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Burke set his gloves on a table and continued. “I was whipped for the slightest infraction, and I wasn’t the only one,” he said. “I saw children younger than me and women in the family way beat constantly.”
Miss Locke let out a small gasp, but she remained silent.
“As I got older, I was responsible for pulling carts of coal in the low and narrow passages since I was so thin,” Burke said. “It was grueling work, and I would often have to go on my hands and knees.”
Burke frowned. “I was one of the lucky ones, though,” he shared. “I became too large for the passages, so I was given tasks above ground.”
“Are you still acquainted with the workers at the mine?”
“Aye,” Burke replied. “I bring them food and supplies nearly every week in an attempt to ease their suffering. The food that they are given to eat is barely edible. Not only are they risking their lives every time they go into the pit, but they are starving for want of good food.”
“The bank did install a steam engine,” Guy remarked. “Have they implemented any more changes in favor of the workers?”
Burke let out a dry chuckle. “The bank does not care about the workers, no matter what they say. The conditions are just as awful as when I worked there, if not worse.”
“How did you come to work at the blacksmith shop?” Guy asked.
“I was drinking at the pub and saw Mr. Thorpe sitting at a table in the back,” Burke answered. “He owns a few of the businesses in town, including the blacksmith shop. I approached him and boldly asked if I could apprentice at the blacksmith shop.”
“And he agreed?”
Burke shook his head. “No, but that didn’t stop me from asking,” he replied. “Every time I saw him at the pub, I would ask him the same question.”
“And you wore him down?”
Burke chuckled. “You don’t wear a man like Mr. Thorpe down,” he said. “A few of the patrons at the pub were in their cups and were getting rowdy. One of the men started bothering Mr. Thorpe, and I stepped in. After I knocked the man unconscious, Mr. Thorpe hired me on the spot.”
“It was most fortunate for Mr. Thorpe that you were there, then,” Guy commented.
“It was,” Burke replied. “Thorpe isn’t exactly a respected businessman in our town, and he has made some enemies over the years.”
Guy gestured to the shop around them. “Regardless, you have done well for yourself,” he remarked.
“That I have,” Burke agreed. “Which is why I choose who I align myself with most carefully.”
“As well you should,” Guy said. “Are there any other like-minded individuals who would be willing to speak to me about the conditions at the colliery?”
“I’m afraid I can’t speak for anyone else,” Burke responded. “Most people who have worked in the mines want their memories to be buried. No one wishes to stir them back up.”
Guy nodded his understanding. “I can respect that, but their experiences may make a true difference in the lives of many of the workers at the colliery.”
Burke regarded him for a moment. “I will need to speak to a few people before I can commit to anything.”
“I understand. You can find me at the coaching inn.”
“I’m afraid my break is over,” Burke said, reaching for his gloves.
“I do appreciate you sharing your story with me,” Guy remarked, “and I hope to be hearing from you shortly.”
Burke tipped his head at him. “Good day, Mr. Stewart,” he said before turning his attention towards Miss Locke. “It is always a pleasure to see you, Miss.”
Chapter Seven
Guy hated beingidle. It gave him time to think about things he would much rather forget. He laid on his straw mattress and stared up at the ceiling. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, he couldn’t escape the fact that he had failed everyone around him. He could barely afford his mother’s medical bills, his sister was reduced to reading newspapers, and it had taken him years to track down his father’s killer.
No matter how successful he had been as a Bow Street Runner, it meant little compared to his failure at home. He wished he could give his sister and mother a life of ease. If only he had become a professor at Cambridge. How he loved learning and reading every book he could get his hands on! But that was not to be his life anymore.
Now he was an agent of the Crown. What he was doing wasn’t much different than what he had done as a Bow Street Runner, but the pay was slightly better. He discovered treasonous groups and arrested them for conspiracy against the Crown. It was simple, predictable. A criminal was someone who broke the law and would continue to do so until he was caught.
