Page 73 of Once Upon a Reckless Rogue

The man sat back in his chair. “Ah, the undertaker then,” he said in a lazy manner.

“That would be appreciated.”

“Of course,” he said and turned to his man, issuing instructions. “Come, Markham, I have a room down here where we can talk in peace.”

“John, are you happy to stay here until someone comes to fetch the bodies?”

“Aye, sir.”

“Lead the way,” Thomas said.

Within minutes he was sitting in a small room behind the local haberdashery. It was small and fairly bare of furniture.

“So, tell me. Who are the dead men?”

“They are French spies.”

“Spies? Here?”

“I think they were after the duke,” he lied.

“I imagine a duke would fetch a pretty penny in ransom,” Tomlinson said as he got out a quill and ink.

“Exactly my thoughts. Thankfully, our coachman has a good aim, and I had a pistol at the ready.”

“Yes, good, good. So, they told you they were spies?” he asked as he made notes on the paper.

“Not in so many words,” Thomas said, “but I suspect they are. I mean who else would want to take a duke captive?”

Tomlinson nodded. “True, true. I will have the bodies searched for any identification. If there is anything, I will report it, if not, a pauper’s grave it is, though it is likely too good for them.

“Tell me, Markham. How did you come across highwaymen and spies?”

Thomas told him the story to which the constable wrote everything down. At the end he had used three pieces of paper.

“It is quite a story.”

“It is, but I beg you keep it to yourself. For the safety of the duke, I would not like to see it in the papers. He is a powerful man and would not take it well were he to find out who had leaked it to the press.”

“Oh, I quite understand.”

“The highwaymen, however, you may deal with however you wish.”

“Thank you. Are you going straight on to Weymouth?”

“We will stay at the inn tonight and carry on in the morning. My wife has had quite the shock, you understand.”

“Of course,” he said and then looked up at Thomas. “What about the horses?”

“You may have them if you wish or sell them. I do not want them. You may find they have been stolen.”

“Excellent, excellent. If I have any more questions, I will find you at the inn.”

“Thank you for your time, my lord.”

“I hope the rest of your journey is…uneventful.”

They shook hands, and Thomas left, hoping the lies he had told would be enough to keep this incident out of the papers.