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“I can assure you that the Parkinsons are not answering your questions purely because they tend to be a little protective of their privacy. I am sure you understand. You are a very dedicated man, Lloyd, especially if you are providing this level protection for everyone in the village. You have a lot of work on your hands. I will let you get on with it. I am sure you will eventually capture your – pheasants – was it?” Marcus guffawed. “Goodnight.”
He didn’t give the magistrate time to say anything else, and continued his journey toward the end of the road, this time without interruption. Although Lloyd didn’t approach again, he was aware that Carruthers followed him all the way to the lodging house.
Once safely inside, he locked the door behind him and pocketed the key. Rather than go to his room, he took a detour to the kitchen and began to search the cupboards. It was clear that the brother, Ben, was sleeping down here somewhere because all of the rooms upstairs were now taken. Careful not to alert the lad to his activities, Marcus worked his way steadily through the dresser, the cupboard under the stairs, the sitting room, and study cupboards and all of the shelves and drawers, but came up empty handed. It was unsurprising, really, given that there wasn’t much to search. In fact, the personal belongings in the house were so sparse that most of the contents of the drawers could fit into one of the dressers.
His concern grew as he searched the kitchen and found very little in the way of food to feed a house full of hungry men.
What on earth were they going to try to serve for breakfast? Marcus thought with a frown as he shut the door to the almost bare cupboard.
His gaze landed on a small package resting on the hearth. Minutes later he stared blankly down at a small cut of beef. It was odd that it was left next to the fire and not stored in the scullery where it was cooler.
What on earth was going on?
“Looking for something?”
Marcus sighed and scowled at the young lad, who looked back with his brows lifted in supreme arrogance.
He is good, Marcus mused ruefully. I didn’t even hear him move.
For someone who worked for the Star Elite, that was rare. Marcus began to look at the boy in a new light.
“I am looking for something to eat,” he explained. “However, raw beef isn’t going to do the job. Do you not keep a loaf of bread out for the guests in case they get hungry?”
Ben shook his head.
“Most of the guests stick to their rooms at night. They don’t creep around with their boots in their hands.” His gaze dropped meaningfully to the said boots Marcus held.
“I have just been for a walk. I suffer from insomnia,” Marcus lied. “I find the night air soothes me. Unfortunately, it also gives me a raging appetite.”
He frowned at the empty kitchen table and wondered if the lad, or his sister, would be offended if he bought some extra food.
“The kitchen closes after dinner in the evening,” Ben warned darkly. “We also ask the guests to remain in their rooms at night. How did you get in?”
Marcus sighed heavily when the lad’s gaze sharpened.
“More importantly, why does the magistrate seem to patrol this village in the dead of night?” Marcus replied, evading his question.
“Is he out there?”
Marcus nodded. “Yes. Lloyd and that sidekick of his are skulking around in the woods. I got the distinct impression that I was being threatened about something, but I haven’t done anything wrong. I have to say that I have never seen a village as nocturnally busy as this one.”
Determined to leave Ben with something to think about, Marcus ambled casually to the door.
“Best to stay inside then,” Ben warned. “You know, so that you don’t get caught up in anything you should stay away from.”
“Oh, I can hold my own,” Marcus drawled. His meaningful gaze met the lad’s. He waited for the mild threat to register on him.
“I am sure you can,” Ben replied thoughtfully.
Marcus nodded to the cut of beef. “Best get that moved somewhere colder. It looks hot.”
He sauntered into the hallway, the look of guilt on the lad’s face lingering in his mind. It told him far more than any words could. The beef had been stolen. That meant the situation in the house was so bad that the lad was stealing food to get by.
His anger flared, but it wasn’t at Ben. It was at his sister, Jessica.
Did she not know what would happen to her if she got caught with stolen meat in the kitchen? She would have no argument against the inquisitive magistrate.
Somehow, though, Marcus doubted the magistrate would put her behind bars. If she didn’t end up in gaol, Heaven only knew what the man would force Jess to agree to once he was in a position to hold theft over her head. It was a no win situation either way for her.
