Chapter 19 #2
Finally, the patron accepted a key from the housekeeper.
She directed him up the stairs, motioning for him to follow.
After they reached the top, I climbed the stairs, intending to catch her before she returned to the ground floor and began working again.
I waited at the head of the long corridor, watching her lead the man to the far end.
He went into his room, and when she turned around, her eyes settled on me.
Mrs. Galvin approached, a bemused tilt to her brows. She stopped in front of me. “Can I help ye, sir?”
“Forgive me for the imposition, but I wished to have a private word with you. Is there somewhere we can speak where we shall not be overheard?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Speak about what?”
I could not blame her for not trusting me.
Yes, we had interacted several times over the past few days, but I was still a stranger to her.
“It is of great importance, ma’am. I swear I have no ill intentions.
Should you find my behavior lacking, you may go directly to Viscount Paxton with your complaints.
I am staying as a guest in his home, and the matter which I would like to discuss with you involves him. ”
This time, her brows rose with intrigue. “If ye be a guest of the viscount’s, then I suppose it’d be fine. He’s a good man, Lord Paxton.”
I nodded my agreement. “He is.”
“Alright, then. Follow me.” She led me back downstairs and into a private parlor. Once inside, she closed the door and spun around to face me. “Make it quick, then. Just because I agreed to speak with ye, don’t mean I have all day.”
My lips twitched. “Very well. I was hoping you might have information about the man who recently purchased Willowbrook Manor.”
“Willowbrook?” She eyed me warily. “I thought ye said this be about Viscount Paxton.”
“He and I are working together. We believe the man who purchased the estate is…well, he is dishonest and possibly engaging in criminal behavior.”
Possibly? Hardly. I had seen his crimes with my own eyes, but still, caution was a necessity until I felt certain Mrs. Galvin could be trusted.
The woman shifted on her feet and glanced about us as if she feared another person might appear at any moment. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I don’t know much about him, but something do not be right about that man.”
“You’ve met him, then?”
“Aye, he’s been here a few times, but not since he purchased the manor. Always got a bad feelin’ about him. Real snake-like, his behavior. An’ I’ve heard rumors…”
My chest constricted. “What sort of rumors?”
She sucked in her lips. “I fear speaking too much.”
“Nothing you say will ever reach his ears,” I assured. “He will never learn where I gained my information. That I promise.”
Mrs. Galvin looked me over, seemingly still uncertain. It took all of my willpower to remain silent, but it would do no good to press her. She might retreat more if I became too pushy. Sharing information needed to be her choice.
She sighed heavily, shaking her head. “Alright. Mind you, I can’t guarantee the information holds any truth to it.”
I nodded, and she continued. “One of the lads who helps out with odd jobs on occasion mentioned doing some work at the manor. Said the man who owned it could become rather vicious. Not toward himself, but toward the dark-skinned working there.”
“The dark-skinned—did he mention any more about them?”
Her gaze held mine for a long moment. “He did not, but I would wager they have something to do with the criminal activity you speak of. It’s illegal, the kind of work they are likely doin’.”
“Yes. Lord Paxton and I are determined to put an end to it, but we need evidence. Slavery is illegal, but it is often described as an apprenticeship to avoid punishment by the law, while those forced into servitude lie about the true nature of their work due to threats on their lives. In order to guarantee the magistrate will act, I need solid evidence. Would this lad you mentioned be willing to speak with me?”
Mrs. Galvin pursed her lips. “Perhaps for a price, he could be persuaded. His family is in a rough way, you see. Lost the father some months ago. Too many mouths to feed. Now the mother has taken ill herself. Were you to offer Lucas compensation, he would not likely refuse.”
The sky had grown overcast by the time I left the inn. Mrs. Galvin had provided me with Lucas Pomfrey’s direction, and I decided to visit him later that evening, as he was currently working at Willowbrook.
I rode Lightning at a sedate pace back to Kenwick, enjoying the solitude of the countryside.
Hope sprouted in my chest the more I pondered my conversation with Mrs. Galvin.
If young Lucas could be persuaded to help, I would have eyes inside the manor.
Such a close watch on Hollinsby would be invaluable.
It wasn’t the tangible evidence I needed, but it gave me somewhere to start.
Every eyewitness account was yet more that Hollinsby would be required to deny.
And it was far more difficult to lie one’s way out of trouble with multiple testimonies attesting to fault.
A sharp scream rent the air, and Lightning whinnied beneath me. I pulled back on Lightning's reins to steady him, speaking in a soothing tone. The sound had come from the direction of the ruins, and my pulse immediately quickened its tempo.
Annette.
Without another moment’s consideration, I veered from the road, taking a lesser-maintained trail onto the Kenwick estate.
Lightning’s hooves pounded against the ground, the sound echoing in my ears in time with my racing heart.
Annette spent a great deal of time at the ruins, and while much of those grounds had seemed safe, there were places where the crumbling walls left one to wonder at the structure’s stability.
I rounded a bend, nearing the fork in the trail that led to the ruins, and my gaze landed on two figures in the center of the path.
I recognized Annette’s fiery hair, even though she faced away from me and was shielded partially from view, but I had never seen the brown-haired man holding her against him.
Jealousy pulsed through me until I realized that Annette struggled in his grasp, prying at the hand fastened around her middle and the one covering her mouth.
With my hard yank on the reins, Lightning slowed, and I dismounted before the stallion had fully stopped.
My feet hit the ground, and I ran forward.
Still blind to my presence, the man yelped when I grabbed his great coat and turned him to face me.
His dark eyes met mine, wide and glossy, and the scent of alcohol wafted from him in dense waves.
“Who are you?” he sputtered.
“Release her,” I demanded, ignoring his question.
The man scoffed. “You’ve no authority to order—”
I yanked on his coat, drawing him nearer, my fist pressing against his throat. “I said, release her.”
The man cowered at my dark tone, his hands immediately loosening their hold. Annette stumbled away from us, a quiet sob escaping her lips. My heart clenched. As much as I wished to go to her, this blackguard needed to be dealt with first.
Grabbing his arm and maintaining my grip on his coat, I dragged him to the edge of the path and slammed him against the nearest tree. He stiffened, and fear lit his eyes. His words tumbled out, slurred and pleading. “I was only having a bit of fun. I meant no harm.”
“Only the worst sort of scum would ever classify his unwanted attention on a lady as fun. So, allow me to provide you with some well-needed clarity. If you ever lay a hand on her again, I swear I’ll call you out myself. Rest assured, I am quite good with a pistol.”
The man swallowed hard. “Have you an agreement with her, then?”
I glanced over my shoulder, hesitant to assert any right to defend Annette’s honor when we did not, in fact, have any sort of understanding between us. Regardless of my good intentions, defending her in such a manner—making threats to call the satyr out—could certainly stir rumors.
But Annette was no longer on the path, and a quick survey of our surroundings proved she had vanished.
I returned my attention to the man. “I have no understanding with her at present but hope to shortly; however, this much I will promise you: understanding or no, I will not hesitate to defend her honor, nor would her brothers, were they to discover your despicable behavior. For your own sake, stay away from her. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” he spat.
I released him with one final shove. He stumbled back against the tree, bracing his fall by leaning heavily onto the trunk.
He staggered away from me, his balance impaired due to his overindulgence, and proceeded past the path leading to the ruins.
He glanced over his shoulder several times to ensure I was not following him.
Annette.
My gaze searched the surrounding woodland. I hadn’t expected to see her, but my heart lurched nonetheless. Desperation to ensure she had not been harmed filled me, and I quickly rushed to where Lightning stood on the path and mounted.
She could have gone back to Kenwick. Indeed, most women would after having experienced such an ordeal. But Annette was not like most ladies, and instinct prodded me forward.
Prodded me toward the crumbling ruins.