When the procession of maids had left the heaping trays on various surfaces in the room and filed out with identical bemused looks on their faces, Robert had been amused. Now as he watched six boys devour every last crumb on the trays, he was in awe. He’d known they looked hungry, but these youngsters were nigh on to starving. Did none of them have families? How many other children were there on the streets of London is as bad or even worse shape than these ones. Maybe marrying the Lady Serena and using the money to help these children would not be so horrid. But then he would have to put up with the Lady Serena for the rest of his days, and that he was not willing to do.
“All right, lads,” he said as the last crumb disappeared into the mouth of a very small, blond boy who couldn’t have been more than seven years old. “Tell me just what you were doing in front of the hotel and preciously the right moment to save me from that attacker?”
Robert noticed the other boys tended to cringe into the background, but Tommy seemed to be the leader and he spoke up.
“We heard things,” he declared. “I let my friends know what you told me yesterday, and Willy here, came to me this morning.”
Dragging forward the little blond boy, he placed his arm protectively around his shoulder. “Willy said that he overheard that bloke downstairs talking to a swell in a fancy carriage about taking care of the new Earl of Fairchild. How he wanted it to look like a street pad so’s no one would look any further. Said he would pay the bloke 500 pounds when the job was done.”
“How did he hear so much without anyone noticing that he was there?”
“Well, Governor, it was really dark, must have been almost dawn, and Willy here were trying to sleep under some old rags on the sidewalk. They never even knew he was there, but even if they had, folks never pay us no mind. Street kids aren’t there.”
“Could Willy recognize the carriage or the swell if he saw them again?”
“Nah,” Tommy said, as Willy shook his head. “It were a plain black rig, no fancy stuff, the swell never got out of the carriage, and the driver was all muffled up.”
Tommy bend down to listen as Willy tugged on his sleeve. Nodding he straightened up and said, “He would recognize the horses. Got a really good look at them. The moon was full last night and he loves horses. Matched pair of grays, identical white stars on their foreheads, white sock on the outside hoof of each horse, and a black blaze on their chest. Will that help?”
Robert eyed Willy with a lot more respect. This kid knew his horses, maybe he would like a job as a stable boy at Winfield when this was all over.
“Yes that should help a lot. We can go and inquire at Tattersall’s this afternoon.” he said, glancing back at Will and then including Willy in the invitation. He was gratified at the look on Willy’s face to be included in a trip to such a hallowed place for him.
“Very good. We will plan on going there as soon as we have talked to mister footpad and the Bow Street Runner and had a proper lunch.”
Walking over to the bell pull, he asked that his attacker be brought to him.
“Now, I want you boys to be very quiet in the other room. I do not want this man to know that we are in this together. When I am done with him and have talked to the runner, I will order lunch and we can plan our next moves while we eat.” He was very surprised to see six pairs of eyes light up at the words lunch and eat, even though they had just eaten six trays of cake, milk and tea.
When the man was roughly tossed into the room and two huge footmen stood guard at the door, Robert was prepared with his questions.
“Why did you attack me?”
“Wanted your gold. You looked like an easy mark, my lord.”
Robert’s ears pricked at the title. It might just be that he called everyone that, but he didn’t think so.
“Robbers don’t carry knives or weapons, makes the punishment much harsher. Now I’ll ask you again, why did you attack me?”
“’Cause you looked like a likely mark. Rich, stupid and easy.”
“How could you know all of that?” Robert asked, looking down at his plain black coat, black trousers, white shirt devoid of any lace, no fobs, rings or jewelry of any kind. He hadn’t had time to go to his tailors to have new clothing made, he had none of the new waist coats that were the rage among the dandies and the pinks, and his boots and certainly seen better days. He looked more like someone’s poor estate manager, than the Earl of Fairchild.
“All rich swells are stupid and easy.” he hissed with real venom in his voice. “If it hadn’t been for those pesky kids, I’d a had you too. I’ll get even with them.”
“I think it is going to be a long while before you are able to get even with anyone. Now I want to know how you knew who to attack.”
“Told you.”
“I don’t believe you. Look at me man, how in the world could you mistake me for someone rich and powerful, dressed like this, which, by the way is the best that I own.”
He finally took a good look at him and his eyes widened in shock. “You look like a bleedin’ clerk. You can’t be the Earl like he said!”
“Like who said?” Robert persisted.
“The bloke what told me where to find you.”
“What bloke was this?” Robert asked softly, but with a hint of steel in his voice.
“I don’t know who he was. He found me last night, said he’s been asking bout me, wanted to hire me to do a job. Told me where to find you and what you looked like and I watched you leave this morning, followed you to that fancy house, and then when I was going to take you out, you got in that cab and I had to hitch onto the back so I didn’t lose you.”
“How was he going to pay you?”
“’Supposed to send a message through the “Blue Oyster” when the job was done and you were dead.”
Robert glanced up at Will with a questioning look. “It’s an unsavory establishment that caters to the ruffians of the dock area. Not a nice place for even the likes of him.”
“Did you see this bloke?”
“Nah, he stayed in the dark and didn’t want to get his feet dirty. Just like he didn’t want to get his hands dirty with doing you himself.” He spat his sullenness vanishing in a spat of bitterness.
“Anything else you can remember about this person that would help us?”
He went to shake his head, but then he stopped. “He wore a ring. On his right middle finger. It were gold, but the stone was a odd shape, almost like a star, and it was green.”
“Létoile Verte!” Robert Exclaimed. “That can’t be possible.”
Will jumped up and headed for the door. “I’m headed for the home office. I’ll meet you at Tattersall’s in about an hour.”
Robert nodded absently. How could this be? Létoile Verte had died in Portugal, hadn’t he? They had never actually found the body, just evidence, and an “eye-witness” who said he had fallen into the ocean from the cliffs.
Létoile Verte had been the best master spy the French had in the peninsula. They had never known his actual identity and anyone who had seen him had never lived to tell about it. They had suspected he was English and possibly an English aristocrat, or at least someone who could read and write like one.
If Létoile Verte was still alive, then no one in Robert’s circle of acquaintances was safe. But still, it made no sense. Robert didn’t know who he was, he really had no clue as to who he was. He had eluded every effort to discover his identity. Why would he want to jeopardize everything now by trying to hire thugs to get rid of Robert.
He motioned to the footmen to take the man away and sent down an order for a substantial luncheon for 10 to be sent up right away. When the footmen had left, he opened the door and waved the boys back into the parlor.
An hour later Robert was walking through Tattersall’s with a wide eyed Willy at his side. Looking down at the youngster’s eager face, Robert wondered if the child had ever experienced a day of simple pleasure. Probably not. His days were a constant struggle just for survival.
Strolling through the stalls of the world famous auction barn, Willy stopped often to admire a horse, or comment on his points or his color or his markings. “How did you learn so much about horses at such a young age?” Robert asked, suddenly curious about this child.
Hanging is head, Willy said almost in apology, “Me Da was a stableman for the inn out on the highway. He’d let me go to work with him and I’d help with the horses. It was the best time I ever had.”
“What happened? How come you don’t still go to work with your Da?”
“Da were killed in a carriage accident. He tried to stop a runaway team that came into the yard. The horses trampled him. He died three days later.” Willy was trying hard not to cry, but it was a struggle for him. “I ran away when the reforming ladies came to take me to the work house. I found Tommy and he took me in with his gang. Been with him every since!”
“Would you like to work with the horses again?” Robert asked gently.
Willy’s eyes brightened, “Sure would, but no one would give me the chance.” He added, dimly.
“I might be willing to give you a try. I’m looking to buy a curricle and pair, and I’m going to need a tiger to care for the horses and ride around with me. Do you think you might be interested in the job?”
“But if I go to work for you I will have to give up being part of Tommy’s Gang.”
“Not really, I’m going to offer Tommy a position as information gatherer for me, and I’m sure you are his right hand man and I wouldn’t want to deprive you of that pleasure.”
Willy smiled, a broad, happy grin. “I’ll have to talk to Tommy, but I want the job! When are you buyin the horses?”
“Well, I thought we’d check out the pairs today and see what they are offering. There isn’t an auction today, so you will have to come back with me next Tuesday to help me bid, but we can select the horses we want to bid on today while we ask about the pair of grays you saw.”
The pleasure on Willy’s face was worth every dime he would spend on clothes, education, food and shelter for him and Tommy’s gang.
A few minutes later they met up with Will and the three of them wondered through the stables looking at horseflesh and asking a lot of questions about matched grays with the distinctive markings Willy had seen the night before.
Finally someone mentioned that they had a pair go through auction several months ago. He remembered them because of the opposite feet with identical markings. He couldn’t remember who had purchased them, but if they went and asked Rounder, the head of the grooms, he might be able to help them.
They found Rounder in one of the stalls, working on the front hoof of a lovely bay mare with a blond main and forelocks. She was dainty and delicate looking, but Robert suspected she was a lot stronger than she appeared. Willy slipped around to pat the mare and offered her a carrot from the supply Robert had handed him before they entered.
Rounder certainly didn’t live up to his name. He was tall and lean with heavily muscled arms. He looked up from his work with a question in his eyes. “Something I can do for you, My Lord?” he asked Will.
“We heard that there was a matched pair of grays came through here a couple of months back. Identical white socks on opposite front feet, white stars on forehead, black on the chests.” Robert answered for him. “I’m looking to purchase just such a pair and have been unable to find any.”
“I remember the horses, don’t rightly remember who they went to. Sold by Lord Penworth, he might now who purchased them, he was here that day. Always takes an interest in where his beasts go. Like this little lady. He can’t stand to have one of his go where they will not be taken care of.”
Will looked at Robert, “I know Penworth. He’s right. Raises the horses almost like they are babies. Never uses a whip, can’t bear the idea that someone else might. Been know to turn down an excellent offer because he doesn’t like the buyer.”
“Maybe we need to go have a chat with Penworth.”
“Rounder, Does Penworth have any other matched pairs in for the auction on Tuesday. I didn’t see any, but then I haven’t been all the way through.”
“Actually, he has two pairs in. A pair of matched bays, and a pair of dabbled grays. They are over there a piece,” he waved with his left hand and went back to his work.
“Come Willy, we have a couple of pairs to look at.”
After checking out the horses and making note of their numbers and pertinent qualities, the three left the stables.
“So what did they have to say at the Horse Guards?”
“Only that they knew he was still alive, and they suspected he had made it back into England.”
“They knew, and they didn’t bother to tell those of us that would be most affected by it? What did they think, he would just let bygones be bygones and everybody go on with their lives. I don’t think so. He was never that way before and I seriously doubt he is that way now.”
Willy looked up at his new hero curiously, “Maybe Tommy will be able to help, Sir. He can find out the most useful stuff. You could maybe ask him.”
“He’s working on the fringe of it. He’s checking out the man who tried to kill me this morning. Maybe someone knows who it was who hired him. Told him to listen, not ask questions.”
Willy nodded. “That’s what he tells us to do. Listen, don’t make no noise and they never know you’re there. Works too.”
“What is so odd, is that this vendetta of his seems to be directed toward me alone,” Robert mused, almost to himself. “Did they say anything about anyone else being attacked or threatened?”
Will shook his head. “No, this was news to them. They said it was the first confirmation of their suspicions. Everyone who had any contact with him in the field, is well and accounted for. Unless he has just decided to start his vendetta with you.”
“I was the smallest cog in thwarting his plans, why would he choose me to head his list, or be the only one on the list?”
“Maybe there is a more personal reason. Did you steal his bit of muslin? Or maybe you interfered in some other way with his plans. It really doesn’t make a lot of sense. I had far more to do with interfering with him than you, but I’ve had no accidents and I’ve been back a lot longer than you have.
Do you think we should go see Penworth this afternoon? I’m sure Willy here would love to see his collection of prints.”
“Not a bad idea.” Robert said, hailing a hackney as he spoke.
Twenty minutes later the three of them were ushered into a well stocked library, the walls covered with prints of horses and jockeys. Willy’s eyes lit with excitement as he gazed in awe around him. The room itself was warm and inviting with paneling on the walls and a pair of bay windows that looked out over the tiny walled garden at the back of the house. Books about horses covered every flat surface in the room. At first they couldn’t see anyone in the room, but then a voice filtered out to them, “What can I do for you gentlemen?” As a stooped, white haired gentleman appeared behind a stack of books that covered what now appeared to be his desk.
“I am Lord Fairchild and this is Lord Allendale,” Robert said by way of introduction, and then he brought Willy forward, “and this is Willy, my new tiger, who would love to see your print collection.”
“He is more than welcome to browse around the room, but please don’t touch anything, I’m doing research and don’t want to lose what I have discovered,” he said with a wave about the room.
“Willy saw one of your matched pairs the other day and we would love to see if we could purchase them. Would you know who bought them from you.” Robert asked in a lazy, drawl as if the answer was of no moment.
“Now which pair would that be?” Penworth asked. “I’ve sold several in the last 6 months alone.”
“Oh yes, a pair of grays, with identical socks but on opposite legs, and white stars on the forehead.”
“Those two are prime cattle.” Penworth said, looking down his nose at Robert. “I doubt you would be able to afford them.”
“Looks can be deceiving, in people as well as in horseflesh.” Robert drawled back with his considerable aristocratic authority that had stood him in good stead in the army.
Penworth smiled. “Thought there was a bit more to you than a pretty face and an arrogant bearing. Now tell me why you need to know and I might consider telling you who bought that pair of beauties.”
Robert glanced at Will, drew a deep breath, and told a part of the truth. “Someone is trying to kill me. He was seen hiring someone from a carriage that was drawn by these particular horses.”
“That is odd.” Penworth mused. “I sold these horses to a young lady, through her man of business. She has no male relatives as far as I know, and lives quietly in the country. She wanted them for her personal curricle to do the rounds on her estate. She is one of those young ladies who was able to inherit the title and estate as it was not entailed onto the male line. But she would not be hiring an assassin, and she is not even in the city, rarely comes into the city as a matter of fact.”
“And who is this paragon of womanhood?” Will asked urgently.
“Lady Angela Wentworth, Countess Longthorne, as far as I know she in residence at Longthorne Manor in Derbyshire, has been since last June. She doesn’t care much for the city and she is very concerned about her estates and her people.”
“It looks like I may have to make a trip into Derbyshire in order to talk to her. I was going to collect Lady Serena anyway, so I can do that on the return.” Catching Willy’s eye, he motioned him to the door. “Thank you Penworth. I appreciate your seeing me and helping me out.”
“Not at all. But I sincerely doubt she will be willing to sell her horses.”
Back out on the street with the door closed firmly behind them, Robert turned to Will, “I really do have to go and talk to her. I’ll leave on Wednesday next. I want to buy those horses and I will need a curricle, maybe Willy and I can go see about that conveyance now, and find us both some more suitable attire.”
“I’ll check up on Tommy and his cronies, and meet you back at White’s for dinner.” Will said, turning to go. Then thinking better of it he paused. “Do you think you should hire a body guard? I know, I know, you can take care of yourself, but you aren’t in the mountains of Spain and France anymore. You are in the jungle of London and it is far more dangerous here, and you don’t know who or what you are truly up against.”
“I’ll think about it, but for now, I have a lot to do before I leave town, I need to order the carriage, check on the house and see what needs to be done, buy some new clothes and I only have a few days in which to do it all.”
Will shook his head and walked off down the street, hailing a hackney when one passed.
“Come Willy, we are off to Weston’s and then to look at a curricle.”
© 2002 by KayDee Ward
All rights reserved
