Page 44 of The Return of the Rake

“Nous?” the lad repeated, savouring the word.

“That’s it. Good sense, good instincts, knowing who to trust and who not to trust, knowing when a thing is right, or when something is rotten somewhere,” King said, watching the boy with interest.

Tommy brightened. “Like when I got a right funny feeling about walking past that old empty house on Summer Hill, and didn’t get close to it, for I’d meant to scrump apples from the garden, but I didn’t after all, and later, I heard my grandpa had been waiting there so he could tan my hide for cheeking Mrs Doomsday and pinching a couple of jam tarts she’d left cooling on the windowsill.”

King laughed at this earnest recital and grinned at the lad. “Yes, exactly like that. You’ve got nous, Tommy, sure enough.”

“So, does that mean I can work for you?” he asked cautiously.

“Reckon it does,” King replied. “I’ll have to have a word with your grandpa, though. Make sure it’s all done legally.”

Tommy’s face fell at once.

“I’ll sort the old devil, don’t you worry,” King said softly. “I know your grandpa, for he used to drink with my pa. He’s skinned my arse a time or two, but I’m no skinny lad now, am I, Tommy? Do you reckon your grandpa could do it now?”

Tommy grinned at the idea and shook his head. “Reckon you’d snap him like a twig.”

King snorted. “Well, I’ll do it a tad more peaceably than that, but you’re not wrong all the same.”

Tommy looked rather crestfallen but brightened as the reverend asked him if he’d like to work for Mr King.

“Reckon I would,” he said, breathless with anticipation. “Though I don’t know what work it is. Will I get a suit, like you see those fancy fellows what come to town with their high steppers and their tigers are all dressed up fine with brass buttons? I’d like some brass buttons,” he said wistfully.

King hid a smile behind his hand and cleared his throat. “Well, we’ll see about that. For now, how about we find you somewhere better to sleep and something to eat? Reverend, do you have any notions about that?”

“I reckon we’ve got some clothes that might fit the lad with a bit of clever stitching, and he can stay with us the night. Mrs Addie will give him a good meal, and then we shall bring him to you at The Mermaid. How’s that?”

King nodded, relieved to have a night to think about what the devil he’d do with the boy.

“An excellent notion, Reverend. Well, Tommy, what say you? For I’ll have no lad who’s not willing and eager to work. It will require your keeping yourself neat and clean, too. I’m not spending money on any manner of suit or livery if you don’t take care of it and yourself. So, if you’d rather stay here in the woods and find your own way, I respect that,” King said, knowing the boy’s pride was a fragile thing, and that it would be best if it appeared he had a choice about his own future.

“Would I have to wash every day?” Tommy asked with something like dread, as if this were a very great deal to ask of him.

“Every day. Without fail,” King said firmly. “You’ll be as smart as I am, or else.”

Tommy’s eyes widened as he took in King’s splendid appearance, the fineness of his suit and the diamond flashing in his ear.

“Reckon I’d like to take the job, Mr King,” he said eagerly, getting to his feet and extending a very grubby hand.

King shook it, making a mental note to have a thorough wash when he got home, for the boy’s hair was matted and most certainly crawling with lice.

“You’ll need to have a haircut, too. As well as a bath before you come to the hotel,” he added as an afterthought, giving the reverend a look that suggested this was not negotiable.

The reverend returned a pained expression that suggested he well knew this was King’s price for doing what he could for the lad.

“I shall see to it,” Honeywell said grimly, for in a household filled with women, he would certainly have to.

Chapter 9

Fate and the tides.

The Mermaid’s Tale, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 5th October 1815.

“I’ve taken on a new employee,” King said as soon as he returned to the hotel.

He always preferred to get any bad news out in the open as soon as possible. Not that this was precisely bad news, but Repton might not see it that way. If he presented the situation carefully, however, he had hopes that the old fellow might even like the idea.

As predicted, Repton stiffened, his chin going up.