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They ambled out of the front gate and turned toward the village.
“If I am honest, I need your help. I don’t know my way around the village to know where to post this,” he confided.
“I thought there might be an ulterior motive,” she replied dryly.
Marcus opened his mouth to answer her but then noticed someone waiting for them at the end of the road: Joe.
There is news; Marcus mused eyeing the secretive look in Joe’s eyes, and the surreptitious wink his colleague gave him once they reached him. Nodding his acknowledgement that he would meet Joe as planned, Marcus followed Jessica’s instructions and, minutes later, arrived at the posting office.
“I won’t be a minute,” Marcus murmured.
He left her on the doorstep while he went inside to send his missives. When he re-joined her on the pavement minutes later something wasn’t right.
“What is it?” he asked as he studied her dark scowl.
When she didn’t answer him, he turned to see what had captured her attention and saw Ben chatting to a man a little older than himself. It wasn’t the age difference that was alarming; it was the heavy build, thick muscles, and rough fighter appearance that warned Marcus the man was a thug.
“Who is that?” he murmured as he studied the man’s
dirty clothing.
“He is George Smithers. He is a bad lot. I hope that Ben isn’t consorting with him now,” Jess bit out. “He is a thief of the worst kind. He is sly.”
Anger was visible on her face. Before Marcus could stop her, she marched determinedly toward her brother. Her gaze remained locked on Ben with such fixation that she didn’t see the magistrate appear beside her.
“Oh, get out of the way,” she snapped, shoving him roughly aside.
Startled at the ferocity of the push from someone so small, Lloyd staggered back and careered into his colleague.
Unaware of the chaos she left in her wake; Jess stomped down the street and left the men staring at her.
Bemused, Marcus followed.
“I am telling you that I can-”
“Ben? You do know we have jobs to do,” Jess snapped. She ignored Smithers completely.
“Mornin’,” the burly man said, and doffed his imaginary cap.
“Smithers,” Jess replied coolly.
“I am just having a chat with a friend, sis. I know have things to do,” Ben informed her.
“Yes, back at the house. I suggest you get back there and get on with them,” Jess said crisply.
“I have to go over to Retterton first,” Ben protested.
“No, you don’t. There is nothing in Retterton that requires your attention more than the house. Get back home; your Retterton visit can wait.”
She threw a warning glare at him, then turned around and stomped away before Ben could reply. From the look of the dark flush on Ben’s cheeks, she knew he would follow. If only to rant at her about how unfair life was and how stupid the house was. That was what he usually did in situations like this, but she didn’t care.
“I take it that Smithers is likely to get your brother in trouble,” Marcus murmured when he caught up with her.
Jess threw him an apologetic look and slowed her pace.
“I am sorry for storming off like that. I just get so angry with him sometimes. Smithers has been in jail a few times over the years, always for theft, or poaching. He always gets back out and promises everyone that he is a reformed character, but is always up to his old tricks within a few weeks. No wonder Lloyd is hassling Ben about stealing the Priory’s game. He has probably helped Smithers steal it.”
“Your brother isn’t doing himself any favours, is he? Or you?” Marcus said quietly.
