Page 21 of A Rogue to Forget

At the mention of the name, Beans looked around. “Go away. Yer fancy clothes will not stop me from punching you.”

The man seemed to lose some bravado when Henry walked closer and squared his shoulders. He was almost a foot taller than when the man had chased him. “Who hired you to follow Hannah Kerr? That is all I want to know.”

The man let out a dry bark of laughter. “You and everyone else. If I talk, I will ruin my reputation.”

“I think you will give me a hint for coin.” Henry pulled notes from his pocket and glanced down as if noticing them for the first time. “Who?”

Beans looked around, scanning the area. “You do not know him. Brown. Jules Brown.” Beans snatched the money and hurried away. Apparently, this Jules Brown did not pay much.

With his newly acquired information, Henry wasted no time. He went to the one place where he could find anyone. One of the few places in Glasgow where information about who was who flowed freely.

The women of his mother’s quilting group looked up and beamed at his entrance. Lady Campbell, not so much. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What brings you, son?”

After greeting the five women in the room, he went to his mother and kissed her temple. “I am searching for Father, but upon seeing you and your friends, I wished to greet everyone.”

“How polite,” his mother replied dryly. “I wished to speak to you this morning after breakfast, but you went out.”

Henry nodded. “I had a business meeting with Miles. After I rode past the market.” He produced a beautifully embroidered handkerchief. “I got this for you.”

“Thank you.” His mother, who loved getting gifts, smiled.

“Mother, have you heard of someone named Jules Brown? Are there any people that we know with that last name?”

His mother shook her head. “Not that I can recall.”

“I knew someone named Brown,” one of the women said, Lady Wilshire, one of the town’s biggest gossips. “A rather interesting man,” she began, getting everyone’s attention. “You must remember him, ladies. He was the one who owned the building before the Kerrs did. The one that burned.”

Henry’s gut clenched. “Where is he now?”

Mrs. Wilshire waved her hand dismissively. “He died not long ago. I believe from illness.”

Another woman nodded enthusiastically. “That’s right, I remember now. I believe his name was Horace Brown. He was well known for being eccentric.”

“I had no desire to get to know that man, always made me uncomfortable,” Lady Wilshire stated with a shudder.

The women began to discuss the different illnesses that could claim a man and Henry made his way back to the door. His mother’s questioning gaze met his just as he walked out.

Everything was falling into place, and yet so many questions remained. The following day, he would visit Hannah. Hopefully she gathered information from her mother that would help them figure out what threatened her.

*

His father finallyappeared at dinner, looking well-rested. He met Henry’s gaze. “Did you meet with the actuary today?”

“Yes Father, I did. All is in order. He left some documents for you to sign,” Henry replied.

“It is good to see you two working together,” his mother added. “I do have a question for you, dear.” She looked to Henry. “Why were you asking about a man called Jules Brown?”

At the mention of the name, his father straightened. “I recall that name. Not sure from where.”

It was best to tell them, despite knowing they, especially his mother, would object to him being so focused on a situation that had nothing to do with the family.

“The man who approached Hannah Kerr’s housekeeper is a street runner called Beans. I saw him today and questioned him. With reluctance, he admitted to being hired by a man called Jules Brown.”

At the information, his father stopped eating and leaned forward, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Is that so. Jules, is he related to Horace Brown?”

“I do not know.” Henry continued doing his best to ignore his mother’s irritated expression. “However, this Horace Brown owned the building before John Kerr acquired it.”

He almost smiled when his father rubbed his hands together with glee. “It must all be connected. The burning of the building, the money box and the murder.”