‘Wright?’
‘Thomas Wright. What does Wright have in common with Barton? He also seems less inclined to action than the others. He’s here to drink away his summer and play at being a poet with reforming ideas. If someone asked him to screw his courage to the sticking point and take action…’
‘You mean like murder a magistrate?’
‘Maybe not even as much as that, but yes, anything along those lines. He’d likely think it a joke and propose another round of drinks.’
‘Would that be annoying enough for someone to take a swipe at him with a skate?’
‘I don’t know. It was just a thought based on what we’ve heard so far of their characters.’
‘A good thought. I agree with you about Wright and Barton– the two moderates who have been put out of action. That leaves us with the two military men– Cooper will be the one making the running there with Crawford as the follower– but so far they’ve not done anything to awake deeper suspicions. Knotte we’ve already discussed, and he remains our chief concern.’
‘We shouldn’t forget Langhorne. He was one of the original circle with Barton and Knotte.’
‘He strikes me as a rake and a lover in the Byron mould.’ Jacob thought of the scene outside the inn at Grasmere, the girl on his lap and his face in her cleavage.
‘Agreed, but that doesn’t stop him also being committed to his cause.’
‘Let’s keep those four in mind then, with Knotte uppermost.’
They passed Ambleside and headed through Clappersgate. Nero picked up his hooves as he sensed his home stable was close.
‘Will your brother be there?’ asked Dora with a yawn.
Jacob had successfully put Arthur’s machinations to the back of his mind but now they crept back in annoying detail. ‘I expect he’s still with Lord Furness.’
‘Plotting your future?’
‘I would imagine that is part of what they are discussing. When they’re together, those two are like old women gossiping over their knitting about their fellow peers.’
‘Why malign old ladies? Men are as bad at gossiping as women, but they call it political intrigue or sporting talk.’
‘You have a point. I apologise to old women.’
‘If he’s away, all we will have to face is a bored Ruby. I must expect my wardrobe to be ransacked and my favourite gowns altered to fit her.’
‘Would she go so far?’
‘She absolutely would. She is magnificent in her selfishness. It is part of her charm. I had a year of finding it intensely annoying and now I find I no longer care. I’m not that attached to things and she instinctively knows which lines not to cross.’
‘Do you think she could be bribed to amuse herself elsewhere so I can make love to you in our bed? Hillsides are all very well for a change, but it’s a little chilly now.’
She laughed. ‘Probably.’
He nuzzled her neck, already imagining how long it would take them both to divest themselves of their clothes. Not long if he had anything to do with it.
They turned the corner to see the tarn and the cottage on the far side of the valley. Jacob’s sense of homecoming was spoiled by seeing an unfamiliar horse tethered to the fence.
‘Were we expecting visitors?’ asked Dora.
‘No. You don’t suppose Ruby invited someone in to entertain her?’
‘That is very possible. Any passing gentlemen to stave off boredom.’ Dora slid down from Nero and gave the horse a pat in thanks. ‘Shall I go evict them?’
Jacob dismounted and tied Nero alongside the stranger horse. ‘Let’s go in together. I’ll stable Nero when we see exactly who is with her.’
Before they got any further, the door opened, and their employee, Alex Smith, came out. ‘Dora, Sandys, you’re back! Thank God.’
