Chapter Eighteen
The blond man had been sitting at the bar when two footmen in livery came in to hand a note over to the barkeep. “We were asked to wait for a reply.”
The burly man at the bar looked at the direction on the front and grunted, “There won’t be no reply fer now. You go on.”
Todd and Tad did not need to be told twice. They were out the door in a flash. The pub stunk and was dirty. They were used to the better parts of town.
When the door shut the barman slid the missive across to the blonde man. “Take it to yer room an read it. Stupid chit shouldn’t a sent housemen down here. Ya should look fer ‘nother place ta stay. Jigs up here.”
The man looked like he’d argue for a moment, then thought better of it and grabbed the note and angrily went upstairs.
He threw his things into a valise, read the note quickly, and left to find new accommodations.
He grumbled every minute as he walked down the street, ‘Stupid Bernice! Always thinking she’s so clever.
She’ll get us both caught and hanged! Her plan already fell apart.
I should just have her steal the rest of the jewels and escape before my creditors catch up with me.
’ Little did the blonde man realize that he was talking to himself loud enough to be heard by one of the many street children who haunted every town.
The war had caused there to be a lot of children with no fathers, and mothers who had to work to keep them fed, so the children ran wild most days.
Some did honest work, like holding horses leads for gentlemen, or running errands, or cleaning up sidewalks for merchants.
Others dealt in thieving or information.
Tommy didn’t have a mother or a father, so he did whatever he had to do.
He wasn’t a bad boy. There was a widow lady down near the docks who would let him stay occasionally.
She had two children of her own to feed, though, so he usually only stayed there when it was extra cold or stormy.
He’d occasionally snatch a loaf of bread or a pie off a windowsill and take it to her in thanks.
Usually, he tried not to thieve much. That’d get you transported or put in the workhouse.
He did trade in information a lot. People paid no attention to grubby little boys.
That blonde man was saying some interesting things, so Tommy followed him.
He’d do his best to keep an eye on that one.
He’d bet there would be someone who wanted to find that man.
Creditors? That woman ‘Bernice’, or maybe whoever he planned to steal the jewels from?
That could pay big money! Yep. He’d be watching that one!
~~~~~
Mrs. Young was disappointed she had not received a note back from her friend.
She could not be caught walking down to her cousin’s pub on the docks, so she would just have to wait.
She believed she had come up with a good plan.
Time would tell. If she could just get that stupid little chit to quit spending all her free time with her cousin and those Bennets!
About a week after their arrival, the entire group was walking along the promenade when a grubby young boy ran into her and shoved a paper in her hand.
She was about to yell at him when she looked down at the paper.
It was her friends handwriting! She quickly shoved it in her pocket.
Unfortunately for her, there were three young ladies that noticed.
They had been walking arm and arm behind her.
Beth, Lizzy, and Lydia had become close this past week.
Gigi as well, but Mrs. Young often insisted she walk with her.
The excuse was that she was being instructed on manners and comportment as they walked.
Gigi also had a rigorous schedule of instruction.
An art master to visit twice a week, and Mrs. Young insisted that Miss Darcy must be his sole focus for her lessons, although he visited the Bennets with the same lessons.
She also must do her lessons in French and German on her own, although Mrs. Young did not speak either language, and her cousin Beth and all five of the Bennet ladies spoke both languages at least a little.
Lydia, Beth, and Lizzy were distrustful of Mrs. Young, and not sure of her motives.
Lizzy moved forward to join Gigi, as Lydia and Beth slowed to speak with John. “I do not suppose you noticed that little interaction with the boy who bumped into Mrs. Young?”
“I did. I will remember him.”
“So, you saw him shove a paper in her hand and then she stuck it in her pocket?”
“I missed that part. She was turned away from me.”
“Mrs. Young has been very particular in keeping Miss Darcy away from us, Mr. Smith. I do not trust her.” Lydia was scowling again.
“Lydia, my friend, that look could stop a clock. Please desist.” Beth smirked and Lydia’s scowl turned to chagrin. “Besides, you do not trust much of anyone, so that isn’t saying much. John, what do you think.”
“Oh, now I am allowed to think? I thought I was supposed to just look intimidating. Very well, I will begin to think on the subject and get back with you.”
Now it was Beth’s turn to scowl, “You are cleverer than all of us put together. Please look into it and get back with me forthwith! Something does not seem right with that woman.”
“As my lady wishes. Tim and Tyler should be enough to guard you for now. Do you mind if I follow the boy?” Beth shook her head and urged him on. Timothy and Tyler Wainright were the twin footmen that worked for the Darcys.
~~~~~
John did not have to go far. The boy was watching the group of ladies from an alley nearby and did not try to run when John caught up with him.
“Gooday sir! How ken I help ya?”
“I could use some information. I’ll pay you for it.”
“Good thing I ‘ave some for ya then. What ya like ta know?”
“What was in the paper you shoved in the lady’s hand?”
“It were a note to meet a man at the Brass Duck tonight after dark. I be there. Want me ta watch?”
“What does the man look like? Do you know his name?”
“He not be usin’ his real name. He don’ even sign ‘is name. He’s tall, wheat colored hair, kinda prettyish. Dresses like an aristo.”
“If he has you run anymore notes for him, bring it to me first, and I’ll pay you double what he has to let me read it before you deliver it. I’m staying at Rock House on Royal Harbor. You know where that is?”
“Yep, an ta girl is stayin’ at Seaview Cottage up the road. I knows who ya’ll are.”
“Excellent. You do me right, and I’ll make sure you have enough to live on for the rest of the year.”
John handed him a dozen small coins and Tommy’s eyes got huge.
“I’m yer man!” Then he ran off at top speed.
He’d go to the widow’s house, give her a couple of the coins, and stash his largess in the secret spot he was allowed to keep there.
He had almost two pounds saved up for a rainy day.
Someday he might have a place of his own. He had plans!
~~~~~
Mrs. Young did not argue with her charge when she asked to spend the night with her friends at Rock House.
She would be glad to have her away when she left to meet her friend that night.
She would not even need to sneak! She would just tell the housekeeper she was taking something to Miss Darcy and would be back later and not wait up.
In her experience, servants ignored what did not concern them.
Unfortunately for Mrs. Young, she really did not know much about servants.
They had few when she was growing up a poor parson’s daughter.
She couldn’t afford any when she was married.
The maid she hired when she was treading the boards was an aspiring actress and was too tired all the time to care about Bernice at all.
Every other servant she only knew in passing, so she did not realize that servants made their extra money by paying attention.
The loyal ones earned extra coin from their masters and mistresses by passing on information about guests or neighbors and staying mum about the family they worked for.
The disloyal ones likely made even more by passing information to anyone who paid for it.
The servants at Seaview Cottage were loyal to their owners, and whomever was currently paying the rent.
Mrs. Young was just another servant as far as they were concerned, and Colonel Fitzwilliam had asked them to keep a close eye on her.
They would confer with the housekeeper at Rock House the next day.