Page 35 of The Swindler’s Daughter

I let out a gusty sigh. “There are some things happening at the market. Bad things.”

His concern was immediate. “What bad things?”

“The new magistrate, he’s…he’s put a new tax in place. He’s making all the vendors pay so that he’ll protect them from thievery.”

Hunter thought on that. “That’s…unfortunate, but perhaps necessary.”

“Wick thinks it’s the magistrate himself who’s arranged for more thieving to happen.”

Hunter’s face folded into doubt. “That seems highly unlikely.”

“Wick says the vendors only noticed an increase in thieving after the tax was instituted. And he’s using children to do it.”

He looked dumbfounded by the idea. I knew the feeling. “Wick knows that for certain?”

I became less sure. “No, not for certain, but from what he’s seen…”

He thought for several long moments. “I don’t know what to say, Miri. If what you say is true, then that’s very bad.” He frowned, concern marring his brow. “Perhaps it’s an exaggeration?” He sounded hopeful.

“I saw it, Hunter,” I said with confidence. “I saw them harassing a vendor. I saw one of the constables steal from a vendor himself.”

He stood and started pacing. I could see his mind racing, turning over the situation and its implications. Then he turned back to me. “Are you certain? Those are strong accusations, Miri.”

“They’ve been going around the homes, demanding more taxes as well.”

“Taxes are a part of organized society.”

“Ugh!” I nearly screamed in frustration then jabbed my finger in the direction of Murrwood. “Go into the village next market day. See for yourself. Everyone is tense and wary. The constables prowl around, and everyone does their best to avoid them. They are corrupt.” I was right, wasn’t I? I wasn’t overreacting. I had seen things.

“How could that be?” Hunter questioned.

I opened my mouth, ready to battle with him. It might be difficult for him to stomach. Laws, I understood that. But he needed to believe me.

“Hunter,” Emeline interrupted. “What Miriam says makes sense.”

He turned immediately to his wife. “How so?” he asked, confused. I, too, wondered why Emeline would think any of this made sense. It certainly didn’t make sense to me.

“Reeve isn’t a good man,” she said with conviction.

Hunter looked confused. “The new magistrate? How do you know that? Has he done something?”

“Not recently, but he came here when Cecily was in trouble. Sir James gave her a chance to leave, but it was Reeve who dragged her back.” The way Emeline’s arms crossed stiffly over her chest made it clear that what had happened all those years ago still made her angry.

“What happened to Cecily is awful, but that does not mean Reeve is doing anything illegal. From what I know of that situation,” he began gently, “Reeve was acting in good faith, thinking the law had claim on Cecily. He was doing his job.”

There was flint in Emeline’s eyes. “He was unnecessarily cruel.”

“Even Princess Marilee agreed he was unworthy of the post,” I added. “I heard her telling Sir James as much the day before they left. She was angry that someone of his ilk would be given the position.”

“You know how much I respect Her Highness. But I imagine she feels that way for the same reason Emeline does,” he said, glancing at his wife. “And that seems to be based on one very unfortunate incident that Reeve himself was not responsible for.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand.

“I’m not saying you’re wrong. I’m just saying that we need more information before we go accusing the highest authority in the area of corruption.”

“All kinds of people can be corrupt, Hunter. You know that.”

“Yes. But let’s wait until we know about this one for sure. Let’s keep our heads. We don’t want to invite trouble here. And that’s what we’d be doing if we were to go throwing accusations at the magistrate.” He reached out for Emeline’s hand. “We don’t want to give him any reason to come after us.”