namely Hersey, is after the volume do you have a suggestion on how to protect the book?” Samuel asked.
“Father, I might be able to answer part of your question,” Brittany announced, stepping around Samuel, causing him to start.
“Yes?”
“Lord Samuel and I noticed something unusual when reviewing the book. Unlike other copies this one contains author notes, or so we believe, in the margin for supposed later printings.”
“And so far, from the few pages we’ve seen neither of us are able to make any sense out of the passages,” Samuel added, hoping neither would catch him in the lie as he already suspected what some meant.
“Shall we join the countess? We can discuss what direction we next undertake?” Eli suggested.
Samuel turned, offered his arm to Brittany and escorted her back to the divan where her mother waited patiently. Giving her a relaxed smile he took a seat across the table from the ladies. He started to bring up the topic of the next day only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Enter,” the earl called out.
He watched as John led Quinn into the room, happy to see the man had at least put on a clean shirt before coming over. Of all the men who’d served with him in the Guards, this individual had frequently been dressed down or put on bread and water as his uniform had frequently been a mess. Later, Samuel learned the reason for Quinn’s untidiness. When off duty Quinn would spend time in the stables. What had made the man’s reason more interesting, his gentle way with Samuel’s stallion. To that end Samuel made him his groom.
His decision turned out to be excellent as both Quinn and Tempest were not only giants but calm, except when pushed into doing something neither wanted. Hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Quinn had the ability to get information from someone who wouldn’t give it up, usually without laying a hand on the person.
“Well, what were you able to learn from the prisoner? And Quinn, be respectful of the ladies sensitivities,” Samuel ordered.
“Certainly, m’ lord. The man told me he’d been ordered to break into here, attempt to steal a book, and that it would most likely be on a table by itself. Then, once the book was in hand, deliver it to the Drunken Sailor, which is near The Pool. There he’d be given the other half of his payment.”
“Did he tell you which book?” Brittany asked.
“I’m sorry, but he didn’t.”
Samuel realized immediately this could be a significant detail. He glanced from Quinn to Eli, who then nodded to continue the interrogation of his man.
“Were you able to get a description of the person who hired the thief?”
“Tall, well turned out such as you, m’ lord, and the earl. He also spoke as one educated so I’d guess he’s one of the ton . I’m sorry but that’s all the man was able to tell me. Oh, and I can assure you I didn’t touch him at all. M’ lord, he’s as healthy now as when caught and John can attest to that fact,” Quinn said with a toothy grin then bowed.
What Samuel found interesting about this report as with others from the past, there wasn’t any expression on Quinn’s face or in his voice. This had been and continued to be an amazing attribute about the man. People Quinn talked to were frightened of him and would cower, spilling any and all information.
“Thank you,” Samuel told him with a dismissing nod then glanced to Eli.
“John send for Bow Street and have the captive removed. Let them deal with him.”
“Yes, m’ lord,” the butler said, then ushered Quinn from the room.
With the parlor cleared of staff Samuel looked to the ladies and Eli, seeing the narrowing of their expressions. They were as puzzled as Samuel. With this vague information he didn’t know how to proceed in finding the person or persons responsible for the attempted theft.
The countess gave him a faint smile then a subtle glance to her husband. Samuel was happy to see a change in the earl’s
“Father, I might be able to answer part of your question,” Brittany announced, stepping around Samuel, causing him to start.
“Yes?”
“Lord Samuel and I noticed something unusual when reviewing the book. Unlike other copies this one contains author notes, or so we believe, in the margin for supposed later printings.”
“And so far, from the few pages we’ve seen neither of us are able to make any sense out of the passages,” Samuel added, hoping neither would catch him in the lie as he already suspected what some meant.
“Shall we join the countess? We can discuss what direction we next undertake?” Eli suggested.
Samuel turned, offered his arm to Brittany and escorted her back to the divan where her mother waited patiently. Giving her a relaxed smile he took a seat across the table from the ladies. He started to bring up the topic of the next day only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Enter,” the earl called out.
He watched as John led Quinn into the room, happy to see the man had at least put on a clean shirt before coming over. Of all the men who’d served with him in the Guards, this individual had frequently been dressed down or put on bread and water as his uniform had frequently been a mess. Later, Samuel learned the reason for Quinn’s untidiness. When off duty Quinn would spend time in the stables. What had made the man’s reason more interesting, his gentle way with Samuel’s stallion. To that end Samuel made him his groom.
His decision turned out to be excellent as both Quinn and Tempest were not only giants but calm, except when pushed into doing something neither wanted. Hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Quinn had the ability to get information from someone who wouldn’t give it up, usually without laying a hand on the person.
“Well, what were you able to learn from the prisoner? And Quinn, be respectful of the ladies sensitivities,” Samuel ordered.
“Certainly, m’ lord. The man told me he’d been ordered to break into here, attempt to steal a book, and that it would most likely be on a table by itself. Then, once the book was in hand, deliver it to the Drunken Sailor, which is near The Pool. There he’d be given the other half of his payment.”
“Did he tell you which book?” Brittany asked.
“I’m sorry, but he didn’t.”
Samuel realized immediately this could be a significant detail. He glanced from Quinn to Eli, who then nodded to continue the interrogation of his man.
“Were you able to get a description of the person who hired the thief?”
“Tall, well turned out such as you, m’ lord, and the earl. He also spoke as one educated so I’d guess he’s one of the ton . I’m sorry but that’s all the man was able to tell me. Oh, and I can assure you I didn’t touch him at all. M’ lord, he’s as healthy now as when caught and John can attest to that fact,” Quinn said with a toothy grin then bowed.
What Samuel found interesting about this report as with others from the past, there wasn’t any expression on Quinn’s face or in his voice. This had been and continued to be an amazing attribute about the man. People Quinn talked to were frightened of him and would cower, spilling any and all information.
“Thank you,” Samuel told him with a dismissing nod then glanced to Eli.
“John send for Bow Street and have the captive removed. Let them deal with him.”
“Yes, m’ lord,” the butler said, then ushered Quinn from the room.
With the parlor cleared of staff Samuel looked to the ladies and Eli, seeing the narrowing of their expressions. They were as puzzled as Samuel. With this vague information he didn’t know how to proceed in finding the person or persons responsible for the attempted theft.
The countess gave him a faint smile then a subtle glance to her husband. Samuel was happy to see a change in the earl’s
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