Page 25 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“Where and when did you spot him?” asked Wooten, his pencil busy.
“At the market. It were last week. Just the day before Glynn tookher complaint about me to the board. I went one last time, to try and convince her to stop.” He paused, casting back. “I came from the west. The nob stood just north of Glynn’s stall. He was lurking behind a stack of baskets, staring at her as she was bent over her sewing.” He looked at Kara then. “Say what you will about our disagreements, but Glynn was a fine seamstress and created some excellent garments for young girls who sore needed them.”
“What did the gentleman look like?” asked Wooten.
Yardley shrugged. “Rich. Dressed to the nines. Hoby boots, I’d wager.”
Kara supposed it was natural the cobbler would notice a man’s footwear.
“Young, he was,” Yardley continued. “A bit younger than Glynn, I’d say. Still spotty with it, across here.” He pointed toward his cheekbone. “He had that sort of light hair, red-gold.” He made a face. “And a look of powerful hate directed at Glynn Foulger.”
“It’s not much to go on,” Wooten said, tucking his notebook away. “But I will try.”
“Does that mean I am free to go?” the cobbler asked hopefully.
“I’m afraid not. Detective Frye will have to be convinced of your innocence before you are set loose.”
Yardley slid deeper into the bench. “That don’t seem likely.”
“We’ll do our best,” Wooten said. Standing, he held the door for Kara and Niall. “If you recall anything else, be sure to ask for me.”
“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” Yardley said as Kara stood. “Please, I hope you’ll believe me now.”
Kara raised a brow. “Are there any other finely split hairs we need know about, Mr. Yardley?”
“None. I swear it,” he said fervently.
“Then as the inspector said, we will do our best.”
A constable closed the door behind them. Kara noticed several others furtively watching from their desks.
“My office, I think,” Wooten said.
Kara and Niall filed after him. They were all silent for a moment after they entered and the door was closed.
“In general, I hesitate to think that Frye is correct about much,” Wooten began.
“I hate the very thought,” Kara admitted. “But there is still a chance he is not correct about Mr. Yardley. This is the second time this morning that we have heard of a gentleman who watched Miss Foulger with malice. A wealthy man with reddish hair.”
Wooten’s interest perked. “Do you know who he is?”
“No, but we know whom to ask.”
Nodding, Wooten cast a glance toward the door. “Then you had better go before Frye returns. Any information he thinks comes from you, he might be tempted to disregard. He’ll hear of this visit, but he’ll be satisfied that you were convinced you were wrong about Mr. Yardley. If you learn something to the contrary, then send word straight to me and I’ll find a way to introduce it.”
“Thank you, Inspector. We will.” Kara smiled at the man. “And if you like, I can ask Dr. Balgate to recommend a first-rate midwife for your daughter?”
Wooten had been through enough excitement with them to know of Kara’s physician’s expertise. His gratitude showed as he smiled back. “Oh, heavens, yes. Thank you. That might go a long way to setting us all at ease.”
“I’ll send word later today,” Kara said. “And we will see what we can find out about this young gentleman tonight.”
*
Later that evening,Niall paced the entry hall at Bluefield, impatiently waiting for Kara to come down. He stopped in his tracks when Harold came running from the back of the house.
“Oh, good,” the boy gasped, breathing heavily. “I lost track of time. I was afraid I missed you.”
Niall eyed the boy’s sweaty brow and reddened palms and fingers. “Been at the rope in the gymnasium, have you?”
