Page 87 of Miss Dauntless
“No, it will not,” Tremont said, extending a hand. “If you or your brother are ever in need, you come by the soldiers’ home two streets from St. Mildred’s. Come by for a drink even when you’re not in need. The men will be glad to see an old friend, and Cook always makes enough for a guest or two.”
“I’ll tell me brother. You’re for Dover, sir?”
“On the fastest horses I can find.”
“You’ll want to go to the Jolly Bullock, sir. They handle a lot of expresses for the captains and crew. Fastest nags this side of the Thames, and the grooms will tell you where to make the next change. You tie a red kerchief to the horse’s right rein, and the tollkeepers will wave you through if you toss ’em a few pence for their trouble.”
Harry looked fascinated by this recitation.
“Shores, you have been a godsend. Thank you for keeping a sharp eye, and I meant what I said about looking up the old crew. Bring your brother and anybody else you happen across who served with us.”
“You were the godsend, sir. Took us a while to realize that, but Waterloo isn’t a day we’ll ever forget. The Jolly Bullock is two streets up that lane, and you tell ’em Shores sent ya.”
“I’ll do that.”
An ornate coach pulled up to the foot of the inn’s steps. Shores tugged his cap and jaunted down the steps. “Best of luck, sir.”
Harry watched as the coach disgorged two women, clearly mother and daughter, both dressed in the first stare of fashion. “What was that all about?”
“That was about Waterloo and doing the right thing. You are going to do the right thing now too, Merchant.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“That is who you are. I must away to Dover, but you must stay put until I can retrieve Matilda and get her free of you.”
Harry shifted so his back was to anybody coming up the steps. “Staying put is not my forte, Tremont.”
“How well we know that, but you’re about to turn over a new and better leaf.”
The ladies swept past, and Harry turned again so his back was to the door of the inn. “I’ve tried turning over new leaves. Matilda was supposed to be a new leaf. Oxford, Dublin… I’ve littered my path with new leaves, and they always wilt.”
“Do you know where Matilda has gone, Harry?”
Harry’s expression turned bleak. “Dover, and from thence… God knows, so you’d best be on that fast horse and leave me to be about my business.”
“Matilda is going someplaceyoucan never plague her,” Tremont said. “Someplace she can turn over a new leaf and go about it properly. She is going to Paris.”
The elegant coach rolled around to the side of the inn, where the porters and footmen would deal with the luggage out of sight of the inn’s guests.
“I did not plague her,” Harry bit out. “Irescuedher from scandal and ruin.”
“The two are not mutually exclusive. You would never set foot in Paris, because it’s nearly overrun with Englishmen of all stripes. Merchants, nabobs, peers, debtors, and thuscreditors. As ripe as the pickings might be for one of your ilk, you cannot risk trolling in those waters.”
Harry ran a finger around the inside of his collar. “I also can’t speak Frog. I’ve tried. Tilly used to laugh at my attempts. I can read it some, thanks to her and a few years of Latin, butattempting to ply my trade when I can’t understand the language is asking for disaster.”
“You have no trade,” Tremont said, “but you would make a first-rate actor.”
The longing that flashed in Harry’s eyes was astonishing. “Maybe once upon a time. Hadn’t you best be on your way, Tremont?”
“I have one small task to see to, and then I’ll gallop for the coast.”
“I’ll wish you Godspeed.” Harry swept off his hat and made an elegant bow. “And give my regards to Tilly.”
“You may offer them yourself upon her return to London, because any plans you had to quit the metropolis are now postponed. Ah, here come my reinforcements. Major Alasdhair MacKay, may I make known to you one Harry Merchant, late of Bristol and various unlucky locales. MacKay is assisted by MacIvey and MacPherson, and I suspect Bentley and Biggs are canvassing the surrounds. MacKay, your charge. If he tries to do another bunk, carve up his handsome face. Distinguishing scars would all but put him out of business as a swindler—and as an actor.”
MacKay nodded. “I’d let Mrs. MacKay have a go at him. She’s not as softhearted as I am. MacKay, at your service, Merchant. We’ve met.”
Harry was frankly staring at Tremont. “You never did tell me how you learned that name.”
