Page 13 of Forgotten No More

She arrived at the Drake stables with nary a hitch. After she’d convinced herself that Harold hadn’t followed her, she entered the busy area.

“Can I help ye, Miss?” an elderly man dressed in Drake black and red asked.

She turned her most brilliant smile on the man. “I do believe you can.” Ruby had learned that the surest way to acquire what you desire from a person is to make them feel invaluable to your cause or quest. “I am here to see Alex, one of your stable hands.”

“What ye be needing with the cripple boy?” She could see that the man’s words were not meant to belittle Alex and his disability, only to show he knew of whom she spoke.

“I was sent by Lady Haversham to check on his well-being.” The statement was true…to a point. “He is her ward, and sent me to check that there is nothing he needs.”

The man eyed her suspiciously. “The marquis takes good care of his servants, miss.”

“Oh, I do not doubt that, but Lady Haversham is like a mother to the boy.” She shook her head, as if not understanding the relationship the pair shared.

“Well, I be James, the stable master here,” he finally conceded. “Lady Haversham raised some fine stock in her day. We are happy to have the boy around. You be finding him over in the tack room, detailing the bridles and such.”

Ruby curtseyed to the man, figuring it couldn’t hurt—she may very well need his assistance in the future. “Thank you for your help, James. I will only keep him for a moment.”

“See that you do. Lots of work to be done round here and never enough hands.” James continued on into the main stable house as Ruby went in search of the tack room.

She was not short on experience in stables. The years she’d helped Vi at Foldger’s Foals were some of the best of her life, since her father had passed away.

The room she found Alex in was dimly lit but well-kept. Bridles and ropes hung upon the walls, organized and polished to perfection. Drake ran a tight ship in his stables, but that was to be expected of a marquis of such wealth. Alex faced away from her, hanging a freshly cleaned set of reins. The boy had mastered his deformity so completely that one had to look closely to see that one side moved a bit differently than the other. Involved in a carriage accident only a year into his life, Alex had spent much time concealing his injured arm which, due to limited resources at the time, had not been set correctly. As a result, his left arm was considerably weaker than the other. With much physical exertion, Alex’s leg—which had also sustained damage—had acquired an adequate amount of muscle to disguise his slightly unbalanced walk. Many people would have written off children with such severe injuries, but not Viola. No, she funded a home—a sanctuary—for them. A place where they were loved and educated; a place where they were given a chance for a future.

“Alex.” Ruby didn’t want to startle the boy.

She was the one who was startled, for when he turned around, she was no longer looking at a boy, but a man. Alex had easily added a stone of muscle to his lanky frame. No longer did he resemble the boy with the limp arm who could calm any horse. Now, he appeared the man ready to take on the world and carve his own path in it.

“Miss Ruby?” He moved to her side immediately, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “It is so good to see you. I apologize for my appearance.”

“Never mind your appearance.” She took in his look: sturdy pants, untucked cream shirt, and boots that gleamed. His light brown hair, recently trimmed, was a bit tousled from exertion. He cut a dashing figure, without a doubt. It would not be long before he caught the eye of a very lucky young miss. “I’m only stopping by to see how you fare here.”

“The marquis is a fair man, if not a bit eccentric and of a foul mood more often than not,” Alex said. While the words settled Ruby’s fears, they brought more questions to mind.

“Is he a kind man?”

“Does that matter over much?” he asked. “He is not in the habit of whipping his staff and mainly keeps to himself.”

“Lady Haversham will be happy to hear that. Are you allowed any night off of work?”

“I am new here, Miss Ruby, and quite lucky to have employment at all. Maybe one day I will have a day off per week, but not yet.” He looked down, a faint blush touching his cheeks. “Besides which, I fear I have no one to visit.”

“Lady Haversham would love you to come by her townhouse,” Ruby said. “When you have a free afternoon, that is.”

“I will do my best to come round.”

“I will tell her to expect you one afternoon.” They looked at each other for a moment. Ruby knew it was time to take her leave, but she had so many more questions she needed answered if she was to either cross Drake off her list or, alternatively, learn that he was worth further investigation.

“Does the marquis entertain often?”

“Ummm, well, not since I have been here,” Alex said, clearly puzzled at the question. “He seems to keep to himself mostly. Not many visitors either, now that I think on it. Why?”

“I only ask because Lord and Lady Haversham have yet to receive an invitation to the marquis’ residence.”

Ruby cursed herself inwardly; she would need to improve her questioning tactics if she ever hoped to obtain useful information from anyone.

“Please let them know not to take offense,” Alex said. “I have heard that Drake has not invited guests into his home for over sixteen years.”

So, reclusive as well as a bit eccentric. “Does he ever leave his home?”