Page 76 of Love with a Notorious Rake

There was only one chair in the room, so Aidan remained standing, and wasted no time relaying all that had happened since he’d arrived in the village.

“Good God,” Muggeridge murmured. “Bodies of children in a mass grave is serious indeed. We could be talking of gross negligence, manslaughter, or at least criminal neglect. I am a barrister, so I know of what I speak.”

“What would happen to the mill if McRae were arrested?” Aidan asked.

Muggeridge rubbed his chin. “I would imagine, if he were found guilty, the crown would seize the property until a suitable buyer could be found.”

“If that should come about, I wish to purchase it. Please contact me before anyone else. Can you do that?” Him? The owner of a cotton mill? Why the hell not? “I would not mistreat, neglect, or harm the workers. Every rule and regulation would be followed to the letter.” Aidan would find capable local men who could run the day-to-day operations—Miller came to mind.

“I will. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. What is your plan?”

“When dawn breaks, I’ll be taken to the grave by the lad I told you about, and we will commence digging.”

“I want to be there. But before that, I will send for a number of soldiers from Leicester. They will keep order, and also keep people away from the dig site. You are sure of this boy’s tale? If we’re wrong, it could bring about a whole collection of tribulations.”

“I believe him. Besides, you’re the queen’s representative. No feeble threats from McRae will ever transpire.”

With a shake of hands and an agreement to fetch Muggeridge at dawn, Aidan hurried to Samuel’s room. Once inside, he relayed all that had happened that evening. “We will need at least one other man to assist us with…” He paused. Delaney. Was he still in the vicinity? Why even consider him when Aidan wanted to keep the man firmly in his past? His brawn would certainly come in handy, not only for the digging, but in keeping others away. “Remember the large man who forced his way into the clinic this past February?”

Samuel nodded.

“He’s here, in the village. Not staying at the inn; he prefers to rent rooms. I need you to locate him. We have spoken and cleared the air.” More or less. “Find him, and bring him to the inn later tonight. You remember what he looks like?”

“Aye, sir. Are you sure you wish to include this man?”

“Yes. Ask around; he’s not hard to miss. We will also need shovels.” Aidan thought of the gardening shed in the rear yard. “I will collect some. Go, Samuel.”

Once Samuel departed, Aidan headed to the shed. It wasn’t easy stumbling about the yard in the dark. Damn it, a padlock!

By the time he found Atwood, asked permission to borrow the shovels, gathered them, and brought them to his room, Samuel had arrived with a hulking Delaney.

“Never thought you’d ask to see me again,” he grumbled.

“Neither did I. But I have a job for you. It pays fifty pounds.”

“Oh, aye, and I’m to leave right after?” he snapped. “Sounds like another bribe.”

“It’s not. Have you started working for the stocking masters?”

Delaney curled his lip in disgust. “Aye. It involved me bullying poor folk to part with their meager coins to pay rent on the frames. Doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Then the fifty pounds will eliminate your need for the job. If you wish to stay in this area, there may be more respectable employment for you in the future. Or you can move on. The decision is yours.”

Delaney gave him a dubious look. “And what do I have to do for this money?”

“Grave digging. At dawn. Do you accept?”

“I can’t figure you out,” Delaney said, shaking his head.

“I’ve been told that on many occasions,” Aidan replied. “Taking the work, then?”

“I’ll not ask what it’s about, but I’ll take it.”

“Be here as soon as the sun rises.”

As Delaney nodded and turned to leave, Aidan exhaled. Never had he imagined he would be working alongside him, considering their past association. But though the man physically resembled a brute—and often acted like one—Aidan had come to believe that Delaney had his own code of honor. Tomorrow would bring revelations of all sorts.

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