“That won’t be necessary,” Simone replied. “Remain with the carriage and the footmen. They will keep you safe.”
“Yes, Miss,” Felicity replied before she took a step back.
Simone adjusted the bonnet on her head before turning her attention towards Caleb. “Shall we?”
Caleb offered his arm. “Did you notice the boarding house that was just up the street?” he asked. “If the French spies spend their time here, one might assume that they are residing at the boarding house.”
“That would be a good assumption, but we tend to work in facts.”
“We do, but in good time,” Caleb said as he stepped over to open the wooden door that was decorated with brass handles.
They entered a cozy hall with low ceilings adorned by wooden beams. The back wall was dominated by a sizable hearth, and round tables occupied the space. The atmosphere was lively as the patrons engaged in conversation, while a few men focused on card games.
Caleb guided her towards an unoccupied table, helping her into her chair before taking his own. “This place is almost pleasant.”
“It is,” Simone said as her eyes strayed towards a door that was along the side wall. “Where do you suppose that door leads to?”
“I don’t know, but I am assuming you want to find out.”
Simone grinned. “You know me well.”
“I’m starting to,” Caleb said, returning her smile.
A barmaid approached the table, wearing a simple brown gown with an apron tied around her neck. “What can I get you?” she asked.
“I would like an ale,” Caleb replied.
The barmaid turned her attention towards Simone. “And for the lady?”
“Nothing for me, but I was hoping for some information,” Simone said as she retrieved a gold coin from her reticule. “Where does that side door lead to?”
The barmaid perused the length of her. “Nowhere that will interest you.”
“Humor me, please,” Simone said.
With a glance over her shoulder, the barmaid lowered her voice. “It leads to a private room but it is not for the casual observer. The conversation that dominates the room is of a serious nature.”
“What kind of serious nature?” Simone asked.
The barmaid took a step back. “I have said too much. Excuse me,” she said before she walked away.
Caleb lifted his brow. “I think you scared her off.”
“I did, but she is not the only one we can get information from,” Simone said. “You can go ask the barkeep.”
“I was thinking as much,” Caleb replied as he shoved back his chair. “Will you be all right while I am gone?”
Simone shot him an irritated glance. “I will be fine.”
Caleb tipped his head in acknowledgement before he headed towards the bar area.
Her eyes swept over the room, and she noticed a few of the patrons casting curious glances in her direction. Ladiesseldom frequented pubs so their reactions weren’t completely unexpected.
Simone turned her head, observing Caleb engaged in conversation with the barkeep. He laughed at something the man said and she begrudgingly admitted it wasn’t an unpleasant sound—it held a certain charm. There was something about his laugh that brought a smile to her face. How could he laugh so freely, especially considering the weight of their chosen profession? It was odd, really.
Leaning casually against the polished bar, Caleb looked at ease in this place. He accepted a tankard from the barkeep and took a sip.
A commotion in the corner caught her attention. A group of patrons at a table engaged in an increasingly heated conversation about politics, expressing their discontent with England’s treatment of the poor. It was a familiar discourse, one she had heard many times before, and she doubted it would be the last. The war had taken a severe toll on the less fortunate, with the exorbitant cost of food being just one of their many challenges.
