Page 39 of A Winter Scandal

Thea tried to glare at him, but she broke into a chuckle before she could even begin to level a stare at him. “Oh, all right. Gabriel. Gabriel, Gabriel, Gabriel. There. Are you satisfied?”

He smiled. “Yes. I believe I am.”

Bynford was slightly larger than Chesley, but it also boasted only one inn and tavern. Gabriel and Thea were greeted by the innkeeper, a middle-aged man of substantial girth who beamed as he invited them into his best private room.

“Will you be dining with us, sir? We have a very nice rack of lamb. Perhaps a cup of mulled wine to take away the chill?”

Gabriel agreed to both food and drink and added that he would like a word with the innkeeper, as well.

“Of course, sir. What may I do for you?”

“I hope you can provide me with some information. I am looking for someone who may have come through Bynford, perhaps even stayed here at your inn.”

“Indeed? Well, I will be happy to help you if I can. When did this person pass this way?”

“Perhaps two days ago. I am not sure whether it was a man or woman or a couple, but they would have had a baby with them. The child has fair hair and blue eyes.” Gabriel turned toward Thea.

“He’s about six months old, and about this tall.” She gestured with her hands. “A beautiful child.”

The man’s eyebrows sailed upward. “A babe, you say?”

“Yes.” Thea took a step closer. “Have you seen him? Was he here?”

“No, ma’am. I am afraid there has been no wee one in this place since … well, months.”

“Oh.” Thea sighed. “You looked—I thought you recognized the description.”

“I’m sorry. I did. That is—what I mean to say is I have not seen a child like that, but I have heard that description. Just yesterday it was—a fellow was in here asking me about a woman and a little boy.”

“Really? Are you certain it was the same child?”

He shrugged. “Since I never saw him, I can’t be certain, but the man asked about a woman with a child of such an age who would have been here in the last few days. Terrible eager to find them, he was, but, like I told you, there hasn’t been a baby staying here in a long time.”

“Did the man mention any names?”

“No.” The man thought for a moment, then shook his head and repeated, “No. I’m certain not.”

“This man who was asking you. Did he say who he was?”

“No. He was closemouthed, that one. Not a friendly sort, either, I’ll tell you.”

“Did he say anything about the woman with the baby? What she looked like?”

“No. Truth is, I’m not sure he said that much about how the baby looked, just how old he was and that he was a boy. He said … I think he said the lad was blond, but that was all.”

“What did he look like, this man who inquired after the woman and baby?” Gabriel asked.

The innkeeper tilted his head to one side, thinking, then said, “He wasn’t very noticeable. Average, you might say. Not tall, not short.”

“His hair?”

After much thought, the innkeeper decided that it was brown, though he had kept it covered most of the time with a cap. “Sorry, don’t know the color of his eyes. I didn’t notice. I didn’t think that much about it until you came in asking for the same baby.”

“How was he dressed?” Thea asked. “I mean, was he dressed like a gentleman?”

“Oh, no, he wasn’t a gentleman. Didn’t talk like one, neither. He looked—well, like a worker, I’d say. Not wearing livery, like a footman, say, but maybe like a gardener or a gamekeeper. A heavy jacket and a cap.”

“You said he didn’t talk like a gentleman. How did he talk?”