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“The young…lady seemed to be enjoying herself,” the innkeeper replied. “I believe she had some refreshment while they were here.”
The ostler spoke again despite his master’s discouraging glances. “She told me, ‘I’m riding high, I am.’ And she laughed.”
“What did he look like, the man she was with?” asked Lord Macklin.
The innkeeper grew uneasy. “Is there some trouble, my lord? I wouldn’t want to—”
“The young lady is missing,” the earl told him.
Teresa wondered if revealing this was the best course of action. But it was too late to protest.
“Missing.” The innkeeper looked more anxious.
“We are looking for her,” the earl added. “And would appreciate your aid.”
There was a brief gleam, as of a gold coin, Teresa thought. Of course the earl knew the power of money. She felt both grateful for and resentful of his help.
“The gentleman didn’t get down from his phaeton.”
“He wore a scarf that hid most of his face,” said the ostler, clearly relishing his position as informer. “He seemed in a hurry, like.”
The lad might be embroidering his tale, Teresa thought. But Maria speaking to him had clearly left a strong impression.
“Was he fat, thin, tall? Dark-haired? Light?”
“I couldn’t say, my lord,” replied the innkeeper. “Like I mentioned, he wore a long coat. A hat too. And he didn’t get down.”
Lord Macklin asked a few more questions, but he discovered nothing more, and soon after this they resumed their drive back to London.
“The striped waistcoat suggests this fellow is a member of the Four-Horse Club,” said the earl.
“What is that?” Teresa asked.
“A group that drives racing vehicles one behind the other to Salt Hill to have their dinners,” he answered dismissively. “And then they come back.”
“But why?”
“To excite admiration and envy,” he answered. “They hope.”
“Sounds daft to me,” said Tom. “Can’t they can get a better dinner in London?”
“Certainly,” said the earl. “But not draw as much attention to themselves.”
“Are there a great many of them?” Teresa asked.
“I do not know the exact number. I will inquire.”
“They must keep a list of members.”
“You could act like you want to join up,” said Tom. “Say you’d like to know who’s who before you decide.”
The older man’s expression showed his distaste for this idea. “If I must.”
“We would not want you to inconvenience yourself.” Teresa hadn’t meant to sound so sarcastic. This man seemed to magnify all her emotions.
He acknowledged her barb with a nod. “You are right. We must do whatever is required to find out what happened to the dancers.”
She felt rebuked.
