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“Still quite sensitive about his hindquarters. He would lick the poultice off if he could reach it. In fact, I’ve secured his blanket with a padded surcingle just in case.”
“Excellent,” Asquith replied.
Barker flashed another glance toward the attic. “How, um, long do you expect to be here? Perhaps I should return with you so I can lock up after you’ve finished.”
Clever. Barker was worried Asquith might cross paths with the gentleman Lenora expected.
“No need. As I said, my visit will be brief.” Asquith lifted his timepiece as if hurriedly checking the hour. “You go on.”
“Very good, my lord.” Barker gazed at the house one last time.
“Incidentally, where are the undergroom and tiger?” Asquith couldn’t help but ask.
“Organizing the tack room. I gave them strict orders not to leave the room until I get back and inspect their work.”
Ah. Clever again. “I do love a well-organized tack room.” He suspected his tack would be quite orderly by the time these assignations concluded.
His life was another matter.
Barker bowed. “Good day, my lord.”
“Good day, Barker.”
He kept his eye on Barker until the groom vanished onto the main street.
Barker was careful and gentle with his stock and, when in London, graciously served as coachman for his mother. And finding another groom with Barker’s skill at Barker’s wages would be yet another setback in his quest to build Asquith Park Stud. But he didn’t like that Barker would have allowed Lenora to meet with just anyone.
Then again, he knew just how persuasive she could be.
He sighed.
Keeping his head down, he crossed the distance to the gate and unlocked the latch. Then, he slipped inside the garden and hurried toward the stables.
As he stepped inside the two-story structure, his eyes adjusted. His gaze moved across the four occupied stalls to the empty stall and loose box—a larger stall for sick horses. Then, he checked the entrance to the connecting carriage stand and tack room.
Padlocked on this end, although, presumably, Barker had left the door to the mews open for the young servants working inside. Still, no possible surprises from that direction, then.
He glanced up the primitive wooden stairs toward the second story, which contained a hayloft, Barker’s enclosed living quarters, and a separate, open loft shared by the undergroom and tiger. Light angled down, spattering against the brick floor.
Barker must have left his room’s door ajar.
Had Lenora asked Barker to do so? Did she expect Asquith to take her up to Barker’s bed?
Asquith wiped his hand across his forehead. His head throbbed, and his fingers came away far too damp for the mild October weather.
All four horses began shifting around in their stalls. They sensed his unease.
One by one, he greeted them. First, he conversed with Chanson, his riding stallion—a true park hack. Next, he acknowledged each one of the pair of matched geldings.
Their typical function was proudly pulling his mother’s barouche, but, when necessary, either could be saddled.
Finally, he stopped to see Montgomery, his new cob.
In a way, his horses were more his friends than his human companions. His bond extended to all, even Montgomery, who’d only joined the group two weeks prior.
He leaned against Mont’s gate. “Hey, Mont.”
He’d paid too much for the skittish boy. But he couldn’t have stood aside and watched the insufferable Sir Benning whacking the poor thing raw a moment longer.
