Midnight Jewel
Page 111

   “Thank you.” He accepted a tart. “I was in town later than I expected to be. I . . . I think I helped your friend. Miss Bailey. At least, I hope I did. I’m not sure.”
   I set my food down. “What do you mean?”
   “I approached her tonight, offering to help. I was friends with Tamsin—Miss Wright, and I just felt like it was something she’d want me to do.” He looked away for a moment before continuing. “Anyway. I suggested Mister Thorn buy a share in a new colony called Westhaven—”
   “I already know about it. How he’d get amnesty in Denham.”
   “Miss Bailey knew too. What she didn’t know was that there are some representatives of the Westhaven charter in Cape Triumph right now.”
   “But she doesn’t have the money for it yet.”
   “She seemed to think she could get it.”
   “Well, yes, there’s a deal in place, but there’s no time to—” My breath caught. “Mister Stewart, what was she doing when you left?”
   “Getting the money, I think. She said she was going on a short ride. I gave her my horse.”
   A short ride! She was going to get the painting and try to close the deal. Walter Higgins, scrupulous with forged art, had stashed the painting in a village south of Cape Triumph. Adelaide would have to go there first and then back up to Crawford. She’d be on horseback all night.
   “Was anyone with her?”
   “No. She was alone.”
   Adelaide. Alone. Riding in the dark.
   “When did she leave?”
   “I . . . let’s see. I’d say three hours ago. Almost four.”
   “Thank you, Mister Stewart,” I said, rushing past him.
   “What are you going to do?”
   I didn’t answer. I ran up the stairs to my room and began looking for the starry cloak.
 
 
CHAPTER 32

   “LADY AVIEL,” TOM SAID COOLLY. “I THOUGHT YOU retired.”    I stormed through the Dancing Bull and slammed the coin he’d given me down on the table. “I’m calling in my second favor. Now.”
   The other men seated around him fell silent, their eyes wide at my tone. I’d run the entire way from Wisteria Hollow and hoped my exhaustion didn’t show as I glared at Tom. “I’d forgotten you had that,” he remarked. “In retrospect, I’m not sure that scuffle during the Flower Fest really warranted it. I think I was just caught up in the moment.”
   “Don’t play games with her.” Two seats away, Elijah got to his feet. “What do you need? I’ll help you.”
   “You certainly will not,” snapped Tom. “Sit down, and finish the assignments for tomorrow. I’ll deal with this.”
   For a few seconds, the two men were locked in a silent showdown that made the others shift uncomfortably. I recalled how upset Elijah had been about Tom’s actions the night of the storm, but I’d assumed that had all faded. Elijah was one of Tom’s longtime followers. When Elijah did finally return to his chair, his expression stayed vigilant and wary.
   Tom let some suspenseful silence drag out before standing up. “Let’s speak in private, my lady.”
   “We can do it outside,” I told him, as we walked from the table. I nodded at the door. “All I need is a horse.”
   “That’s all? Once again, you’ve asked for a boring favor. The coin’s wasted on you. Come along, then.”
   He led me out to the tavern stables, and I was pleased to see my favorite horse there. “Are you asking to keep her?” he asked.
   I began saddling her. “Only borrowing.”
   “Boring.”
   “I don’t need her for long. I’m just riding out to Crawford and back.”
   Tom cocked his head speculatively. “You aren’t by chance pursuing the much-talked-about Lady Witmore, are you?”
   I paused in my work. “Why would you say that?”
   “Because this is the second time I’ve heard that little town brought up tonight, and I can’t think it’s a coincidence. There’s a man who frequents the Bull—a man of ill repute, not like the rest of us—who came running in not too long ago and gathered up some of his cronies. He said he’d seen Lady Witmore riding north on the border highway. You know there’s a reward for her, right? Put out by her family?”
   I did know that. It was why Adelaide had worked so hard to hide her true identity. If she was riding north already, she’d made good time. She must have the painting, but that was irrelevant if she had brigands in pursuit. I worked more quickly.
   “And,” Tom added, “saving a tragic, romantic figure like her is exactly your style.”
   “I have to go now.” I climbed up and took the reins. “Get out of my way.”
   Tom sighed. “Wait a moment, and I’ll go with you.”
   “Get out of my way,” I repeated. “I don’t want your help.”
   “Yes, but you need it. There are five of them. You’re good, but you can’t take them alone.” He glanced at my belt. “Especially not with that ridiculous knife. Did you get rid of the dirk out of spite?”
   “I lost it in the storm when you abandoned me. Now move!” I growled. “So help me, I will run you down.”
   Tom grabbed a saddle and started working on his destrier. “I’m going. And we’ll grab another dirk on our way out.”
 

   We left the city under a gibbous moon and thundered up the border highway. Fury boiled inside me, and I was glad our pace didn’t allow for conversation. I didn’t want his prattle. I didn’t want anything from him.