Page 14 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
“Not likely.”
“Are you sure?” He watched her closely.
“Sure that it’ll take longer than a week to get to London and back,” she scoffed.
“London?” His pulse picked up, but he only grinned at her. “That does sound grand. I’m surprised you did not shame them into taking you along on the adventure.”
She made a face. “No, I don’t think so. Not at the pace they’ll set, trying to make it on time. And unlike some, I’ve no desire to consort with the high and mighty.” She stopped suddenly, looking as if she realized she’d spoken out of turn. Turning, she gestured toward the hill behind her. “We had an order for a grindstone,” she said hurriedly. “We make ’em strong and they last, should you find yourself in need of one.” She swept a hand toward the slab she’d been working on. “We do fine pierced work, too, if you need drain covers.”
He merely nodded and praised her painstaking work, all while his thoughts raced behind his polite words. The Curtis brothers were making a delivery—afastdelivery—to London. And to someonefancy. He’d eat his boot before he believed it was a grindstone.
“Thank you for your help, madam. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He bowed low and mounted while she simpered a little.
“Think of my boys again, should you need some strong shoulders,” she called.
“I will. Good day to you.”
He set out, heading back at a trot, his mind racing. Why the hurry? What awaited the brothers and their delivery in London? He could think of several disturbing options, and none of them boded well for Tensford getting his fossil back.
He sifted plans and plots as he rode. His sense of urgency grew. So much so, that it was a relief when rode through the village and saw Tensford holding his countess’s elbow and smiling as he ushered her into the Cock and Crown.
Sterne went around the back and left Scylla with a groom. Entering the tavern, he held tight to his impatience. The earl had likely brought his countess to meet the new Mrs. Thomkins. It wouldn’t be polite to interrupt—nor would it win him any points with Tensford, and he suspected he was already going to have to work to get him to go along with his plans.
He lingered in the back passage, knowing that the two couples were likely in one of the private parlors. Pulling out his journal, he tried to make a few notes on the paper he was working on, and hoping to present to the Royal Society, but his thoughts were scattered, and his knee would not stop jiggling. He waited. And waited. At last, the closest door opened.
“. . . at least a hundred servants there,” Mrs. Thomkins was saying. “One girl to seat me, another to take my order and a new one to bring out every course of the meal.” She shook her head. “We may make do with but a handful of servants here at the Cock and Crown, but I swear, you’ll find a hospitality to rival even the fanciest town taverns, I do vow it!” She turned, closing the door behind her and nearly running into him. “Oh! Good day to you, Mr. Sterne! Are you joining the earl and countess?”
“Yes, please, ma’am.”
“Go on in, then. I’ll bring a nice plate of tea cakes in a moment.”
“Thank you.” He stepped into the parlor and shut the door behind him. “I have news,” he said as the couple looked up in surprise.
Tensford looked resigned. “Well, sit down, then.”
They were seated at a small but fine dining table with inlay work along the edges. Sterne took a seat and looked around, surprised at the fine appointments in the room, including an ornate cast iron grate at the fire and a blue velvet chaise in a corner. “I’ve never been past the taproom before,” he said. “Heavens, that honeyed mead must be lucrative, indeed.”
“I believe our new lady innkeeper has plans for the place,” Lady Tensford said with approval.
“What have you found, then?” Tensford asked. “I can see the excitement in your face. Did the Curtis boys give information on Stillwater?”
“No. They could not.” He explained and when he had finished, he looked at them expectantly. “Well? You know what it means, do you not?”
The door opened and instead of Mrs. Thomkins, Miss Munroe entered, looking flushed and lovely. “Thereyou all are! I’ve been searching for you. You must hear what I’ve discovered.”
She recounted her tale and Sterne was beset with conflicting emotions. Perhaps he should not have discouraged her. She had ignored him and found truly valuable information. Such a logical and accomplished mind in such an appealing package. He was thoroughly impressed, but he had the sudden certainty that he should not say so.
“Well?” she finished with a flourish. “You know what this means?”
The earl exchanged a look with his countess, even as Sterne’s eyes widened and he spoke at the same time as Miss Munroe.
“We must go to London!” they chimed together.
Chapter 4
“It’s all perfectly clear.” Penelope strove for calm as she stared across the table at Sterne. “I agree, we must investigate Mr. Stillwater. But why can you not concede that Lady Tresham is a viable suspect in the theft of the fossil?”
Everything had been going surprisingly swimmingly. Against all odds, she had convinced her parents to allow her to accompany the earl and countess on a visit to London. Her father had hesitated, but allowed Tensford to convince him. “We might as well begin to get used to your absence,” he said with a sigh.
