Page 18 of The Swan Detective (The Swan Syndicate #2)

That morning, Beckworth had kissed Stella, who’d only stirred long enough to roll over, and grabbed a quick breakfast in the kitchen with Eleanor.

She confirmed she would attend Mary’s luncheon with Stella, which would keep them both busy for the day.

He was due at the docks by midday to run surveillance with Jamie, which gave him time to check in with the crews regarding the theft.

After breakfast, he saddled his horse and rode to Chester’s.

The air was crisp, but the sun was out, and he felt a deep sense of homecoming as he entered the Whitechapel district.

The housing was shabby, the clothing threadbare, and many times, food was hard to come by.

Each time he returned to the East End, he understood Bart’s rage at the disparity between the rich and the poor.

Guilt had once ridden Beckworth as he clawed his way into the aristocracy.

With his rise into the nobleman class, he found a way to pay respect to his mother by donating a portion of his wealth to charity.

He also contributed money to the crews. His way of upsetting the natural order of London society.

He understood he was playing both sides, but walking away from everything he’d built to live in the East End would have diminished his own dreams. Yet, he would never turn his back on those who gave him his sense of purpose, so he did what he could.

Smoke drifted above the narrow house where Chester and Katherine lived. Chester was an early riser, even though most nights his crew ran one or two jobs. He compensated with naps in the afternoon. Another reason why it was always best to catch Chester early in the day.

He tied his horse to a post and knocked on the door.

When Katherine opened it and found him on her doorstep, her smile lit up an already bright morning. She pulled him in and gave him a tight hug before stepping back to give him a once-over.

“Well, you don’t look like the lord of a manor.” She grabbed his chin and turned his head to the left and then right. “But you’re still the handsome charmer. Come in. You’re just in time for breakfast.”

Beckworth chuckled as he stared down at his attire—the plain pants, shirt, and jacket of a commoner. “I’m on assignment later today, and Eleanor has already fed me.”

“An assignment? Ah, yes. Chester said something about watching a ship down at the docks. Something about smugglers, isn’t it?”

He should have known word would have spread quickly. “Did Barrington say something?”

“It was Fitz.” Chester walked in, and the two men shook hands. “Good to see you. We weren’t sure if you’d make it to London this time.”

Beckworth grinned. “This trip was all about London. We’ll be here for a few weeks.”

Chester glanced behind him. “Where’s Stella?”

“You know this hour is too early for her, but I’ll bring her around once we’re more settled. She’s still getting acquainted with the balls and parties.”

Chester gave him a long, assessing look. They’d known each other for decades, and he would correctly assume this wasn’t a visit to catch up on old times.

They sat at the kitchen table, and while Katherine plied Beckworth with coffee and sweet rolls, Chester ate his breakfast. They spoke of mutual friends and the unfortunate passing of one of the old timers from consumption.

Once the plates were cleared, Katherine refilled the coffee before taking a seat.

Chester never kept anything from Katherine, something Beckworth tried not to think about, considering his current job with Hensley.

Besides, Katherine had worked in the crews and, in a way, still did by keeping an open ear to the happenings in the neighborhood.

“Will you be meeting with the other crews?” Chester asked as he filled a pipe. “I hear Barrington was around yesterday.”

“He’ll be back tomorrow to visit with the rest of the crews. I have some time this morning to visit with the others before I head to the docks.”

“I heard there was some trouble at the duke’s ball last night.” Chester puffed his pipe, and soft swirls of aromatic smoke filled the room.

“Someone took a necklace right off Dame Ellingsworth’s neck.” Beckworth focused on his coffee rather than look at Chester.

“In the middle of the ball?” Katherine asked as she glanced at her husband. “That’s rather bold, even for the crews.”

Chester didn’t say anything as he watched Beckworth. He was aware of Beckworth’s long friendship with the dowager, understanding he had friends in many places. Chester puffed a couple more times as he considered the information, then a slow smile appeared.

“I heard someone chased the thief and almost caught them.”

Beckworth sighed, not surprised by the amount of information Chester had gained from the night before. “Stella chased the man through the manor and out to the back gardens. Nicked him before he got away.”

“She cut him?” Katherine didn’t bother to hide her admiration.

“With her own dagger.” Beckworth cringed as the words came out.

Chester threw his head back with a loud guffaw. He laughed so hard, he began to choke. Beckworth thought he’d have to thump the man on his back before Chester caught his breath. The cackles continued with Katherine joining in, and all Beckworth could do was smile and shake his head.

While he’d been irritated to discover Stella had chased the man down, he’d also been proud of her.

And there he was again, walking the line between ensuring the aristocracy accepted her as an equal and cheering her tenacity for what she believed in.

She’d gone after the thief because it was Elizabeth’s necklace, but at the same time, he found it difficult to approve of her actions.

He snorted as the couple attempted to curtail their joviality. It didn’t matter what he thought. He could no more control Stella’s actions than he could calm a storm at sea. The most he could do was softly influence her to a different way of thinking or, when necessary, barter.

“If Katherine hadn’t already snared my heart,” Chester mused, “I’d be chasing after that woman.”

Katherine gave his arm a nudge. “I think she’s more than either of you can handle. I knew she had gumption the first time we met.” She turned on Beckworth and shook a finger at him. “You mind how you treat that woman.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that, dear heart. He knows what he has. Besides, he’s finally opened his heart to someone, and he couldn’t have picked a better match.”

Beckworth squirmed. He should have known they’d be on Stella’s side, but then he grinned when he agreed that what Chester said was true. He’d found a woman who understood his two natures and accepted them without question or judgment. How had he gotten so lucky?

“If you’ve had enough fun at my expense,” Beckworth steered the conversation back on topic. “I’m curious if any of the crews might have done this. I’m willing to exchange good coin to get that necklace back.”

Chester’s brows rose, and his eyes narrowed. “Do you think a crew would be daft enough to do something like that? It’s too risky and puts the entire crew in jeopardy if anyone were caught. You should know better.”

Beckworth lifted his hands in supplication. “Of course. But I had to ask. I’m becoming more out of touch with the crews.” He ran a hand through his hair, and Katherine placed a hand on his arm.

“We understand. And we don’t take offense.” She glared at her husband. “We’d know if it was any of the crews. And this was the second time, right?”

Beckworth sighed. “I had a feeling you would have heard about it.” He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with showing his emotions, even with friends.

“I’d been quite upset, worried she’d been hurt.

The thief gave her a solid hit to the head, and I raged that I’d track the thief down.

I might have said something about chasing down whatever crew had been responsible.

” He glanced sheepishly at the two of them.

“Then Stella said something that surprised me, and it still sounds unbelievable. When I mentioned a crew, she said it wasn’t crew. She swears the man was a sailor.”

Chester looked to Katherine, but she shook her head.

“We haven’t heard anything about a sailor.

Someone like that would be better suited for working the docks.

My guess is that it’s a single man, or at most, one or two others.

” He covered the pipe to smother the smoke then laid it gently on the table.

“I doubt the duke’s ball was the last one. ”

“I agree.” Beckworth finished his cup and put a hand over it when Katherine tried to refill it. He stood. “I’ll see myself out.”

Chester pointed to the pot of coffee, and Katherine refilled his cup. “If we hear anything, we’ll pass it along.”

“We should have a party,” Katherine said. “How about tomorrow night? Or do you have one of your fancy balls?” She said it with a bit of sass and a wink.

“I think we have the evening free. I can bring Eleanor and Libby along.”

“And don’t forget Barrington. It wouldn’t be the same without him.”

Beckworth was almost out the door when Chester called out, “I wouldn’t worry about the thief. Stella will catch him.” Then laughter erupted, and Beckworth grimaced at the thought, but he was smiling as he mounted his horse.

After meeting with four other crews, all with the same response to the thefts as Chester’s, he made his way to the docks, putting the matter aside while turning his attention to Hensley’s assignment.

They’d been monitoring the docks for two days with no sign of McDuff’s accomplices.

How long would they stay on the ship? According to Lando and Jamie, most of the crew had already left the ship, and they’d furled the sails.

They appeared to be in port for a while.

When he slipped through the small gap that opened up to an area behind a stack of crates, he was surprised to find Fitz.