A WICKED WEDDING by Laura Trentham

Author:Laura Trentham
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 5

Cole retrieved his horse and made his way toward Ottery Saint Mary, mud-spattered breeches and boots and all. He hoped to find Piers and Liam for some much-needed counsel before talking with the head of the guard who was tasked with protecting the coast.

Or should he go to Lord Abbott first? Abbott was a nice enough fellow but rather dim-witted and dull. Cole wasn’t sure what sort of help he’d be in the situation. He also wasn’t sure whether Abbott was capable of keeping his mouth shut until Cole had a better idea of who was involved.

Normally sleepy, Ottery Saint Mary bustled with activity. It was the last market day before Christmastide celebrations began. He had been lost in a fog for months. Stepping into the Cockerel’s Nest for ale and news brought a rush of memories. Greetings went up right and left on his walk to the bar, and he took his time to shake hands and ask after wives or sons or daughters.

He ordered an ale and turned to scan the room, surprised to see Lord Abbott seated at a corner table with a dark-haired man who was a stranger. Cole debated a moment before laying a coin on the bar top, retrieving his drink, and approaching the two men.

Lord Abbott spotted him, and his boyish face lit with genuine welcome. “Cole. I suppose I should address you as Lord Linley now. Terribly sorry about your brother and father.”

“Thank you, Abbott.” Cole wondered how he could maneuver a private conversation with him. He glanced toward the stranger, whose sharp green eyes were watching him through a pair of spectacles. His demeanor was casual, but Cole sensed an alertness he often observed in predators in the wild.

“Let me introduce you. Cole, Lord Linley, this is Mr. Gray Masterson, an old school chum of mine.” Abbott indicated an empty chair. “Please, join us.”

Cole and Masterson shook hands, and Cole took a seat. “Linley House resides close to the cliffs, does it not, my lord?” Masterson asked.

“Indeed it does. I spent my childhood playing pirate along the cliffs,” Cole said, debating whether to take the opening Masterson had conveniently offered him. Perhaps he could take an oblique tact. He leaned over the table and lowered his voice. “I’ve often wondered if smugglers have used the cliffs for their business.”

Abbott cast an inscrutable look toward Masterson, who didn’t break eye contact with Cole. Although he hid his interest better than Abbott. Something in his demeanor radiated danger. “Did something happen to make you wonder this?”

A pang of caution had Cole stepping carefully. Masterson and Abbott were a little too interested. Diana was right about one thing. The smugglers could be greasing anyone’s palm. What if Masterson was the head of the ring, and Abbott was profiting under the table?

“Nothing in particular. Just a fancy I’ve carried since boyhood when I was fed stories by my nursemaid.” He rose and made a small bow, leaving his ale half finished. “If you’ll excuse me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.