Skylark (CR 11) by Beverley Jo

Author:Beverley, Jo [Beverley, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781101118450
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2004-05-04T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Kerslake had drunk two cups of tea, eaten bread, ham, pie, and fruit, interspersed with pertinent questions before all was clear. Laura was uncertain at times about telling this man everything, but he had been vouched for by Nicholas Delaney, and they needed his help.

“I’ve known about Azir Al Farouk since he landed. Drew Chideock brought him in from France on the Long Jane. Now we’re at peace, we don’t get many such passengers, so we were all curious. But”—he shrugged—“as long as a man pays we don’t ask questions. In fact, it’s easier now. During the war we tried not to carry spies.”

“Just Al Farouk?” Laura asked.

“Him and Captain Dyer.”

“No child?”

“None was mentioned. You expected one?”

She shook her head. “Please, tell us what you know about the arrival.”

Kerslake took a plum. “Despite the rank, Dyer wears no uniform. He’s some sort of invalid. Can walk a few steps with a cane, but Farouk had to carry him from the boat to the cart that stood ready to take away the cargo.”

“Carried him upstairs here, too, apparently,” Stephen said.

“So it wasn’t temporary. Chideock took them to Lyme Regis and fixed them up with Paul Wey’s coach, which brought them here. All part of the price.” Kerslake looked at Laura. “What about the child?”

Laura shared a look with Stephen. “He might have come separately. A boy, perhaps nine years old.”

“I’ve heard of none, but I’ll ask.”

“What about a party of men?” Stephen asked. “Or no. Nicholas would flay me for assuming the villains are all men, especially with a child involved. It could appear to be a family group.”

“That would certainly make them harder to detect, but we don’t have many visitors this late in the year. Do you mean a group arriving normally, or by a smuggling vessel? I’m almost certain no child has arrived here recently that way.”

Laura shared another look with Stephen as she tried to fit these new pieces into the puzzle. “If there was a reason Farouk and Dyer came in surreptitiously, why would they send HG openly?” It struck her like a loss, a death. “I suppose I must accept that there is no child. He’s become so real in my mind, I’m loath to let him go. It’s as if he’s imprisoned without anyone even knowing about it, and I must set him free.”

“I’ll make enquiries, Mrs. Gardeyne,” Kerslake said kindly. “I can find out what strange children are in the area, too. I mean ones not connected with local families. There probably won’t be many this time of year, but it will take a few days to have the tally.”

“Thank you.”

Stephen took her hand. “It’s better not to have a child at risk, Laura. What’s more, this means that if anyone is Henry Gardeyne, it must be Captain Dyer himself.”

That revived her. “Yes, of course. Tied up. Behind locked doors.”

“We still have the puzzle of a ten-year absence,” Stephen warned, “and as Nicholas asked, why now?”

“I know, but if it’s true, it’s better.

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