Page 47 of Courting the Wrong Duke

“I should hope so. You have had them long enough.”

The old bootmaker chuckled. “I prefer a proper repair to a quick one.”

“I cannot argue with that.”

William had scarcely crossed the room before another familiar figure straightened near the counter.

“Algernon.”

His brother turned, one gloved hand resting upon a pair of riding boots William did not recognize.

“I did not expect to find you here.”

“Nor I you.”

William's gaze settled upon the boots. “I confess I do not remember those.”

“They are an older pair,” Algernon replied, brushing an invisible speck of dust from the leather. “I decided they were worth having mended after all.”

William frowned faintly. “They look nearly new.”

“They did not when I brought them.”

Mr. Pritchard busied himself wrapping William's boots in brown paper, saying nothing.

After a moment, Algernon asked, “Any further word of the earl?”

William accepted the parcel before answering. “Perhaps.”

His brother's attention sharpened almost imperceptibly.

“I paid another visit to Tattersall's yesterday. One of the clerks remembered Edmund.”

“And?”

“He had not merely bid upon a horse.” William watched him carefully. “He had already paid the first installment the day before he disappeared.”

For the briefest instant, Algernon's expression tightened. “So he intended to return,” he murmured.

“It would seem so.”

Silence settled between them.

William had expected surprise. Instead, Algernon merely stood very still, his gaze dropping briefly to the floor before returning to William.

Mr. Pritchard cleared his throat quietly. “Your boots, my lord.”

William accepted the parcel with an appreciative smile. “My thanks, Mr. Pritchard. You have done excellent work. Mine always return looking better than when I left them, and evidently my brother's as well.”

The bootmaker's smile faltered.

His eyes dropped briefly toward the boots resting beside Algernon before he inclined his head.

“You are very kind, my lord.”

There was something peculiar about the man's manner.

William could not have said precisely what. Only that the compliment had seemed to make him uncomfortable.