Page 16 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)
“Someone was sneaking around Wyndmere Hall earlier this morning,” Garahan said. “Would ye know anything about that?”
She let go of Flaherty’s arm and spat out, “I wasn’t there, so how would I know?”
“We apprehended a man by the name of Greene,” Garahan informed her.
Flaherty caught the flicker of fear in Susana’s eyes. He wanted to press the point, but bloody hell, he’d given his word.
“As he claimed to work here as a stable hand,” Garahan said, “we thought ye might have overheard a conversation, mayhap had one with the man.”
She lifted her chin, anger blazing in her eyes.
“I have little time to fraternize with those who work in the stables.” The way she wrinkled her nose, as if she’d caught the scent of something unpleasant, rankled.
Flaherty had opened his mouth to speak when he noticed Garahan’s raised brow. He pressed his lips together.
“There is another matter that we need to get to the bottom of. Flaherty gave Scruggs coin enough for Mrs. Johnson and her daughter to enjoy a meal and pot of tea the other day. They waited nearly an hour, but were never served.”
“We have been inundated with guests lately, especially in the mornings—if we missed serving someone, they should have spoken up.”
Flaherty wanted to throttle the woman.
She sniffed. “If that is all you wished to ask, I am needed elsewhere.”
When she tried to step around them, Garahan sighed. “Well then, ’tis clear that ye don’t appear to be ready to apologize, nor return the coin Flaherty gave to Scruggs in good faith. ’Tis fine if ye don’t wish to continue our conversation.”
That was Flaherty’s cue. “Our next stop is to speak to the constable about what occurred at here at your inn—and at Wyndmere Hall. Greene was quite willing to speak with us.”
She froze in place. Flaherty would later swear that he could hear her quietly cursing them.
“As I said, we have been unusually busy, and one of the serving girls may not have noticed the woman waiting to be served. As to any of the men working in the stables, Scruggs handles that area for us. Though there have been times when my brother has had to step in to settle disputes or issues.”
“Thank ye for yer time,” Garahan said, pleasantly enough, though Flaherty caught the anger simmering in his cousin’s dark eyes.
“We’ll be certain to give the constable yer regards,” Flaherty added, before motioning with his hand to have her precede them.
She stomped down the hallway toward the kitchen. When she was far enough away that Flaherty was certain she could not hear them, he snorted. “Did ye see her face? If she had a blade, she’d have used it on ye.”
“Me?” Garahan shoved Flaherty out of the way with his shoulder. “She’d be skewering yerself.”
“We could have easily disarmed her. We’d be taking her to the constable right now, instead of leaving without the proof we need.”
“We aren’t through here yet,” Garahan said. “She did suggest we speak to her brother. Harkness is a man of business. He won’t want anything to discourage customers from coming to his inn.”
Flaherty grinned, understand what Garahan wanted to do. “Well now, didn’t I hear someone passing through the village the other day commenting on the atmosphere in the taproom?”
Garahan shook his head. “I may have forgotten.” They walked back to the main part of the inn where Harkness was speaking to three men. Raising his voice to be heard over the din of a number of conversations, Garahan asked, “Was it the food?”
“Nay,” Flaherty answered, keeping a straight face. “’Twas the talk inside the taproom, remember?”
“Ah, now I recall,” Garahan said as they drew closer to the innkeeper, who’d stopped talking. The group of men were unabashedly listening to Flaherty and Garahan. Just as they’d hoped. “Rumors—nasty at that. Such that should never be repeated where little ones could hear.”
Harkness greeted them, “Garahan, Flaherty. What’s this about rumors?” His tone just shy of demanding.
“Disturbing talk that’s reached Her Grace,” Garahan replied.
Flaherty picked up the conversational thread. “Her Grace is very careful that she does not to expose the twins to conversations that would be unsettling.”
“Aye.” Garahan nodded. “Especially when the talk involves a young widow and her child a few years older than Her Grace’s.”
At that moment, Susana’s loud, suggestive laughter erupted from the taproom, and the men turned their attention toward whatever was happening.
Flaherty did not waste the moment. “I’m afraid I’ll have to be telling His Grace that the inn isn’t a place where families can bring their little ones any longer. ”
“Please, wait a moment,” Harkness said. “Let me handle this.”
The duke’s men shared a look and agreed. They watched the innkeeper stalk into the main room of the inn. A few moments later, they could hear a rumble of conversation, but not the words.
“Does this often occur at the inn?” one of the trio who’d been talking to Harkness asked.
Flaherty would not be caught dead in a waistcoat in that shade of yellow. Not wishing to cause the inn to lose business—just to make the innkeeper aware that his sister was causing problems—he replied, “It depends.”
The tallest of the trio shook his head. “There are times in a crowded room when one has to pitch their voice above the others to be heard.”
The roundest of the group frowned. “One should always be cautious about the topics they discuss in public.”
“His Grace insists upon it,” Garahan remarked.
The man in the garish waistcoat stared at their uniforms, lingering for a moment on their identical emblems. “You work for the Duke of Wyndmere.”
“Aye. Name’s Garahan. Flaherty and I are part of the duke’s guard.”
Before the group could continue asking questions, the innkeeper rejoined them.
Susana stomped toward the kitchen. “My sister has high spirits. Sometimes she forgets we run a family establishment.” He cleared his throat.
“I have reminded her of that.” When no one spoke, Harkness murmured, “It won’t happen again. ”
Garahan inclined his head. “Either meself or Flaherty will be stopping in again. If we see that the atmosphere has changed, then we will hold off bringing a complaint to His Grace.”
Harkness held out his hand to Garahan. “Thank you.”
Flaherty watched the exchange, adding, “We have eyes and ears in and around the village.”
“I understand,” Harkness replied. “Thank you.”
Before the man could draw them into further conversation, Garahan motioned to Flaherty, who swept the room with his gaze once more. Garahan did the same as they exited the building. Scruggs was waiting for them with their geldings.
A few moments later, they were headed to the constable to apprise him of the situation. It was unfortunate that they did not have enough information…yet.