Page 78 of The Gift of Patience
“What an interesting turn. Chum just told me that he was not with the gang.”
“We have been questioning him over Cook’s sandwiches and jam tarts. He was very eager to be helpful, but the only thing of note that we learned was our man carries a walking stick with a shiny snake on top and that he smokes cigars.”
“Where is he now?”
“Shadowing Peter. Westwood thought it best to keep him with one of the younger boys.”
“We need to make certain he does not discover his father is still here on the estate. For now, I think it is to our advantage in case we need him as a bargaining chip.”
A groom must have realized Stuart had arrived and came out to take Caesar. “I will see him brushed down and given a bucket of oats, sir.”
Stuart nodded his thanks to the groom. “Where is Westwood? I would like to confer with him and Renforth,” he said as they began to walk.
“He must have gone back to the house.”
Apparently, Renforth was keeping to himself in the Dower House, she discovered once they found Westwood. Surprisingly, Patience was invited to come and share her observations since she’d spent more time talking with Billy after Westwood had left to make arrangements for him.
Fielding also came from where they were keeping Devil in the gamekeeper’s cottage, while Baines remained with Devil. If Renforth and Fielding were surprised to see her, they did not say as much as they stood when she entered with Westwood and Stuart.
Quickly, Stuart relayed what they had discovered in London, followed by Westwood’s observations with Sir Horace being responsible for Rupert’s death, then finally Patience was invited to convey how they had found Billy and what he had told them.
“That’s quite a bit for the past four and twenty hours,” Renforth remarked. “Not that I am complaining, mind you.”
“It is,” Stuart agreed, “but I think what we need to centre our efforts on is who they are working for. We need to use Billy to make Devil talk. Billy is the only thing he seems to care about.”
“Agreed. We need to make sure Billy does not find out his pa is here,” Westwood added.
“I think he’s been on the estate. Midnight was spooked when I was out riding and I’m certain it was him I saw.” Patience noticed Stuart’s glare at that news. She ignored it.
“He didn’t ride out to attack the caravan. There were only four riders.”
“Very well. Let’s give Devil one more chance so we are going in with as much ammunition as possible. Fielding, I’d like you to go to the docks and see what you can discover about the fancyships moored there. Perhaps the goods have been hiding in plain sight the whole time.”
“What I’d like to know is what shipment they were waiting for. They could not have known about the one we instigated,” Stuart said.
“We could clarify with Upton, but I imagine it has been touted as one and the same. We may never know the answer to that. After you finish questioning Devil and Fielding returns, I want to reconvene to finalize our plans for tomorrow.”
Ashley was notsurprised that Patience was upset with him for not letting her go along to question Devil. Even though the risk was small that Devil would ever be within reach of her, he would not put her in such danger. He’d rather risk her wrath. Not that he minded her wrath one bit. She was fierce and beautiful, like a warrior queen when she was in a taking.
Part of him would be sad to see this mission complete. He had grown rather accustomed to being around the little termagant every day.
He entered the cottage with a nod to Baines, who certainly looked like he was quite done with this assignment. Ashley took one of the wooden chairs at the table and spun it around, sitting backwards on it to face Devil, who also looked worse for the wear after almost a week of very little food and sleep.
“I’ve got news,” he began.
“Finally.” Baines stood and stretched and took a turn about the room.
“It seems your son Billy has turned himself in.”
Devil sat up straight at attention. “Where is he?”
“It just so happens that he threw himself on his lordship’s mercy. He ran away from the gang and asked to be sent to be with you.”
A string of curses that would put a sailor to the blush erupted from Devil.
“I think it’s rather touching.” Ashley taunted a bit.
Devil spat at his feet.
