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Mr. Tennemin nodded and finished his drink in one swallow. “Okay. Can you direct me to Miss Parker?”
“I will take you. She is at another job right now.”
Yeah, he knew her fucking schedule. At least she no longer worked for Caulfield. Didn’t mean he trusted the bastard to stop trying his shit.
They were on horseback not too much later, riding to town. Mr. Tennemin asked some questions about the lands surrounding Phillip’s property and he answered a few, not telling him he was in the process of buying up more land for his own ventures.
Slowing when they entered the town, he watched the man beside him as they rode up the street. Tennemin tipped his hat to the women, regardless of their color, and responded to greetings. Still slightly on edge about his beliefs, Phillip realized at some point he was going to have to trust someone to get this collaboration moving more how he wanted it to go.
Not that he didn’t love England, but the time to wait for things was flat-out asinine and they could do better. Should, for the livelihood of those who lived on these islands. If that meant he had to spearhead the motion, he would do it.
Whatever it took to make Fyre’s life easier.
For a while he had toyed with the idea of asking her back to England with him, but he had realized he loved it here. The entire island’s vibe was different than what England gave him, plus, he wasn’t faced with all his exes and the foolish and selfish mistakes he had made in the past.
James came running up—from where, Phillip didn’t know, but one minute he wasn’t there, the next, he was.
“My lord.” His dark gaze dashed to Mr. Tennemin. “Sir.”
“I am looking for Miss Gwen.”
While James’ eyes sparkled at the news, the smile never came. “She is with Mr. Caulfield, sir, in his store.”
Flipping him a coin, Phillip nodded at him and they rode off. Fury rose. She had no reason to be in his shop as she no longer worked for him.
“Spies in the town?”
“Always good to know what is going on and where my people are.”
“Maybe I will try that.”
“Something I learned in England, Mr. Tennemin, is that the working class knows the news far faster than the upper ever do. Their network is incredible, and one would be foolish not to take advantage of people in their employ to get the news they are after.”
Tennemin grunted. “Are you planning to head back to England?”
“No. This is my home.”
Another grunt was his response. They halted their horses and swung down before tying them up. Together they walked up the step and into the store.
Phillip knew where she had sat when she worked here, and his eyes cut there without fail. Phillip hated seeing her in here. It didn’t help to know that Caulfield hovered over her.
This time was different. She was not seated, nor was she working. She and Mr. Caulfield were having a discussion, one that Phillip didn’t think was all that friendly.
“I told you,” she snapped, “I do not work for you anymore. If this is what you had to discuss with me, we could have addressed this outside, no need to come in here.”
“Your brother said—”
“Excuse me,” Mr. Tennemin interrupted.
Phillip was grateful, because all he wanted to do was wring the bastard’s neck.
Both glanced at them and stepped back from each other. Phillip made himself stay put as Mr. Tennemin walked to them.
“Mr. Tennemin,” Albie said, a smile turning up his lips. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I was actually seeking out Miss Parker. I had some more questions for her after the talk she gave us at the party. I was unable to get a chance to talk to her while we were there. But I can come back if I am interrupting.”
Caulfield nodded. “That would be great because we—”
“Just finished,” Fyre said. “I am free to talk now, Mr. Tennemin.”
Phillip shot the man a look before nodding once to Fyre and Mr. Tennemin, then he walked out. Their discussion was not his business, and he was not going to impose himself on the conversation. No matter how much he longed to.
He went to Mr. Olden’s sweet shop and looked around, needing to keep his mind occupied. No one was out front when he entered and he picked up a few things and took them to the counter. Still no one to assist him.
Irritation growing, he went to the door by the back and knocked once before opening it.
Shocked would be putting it mildly and yet, perhaps not. Mr. Olden was fucking Mrs. Collier on his desk, his tie in her mouth and her hands secured behind her back. The older woman was without a stitch of clothing on and her pale skin flushed when she saw him there.
