Page 55 of Honor Unbound

My chest tightened. “So then it’s this way?” I turned, and the shaft of my stick smacked into a strange man’s chest.

“Oi, look what you’re doing!”

I grimaced. “I apologize, but with all the space in this park you had to walk this close to me?”

The man reddened. “You’re blaming me?”

Southey abandoned Ryder’s boot and trotted to my side. He placed himself between me and the irate pedestrian, the fur on his back raising. It was quite sweet that he came if he thought I was in trouble. I didn’t imagine a dog of his size would actually be useful in a scrap, but it was sweet nonetheless.

Ryder interceded. “Of course, she isn’t,” he said smoothly, “but as you’ve suffered no harm how about we all just go about our days. Hmm?”

He offered his arm to me. “Lady Mary? I believe you are in want of refreshment.”

I handed him Southey’s lead, then took his elbow. We marched from the square with chins held high. Ernest drove my carriage slowly, trailing behind us. When we had gone a sufficient distance, I glanced behind. The man fortunately wasn’t following and had continued on his day per Ryder’s advice.

“Phew.” I chuckled lightly. “I thought for a moment that I might actually need an attorney.”

Ryder pursed his lips. “I’m actually surprised you haven’t needed one before now.”

My amusement faded, and I scowled. “You are taking me to the coffeehouse, aren’t you?”

“You won’t beat any other unsuspecting gentlemen with your cane if I do?”

I sniffed. “I will not.” Probably.

He sighed. “Then I suppose I could do with refreshment, as well. And perhaps fortune will favor us. Plummer might not be there.”

Mr. Plummer was there, ensconced at a corner table, a jam tart in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. He looked up when Mr. Ryder called to him, blinking in confusion. “Ryder? Did we have an appointment? Have you returned to the practice of law?”

“No to both those questions.” Ryder scooped Southey up when he made a leap for a ham sandwich on a nearby table. “I’d like to introduce you to Lady Mary Cavindish. Lady Mary, this is Mr. George Plummer, barrister.”

I inclined my head. “A pleasure to meet you.”

He started to rise, his hip banging against the table. His teacup toppled over, sending the dark brew rushing toward a pile of papers in the corner. “Damn and blast.” He scooped up the papers, then tossed his napkin over the liquid. He blotted at the table. “That’s the second cup of tea I’ve lost today.”

Lady Mary waved over a server. “Miss, can you replace Mr. Plummer’s tea? I’ll have a coffee and Mr. Ryder will have…?”

“Tea, as well.” He pulled out a chair for me and I sat. He took another and placed Southey at his feet.

Mr. Plummer organized the papers in a clear corner of the table and settled back down. “What can I do for you, Ryder? Nolegal trouble, I hope. I told you your opinion pieces in the paper would ruffle the wrong feathers.”

I gave Mr. Ryder a look over my spectacles. As a few of those opinion pieces had been directed against me and my club, I could attest to that fact.

Ryder cleared his throat. “No. It is Lady Mary who wished to speak with you.”

“Indeed.” I waited as the server delivered our order. I looked forlornly at their drinks. I much preferred tea to coffee but coffee seemed more appropriate when investigating a murder. More businesslike. “I wished to speak with you about Mr. Trent and his lawsuit against Mr. Gray. You do know Trent is dead, yes?”

“Yes, of course. In fact…” Plummer dug through his stack of papers and pulled a bundle from the middle. Jam from his fingers smeared onto the pages. He rubbed at it, managing to make the damage worse. “Blast. Well, the clerk will still file it. Here is the order ending the suit. I conferred with the widow. As she is now the owner of the factory, she could have cause to maintain the lawsuit, but she declined.”

Ryder stirred some cream into his tea. “Should you be speaking to us regarding private client communications?”

I aimed a kick at him under the table. Why had the man accompanied me if he was going to try to hinder my efforts? A sharp yelp was my response, and my stomach tensed. I bent under the table and petted the dog. “Sorry, Southey. You were not my intended target.” When I righted myself, Ryder gave me an arch look.

I ignored him and turned a smile on the attorney. “Surely as Mr. Trent is dead….”

Mr. Plummer nodded. “And as the widow has confirmed that she will not be pursuing any action against Mr. Gray, the suit is officially over.”

I stirred two lumps of sugar into my coffee, considered, and added a third. “Can you tell me if you thought the lawsuit had a good chance of succeeding? Would Mr. Trent have bankrupted Mr. Gray if it had proceeded?”