Page 4 of What the Heart Knows

A quick glance showed the few customers and servants remaining all stopped to watch the exchange.

The gentleman spoke softly, but his condescending manner bothered Kit.

“Brookbank, you thieving inkslinger, you’ll not threaten me with canceling my license. I’ll protest to the squire!” Brewster announced.

Brookbank rose. Brewster followed suit. Taller by several inches, the innkeeper weighed at least two stone more than the clerk, yet the smaller man crowded Brewster, forcing him to step back.

Brookbank’s sneer implied that backing down was precisely the reaction he desired. “You know very well; I act on my employer’s orders. Squire Fenneman wishes you to cease and desist all activity aimed at drawing more people to Fenwick on Sea.”

“Don’t believe you,” the innkeeper protested. “Squire’s never told me he opposes plans for the improvement of Fenwick.”

“He wouldn’t deal directly with the likes of you. He left it to me to convey his displeasure at your continued lack of cooperation with his own plans for Fenwick’s benefit.”

“What precisely are those plans? Squire’s never mentioned plans.” Arms akimbo, Brewster leaned in toward the smaller man.

Brookbank should have been intimidated. Instead, he countered the move, stepping forward once more and compelling another backward step from Brewster. The clerk then gripped the bigger man’s forearm hauling him downward until they were nose to nose.

What Brookbank said, Kit couldn’t tell. The man whispered. Whatever it was must’ve been terrifying, for Brewster paled then raced from the public room.

“You’d best comply quickly, innkeeper. Squire Fenneman isn’t a patient man.” Leaving his words to chase after Brewster, Brookbank surveyed the room.

Kit’s gaze followed.

All those who stared earlier now busily minded their own business.

Triumph grew in Brookbank’s smile. He nodded to himself, donned his cloak, then strode away like the cock of the walk.

Kit resumed his newspaper and drank his coffee. George was supposed to guide him about Fenwick and the surrounding area. However, Kit was determined to learn the details of the interaction between innkeeper and clerk.

If the threats were empty, fine, but that was unlikely given Brewster’s reactions. Kit liked George’s father and everyone he’d met thus far in Fenwick. If possible, he’d help resolve whatever difficulties set innkeeper and squire at odds.

First, he needed to know what the problems were. An effective plan of attack required knowledge of the ground where the battle would be fought.

Kit watched the fine autumn morning turn cloudy. Rain threatened. Not the most auspicious sign for a pleasant tour of Fenwick on Sea and its environs.

George arrived with the news that Kit’s rooms were inspection ready.

“Sit down,” Kit instructed then related the argument between Brewster Senior and Brookbank.

When he finished, George was flushed; his hands fisted on the table.

“That cur.”

“I agree. Brookbank’s behavior was beyond discourteous.”

“No, not him.” George shook his head. “The squire. He’s been a plague on my family and others since before he left to serve in the war.”

Kit blinked. “You mean Brookbank really did act on Fenneman’s authority?”

“Probably. Though whose authority is a question. Used to be that Squire Fenneman, who serves as Tax Commissioner and Justice of the Peace, would hear accusations against smugglers. Of those accused only one or two were ever convicted. Rumor had it that some of those unpunished men had smuggled for Squire Fenneman.

“So, Fenneman has profited from the smugglers for years,” Kit surmised.

“Yes. Then, shortly before he left for the war in 1801, he hired Brookbank,” George continued. “Within a week, the squire joined the Commissariat Corps. In his absence, Brookbank positioned himself as the head of all illegal trade in the area.”

“Hmmm. Perhaps we should include your father in this conversation. You’ve only been home a while, so you may not know the full extent of Brookbank’s activities, or the squire’s.”

The breakfast crowd thinned out. Soon enough Kit was the only customer, and Brewster was free to join them.