Page 34 of Disciplined by the Duke
“Of course. Anything to get out of houseguest duty.”
Marcus shook his head. His friend meant it. Rothchild would rather face five toughs in a back alley than have his movements watched and proscribed by society.
And he thought Marcus had problems.
They rode their horses out of the village at a trot. For once Marcus wasn’t eager to return home for the chance of a glimpse of his new maid. His insides twisted uneasily. The woman hid much under her mask, but he didn’t think she hid the heart of a traitor.
And yet.
Chapter Eleven
Liz’s knuckles scraped against the rough wooden door, her attempt at a knock barely making a sound through the thick plank. Thinking back to the linen and silk gloves she used to wear, she sighed. The littlest things she no longer took for granted. She had raised her hand to knock harder when a woman’s voice called out behind her.
“Yes, miss? Was there something you needed?” The woman walking up the path was skinny to the point of bones. Greasy hanks of hair framed a haggard face. She was carrying a bucket in front of her, her shoulders rounded from the heavy load. The shawl covering her simple dress slid precariously down one shoulder.
Liz met the woman and reached out a hand to grasp one side of the bucket’s handle. The woman gave her a grateful smile and held the other side as they walked to the door. “Are you Mrs. Blackmun?” The woman nodded her head and led Liz inside the small cottage. “I’m Miss Smith. I work at Hartsworth House.”
Mrs. Blackmun dropped the bucket, some grain spilling to the dirt floor, nearly yanking Liz’s arm from its socket in the process. “Are you a friend of my Bob’s? Have you come with news of him?” The woman’s eyes brightened with hope.
Liz’s heart sank. It seemed they were both to be disappointed when it came to obtaining information in this visit. “No, I’m sorry. Being new to the duke’s service, I only met your nephew once. I’d hoped you might have information as to his whereabouts.”
Mrs. Blackmun’s face crumpled, deep lines creasing the skin around her mouth and eyes. “Oh. When you said . . . I hoped . . .” She shuffled to a wood chair and sank down.
Liz bit her lip. “I’m so sorry to cause you any further pain.” She sat down next to the woman. “So you didn’t hear from Bob before he left? You don’t know where he is?”
Mrs. Blackmun shook her head. “Bob used to come home twice a week for supper and a visit with me and Mr. Blackmun. Such a good boy, he was. Me and the mister never had any children of our own, so when Bob’s parents died, we were glad to take him. A happy child, even with his loss.”
Liz shifted on the hard chair. “Do you know if Bob was attached to anyone in particular? There are some rumors that he might have eloped up to Gretna Green.”
The blacksmith’s wife snorted. “My Bob was a good boy, kind and loving. But he was very shy where girls were concerned. And even if he had found someone and her parents would have objected me and Mr. Blackmun never would have. Bob would have sent us a note, let us know what he was doing. Not run off without a word.” She lifted her head and gave Liz a pleading look. “That boy was always so concerned about me and the mister. When he came for supper, he’d bring along leftovers from the duke’s kitchen and always leave a coin or two of his wages for us. My husband’s back hasn’t been good and he can’t work as much as he’d like, you see.”
“Of course.” Liz leaned forward. “He sounds like a sweet boy. I wish I’d become better acquainted with him.”
Mrs. Blackmun rolled the frayed edge of her shawl. “If you didn’t know my boy well why are you here asking about him?”
She’d thought about what she’d say to that question on the ride over. She wasn’t happy with what she’d come up with, but right now it was all she had. “As I said, I am quite new to the duke’s service. One always hears stories of, um, maids going missing, or family ghosts who threaten the servants.” She flushed at the drivel spewing from her mouth. It had sounded better in her head. After all these months working for Westmore, she really should be better at deception. “And as I’m all alone with no family nearby I guess I was hoping that you would say that Bob had merely moved to London and that would be one less story to be scared by.” She swallowed hard. “I know you must think I’m awfully silly fretting about such things, especially with you so worried about your nephew, but I find being in a new position so unsettling that it’s difficult to sleep at night.”
Mrs. Blackmun leaned back in her chair, away from her, Liz noted. “Well, I don’t know about ghost stories and the like, but Bob was never anything but happy at Hartsworth. He got along with everyone, never had any problems.”
“Of course.” Liz smoothed her hands down her skirts, and stood. She’d expected the visit to be unfruitful, but the disappointment still stung.
“No problems except that one time with the groom.”
Liz sat back down. “With Mr. Pike or another groom?”
“Pike, that was the name.” Mrs. Blackmun’s mouth flattened into a line. “My Bob saw him talking with another man late one night and asked Mr. Pike who that other man was. He didn’t recognize him as belonging to the duke’s service. Bob was a curious boy, didn’t mean no harm by his question.”
Light-headed, Liz sucked in a deep breath. “Of course.”
“Well, that Mr. Pike nearly snapped my boy’s head off, to hear him tell the story. Told him if he didn’t mind his own business he’d make sure Bob got the sack. When Bob told us the story, he was laughing about it, but I’ll tell you, that man had no call to speak to my boy like that, not for asking a question.”
Liz cleared her throat. “Did he have any further problems with Mr. Pike?”
“No, Bob tried to steer clear of the groom after that as much as possible.”
Which probably wasn’t possible all the time. Liz didn’t know how often Mr. Pike held clandestine meetings with Westmore’s men, but if a curious boy such as Bob came across another one what would Pike have done?
A sick feeling gathered in her stomach. She’d hoped she’d find Bob, perhaps a bit bruised and angry, and with a story to tell. Something she could use as leverage against Pike and, ultimately, against Westmore.
