The Emerald Threads: A Crown Jewels Regency Mystery (The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries Book 4) by Lynn Morrison & Anne Radcliffe

Author:Lynn Morrison & Anne Radcliffe [Morrison, Lynn & Radcliffe, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marketing Chair Press
Published: 2024-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

“The profits ain’t worth the risk no more—not when ships are headin' out wi' proper goods, lining the pockets o' the captain and crew. War’s been good business up here, y’see, what wi’ the price o' wool these days. Soldiers need their uniforms.”

Roland rubbed his chin. “Mr Dacre said something like wool is worth ten times as much by weight as a child.”

“An’ Mr Dacre’d have the right o’ it.”

“You extracted a promise from me to only tell me what I already knew?”

The smuggler rubbed his cheek. “I wouldn’t want to be tellin’ any yarns about what’s goin’ on at the docks, m’lord, but some folk might be spinning tales about what’s really going out in some o’ the sacks o’ grain.” The gaffer spoke the words like a riddle, one he clearly didn’t intend to answer for them.

Thorne was frowning, absentmindedly rubbing the spot on his arm where the bones had broken. It must be aching from the cold, Roland thought, despite the heavy wool… cloth.

Digging into his pockets, Roland found a half crown, and he tossed it to the old codger. “I reckon you have earned a good meal tonight.”

Roland strode quickly in the direction of the inn, and only Thorne’s inability to catch up without looking ridiculous slowed his pace. The two men found the magistrate still sitting with Mr Robson and Mr Treadwell. Everyone looked up from the table, surprised at the intensity of his arrival.

“Mr Robson, Mr Treadwell, forgive me for asking you directly, because I must confess that my knowledge of the industry in Alnmouth is sorely out of date. To your knowledge, is someone in Alnmouth spinning or carding wool in quantity?”

All three men at the table blinked at him as though he had suddenly sprouted horns.

“Er, no, Lord Percy,” Mr Treadwell answered. “At least, not to my knowledge. Sheep farmers there are aplenty, but… Well, perhaps Mr Robson would know better. He has lived here longer.”

Robson’s forehead creased heavily, his face growing solemn. “There are no wool mills here. Most farmers ship the raw wool elsewhere.”

The magistrate’s face was set in a heavy frown. “Explain the direction of your thoughts, Lord Percy.”

Roland glanced at his brother, fudging the truth a bit. “Sir Nathaniel discovered that someone is exporting more than just raw wool from Alnmouth. An odd circumstance indeed, especially if there are no mills in the area. And Constable, I would appreciate your help in determining where this wool appears to be coming from. I am possessed of a strong suspicion that if we find this missing wool, we might also find some missing children.”

Mr Robson’s mouth parted in surprise. Judging the faces around the table, he was not the only one aghast at the idea. “I will look into it at once, Lord Percy.”

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