Chapter Twenty-four
“Are you the stable boy, Ned?” asked Humber as he patiently waited in the stable-yard of Mason House.
“Um, no, not really, my lord. I sometimes help out… “
“Oh?” Humber prompted gently.
“I sleep in the stables and do odd jobs… whatever needs doing. The Masons are kind, you know, they let me…” Ned’s voice petered away as he stroked Mistral’s nose, the mare burrowing her head further into his chest.
Westland and Masie had already gone inside, but Humber was lingering, waiting for the stable master to make his appearance so he could ensure his lovelies would be cooled sufficiently. “You have a way with them,” he said kindly, watching the boy with interest.
Ned’s cheeks coloured. “I… I don’t know about that, milord,” he stammered. “I mighty like ’em. Such gentle creatures. What’s not to like?”
Humber regarded the young boy further. No more than nine or ten, he had a mop of chestnut hair and a splattering of freckles across his nose.
Though more critical to Humber’s interest was the yellowing bruise around his left eye socket and the soreness along his left ribs, which had him flinching when Mistral nudged him.
His trousers were a little too short, as were the sleeves on his coat that hung shapelessly from his narrow shoulders.
“Where are your family?” Humber asked a little more abruptly than he intended.
Ned’s eyes dropped to his tatty boots, yet he didn’t take his calming hands from Mistral’s flank. “Dead, Sir.”
“Mm. And why are you not a stable boy here?” Humber pushed.
“They have a lad, Sir.”
Turning at the sound of hurrying footsteps, and an apologetic, “Forgive me, my lord, I was just…” Humber boomed affably back at the approaching man.
“Ah, Jarvis, is it? Yes, yes, good man, can you see that Mistral and Force Ten are cooled properly? We had rather a run in the park, did we not, Ned?”
The stable master’s eyes instantly shot to Ned, and seeing the pride shining on the boy’s face, gave him a quick wink. “Go on then, Ned lad, go and help our Jimmy,” then, turning to Humber, he nodded respectfully. “We’ll take right good care of them, milord.”
Watching the exchange, he turned to Jarvis as Ned scurried away. “Tell me about the boy, Ned,” he asked conversationally. “He seems to have a way with the horses.”
Jarvis smiled, glancing fondly at Ned. “He does that, milord. He has a gentleness about him, and horses like that. He’s a good lad.”
No longer looking quite so affable, Humber leaned a little closer. “And the bruises?”
Taking a step back, Jarvis raised his hands and shook his head, “Oh no, milord… I can tell you now, them not be my doing.”
“Then who’s?”
“That I can’t say,” Jarvis replied. “He came back from an errand a few weeks back, all bashed up, but he refuses to speak of it. We were all concerned, but he won’t tell.” He glanced away for a moment. “He’s been worse for wear a few times now. Seems to be running from something, or someone.”
“And you have no idea who?” Humber pressed.
Jarvis shook his head. “No, milord, if I did, he’d be feeling me own fists.”
Nodding his understanding, Humber reached into his coat pocket and produced a calling card and handed it over.
“Good man. Now any more trouble, you let me know, immediately.” His voice softened almost to a purr.
“If there is one thing I can’t abide, it’s a bully, and I just happen to have a friend who has a particular talent for finding them. ”
* * *
Ten minutes later, seated in the morning room of Mason House, Humber was either unaware, or entirely unconcerned, that his presence had left the little party in front of him quite mesmerised.
Leaning closer to Westland, he said, rather too loudly, “Were you and Miss Mason not going to take a turn around the gardens? I hear Lady Mason has had them recently redesigned, and it is such a delightful day to take in the air.”
Barely disguising his amusement at the scathing look he received from his friend, he smoothly deflected by bestowing a radiant smile around the room.
“Now, shall it be Tuppence here,” stroking the silky pup curled upon his knee, who had squirmed and wriggled and covered his face in adoring kisses before settling, “or my new friend, Miss Masie, who will show me to Lord Mason’s study?
I have a small matter I wish to discuss, and must beg forgiveness if I slip away for a few minutes. ”
“Of course. Oh yes. Indeed,” came the chorus of soft feminine tones, intermingled with the rather more boisterous voice of Masie, who eagerly sprang forward, grabbed his hand and tugged him from his chair. “I’ll show you. Let me! Let me!”
Even Lady Mason, not commonly known to reprimand her children for a small breach of decorum, gasped at such behaviour. “Masie! Control yourself, child. Whatever will Lord Humber think?”
Sebastian Humber, already quite enchanted by the devilishly impish child, gave the matriarch a dazzling smile. “I think, Lady Mason, it is far too late for good manners, as Masie and I are already firm friends.”
“You are kindness itself, Lord Humber.”
“Ah,” he laughed, “only to those who show kindness to others, Lady Mason. And tell me… who has been kinder to Mrs Higgle-Piggle, to Ferdi, and this little mischief-maker Tuppence? Hmm?” He tilted his head in mock thought.
“Do you suppose a slice of cake might be a fitting reward for such a caring soul? After, of course, she has guided me safely to Lord Mason’s study without any misadventure. ”
The look of mischief upon the most handsome face she had ever cast her eyes upon set Lady Mason fluttering her fan, and with a girlish giggle, she declared, “Well, I’m sure a small slice wouldn’t do any harm.”