Page 94 of A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke

There was little noise as the doors of the warehouse slid open and dockworkers poured out and began to retrieve the barrels of rum that were being lowered on pallets by the sailors onboard the ship.

Time was of the essence as it would soon be light, and the authorities would be able to see the activity and would come to investigate at this supposedly unused and decommissioned warehouse.

Inside the warehouse, under minimal illumination, the barrels were stacked and labeled as flour, which was most strange as flour was usually stored in sacks.

Outside, men at either corner of the warehouse were keeping watch, and at one point as a wagon passed nearby, one of the men waved a lantern and all work ceased until the wagon had disappeared. Then the work started up again.

By the time the first faintest hint of dawn appeared, the frantic work had finished. The doors of the warehouse were closed and locked. The ship was freed from its moorings and it slipped silently away on the change of the tide.

All light was extinguished, the workers disappeared, and only one man was left to check the security of the doors, walk the perimeter of the warehouse, and then slip away to an inn several blocks down the road.

Chapter 31

Word had come from Pemberton that young Master Robert was expected the next morning at ten o’clock for his first day of work as a jockey in training.

The household was excited. Even though the baking began at four o’clock this morning, the family took a break at eight-thirty to give a sendoff to Robert on his first day at his new job. Papa was to drive Robert to Pemberton in the borrowed neighbor’s wagon. Robert had been working all morning with Sally to train her as best he could on what his job had been.

Only Claudia stayed in the shop to help customers as the rest of the family piled outside to bid Robert good luck on his first day.

“I am only going to work for the day. I will be back this evening. I am not traveling around the world,” Robert said, as his mother squeezed him as though she was losing him forever.

Jenny handed him a cloth bag. “Here, I made you some lunch. No telling if they are planning to feed you or not.”

Robert seemed to be embarrassed by the fuss, and he hopped up on the wagon seat to get away from all of their attention, even though he secretly loved it.

“Papa, will you be picking me up this evening?” he asked his father.

“Aye, I shall, but I am going to see what I can do about finding you a horse. I cannot be driving you to and fro each day, lad.”

“But I can walk,” Robert insisted.

Papa shook his head. “Not practical. Winter is a comin’ on and no tellin’ what the weather will be. Best to get you settled with your own nag.”

“But where will we keep it?” he asked.

“I can make arrangements to board him with neighbor.”

“I will pay you back from my wages,” Robert insisted, feeling like a real adult for the first time.

“Up…” Papa said as he flicked the reins and the wagon started up, pulled away, and out of the village.

* * *

Thomas and Grandmamma were in the breakfast room when Prunella and Cordelia appeared dressed in casual dresses, befitting a stay in the country.

“Good morning, Miss Prunella… Miss Cordelia. I hope you spent your first night at Pemberton in comfortable repose,” Thomas said. “It looks to be a fine morning for walking or riding. Perhaps I can interest either or both of you in some morning exercise?”

Cordelia smiled brightly. “I should like that. And can I see the horses as well? Maybe I could ride one.”

“Not one of the thoroughbreds, but I have the perfect small horse that would suit you perfectly.”

“Very well,” she said and turned to Willoughby who was serving her tea. “Bacon, sausage, tomato, egg, and toast please.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“And you, Prunella? What strikes your fancy this morning?” he asked, turning to her as she spread her napkin across her lap.

“I shall have the same. Thank you, Willoughby.”