late hour, the shop would have been closed; however, it was obvious it was abandoned now.

Devoid of light.

Devoid of life.

*

Two weeks earlier

The tryst hadbeen enjoyable enough that Henry reluctantly left the woman’s bed. It was a hard rule that he never spent the night. Lingering after what was a casual assignation could bring about expectations. No matter what, he preferred never to hurt a woman who willingly shared her body with him.

As he rode up to Kerr Tea Shop, he noted that, although it was much too late now for the business to be open, the front door was thrown open and a dim light flickered inside. Something felt wrong.

Riding past, Henry tried to look inside; the only thing he could see were the outlines of the chairs and tables. If someone was inside working late, they should not have left the door open. Finally, he pulled the horse to a stop, all the while convincing himself there was absolutely nothing wrong.

After tethering the horse, he stood outside and looked around the deserted street. There was no harm in ensuring nothing was amiss. Once he did that, he’d close the door and inform the owner the next day of the mishap.

His footsteps echoed and the wind blew, tickling the back of his neck, seeming to send a warning of danger. Not one to ignore a premonition, Henry bent and pulled a dagger from his boot. Considering that the owner, John Kerr, would be there working late and he didn’t wish to scare him, Henry kept the dagger hidden in his cuff.

The blade would be accessible in case the shop was being vandalized and robbed and the intruder remained. Given the silence, he doubted it, but it never hurt to be prepared.

When Henry entered cautiously through the open door, the front area looked to be unperturbed. Without the clatter of dishes and din of conversation, it felt like a different place. Still, the pleasant aroma of coffee and baked goods hung in the air.

“Anyone here?” Henry called out. There was silence.

Lifting the glass of a lantern on a back table, he lit the wick and instantly the dimness was lessened. He scanned the room, ensuring to keep his back to the door, and found everything in its place. Nothing had been broken. It was eerily silent.

“Is someone here?” Henry called out again, and continued to the back where the only light in the entire place had emanated from.

His footsteps seemed to echo with each step as he made his way back, expecting someone to appear at any moment.

Preferring to be prepared, he’d pulled the dagger from his cuff, holding it out, and continued ever-so-slowly through the second doorway.

Slumped over in a chair was a man he recognized as Mister Kerr, the owner of the tea shop.

“Mister Kerr?” Henry approached the slumbering man. “Mister Kerr.” He jostled the man to wake him. “Are you unwell?”

It was then the metallic smell emanated and Henry saw the dark puddle of blood under the man’s head and neck.

The man’s throat had been sliced open.

Immediately, Henry had stuck his dagger back into his boot. The last thing he needed was to be blamed for killing a man he’d only met once or twice and, as far as he could recall, never held a conversation with.

Despite not knowing the man, sadness at what occurred enveloped him as he rushed back outside, mounting his horse, and went in search of someone to help. Luckily, two constables stood two streets over and had hurried to the scene.

After alerting the authorities, he’d been the one to give both the mother and daughter the bad news. It had been a horrible evening, the memories of their heartbreak strong in his mind.

It had been especially painful to break the news to Hannah Kerr, the man’s daughter, who he’d made friends with.