As soon as the outriders saw the Duke of Carlisle, they jumped down and opened the door to the coach. By now, the presence of such a large and expensive conveyance had attracted a crowd, and several people called out to the duke. Henry ignored them and signaled to a footman, who leaned into the coach and emerged with a handful of garments. King recognized coats, breeches, shirts, and waistcoats. “Carry them inside the Silver Unicorn,” King directed the footman. Another reached in and retrieved footwear. King gave him the same directive. “I don’t suppose you managed to get a hold of any plate or silver?”
Henry shook his head. “I imagine the butler and footmen were selling that—if your creditors didn’t take hold of it before they had a chance. I heard there was quite a scene after you left your townhouse. Danby said he almost lost his wig running for the back door.”
King smiled despite his dire circumstances. He would have liked to see Danby fighting his way through the shop owners and debt collectors. “I don’t suppose you can loan me some blunt,” he said. It wasn’t the first time he’d ever asked a friend to give him money, but it was the first time he actually needed the money. It was also the first time he had no way to pay it back.
“Of course,” Henry said, reaching into his coat. He reached into one side then the other and finally produced a fiver. “All I have, I’m afraid. I’m making do on credit at the moment.”
King understood this. He paid for almost everything on credit himself. If only he had seen his father’s guilty verdict coming, he would have prepared and had a stash of pounds on hand. It was his own fault. He hadn’t taken the charges seriously and preferred not to think about his father, rather than plan ahead.
King took the fiver just as Miss Baker and her brothers appeared at his side. “I’ll take that,” she said, snatching the note from his hand.
Chapter Seven
Violet tucked thefiver into her bodice before King could try to snatch it back. His expression was unmasked shock at her audacity, but it was only a moment before his mask fell back in place. She’d rather liked seeing him without his haughty, upper-class mask for a moment. He seemed like a real person rather than one of Cruikshank’s caricatures of a marquess.
“Why are you two standing in the street exchanging blunt?” she demanded. “Do you want to be robbed of all your possessions?” She looked over her shoulder. “I see some of Ferryman’s gang right over there. They’re just waiting for an opportunity.”
King met the other man’s gaze. “Your Grace, may I present Miss Violet Baker and her brothers, Master Joshua Baker and Master George Baker.” He looked at her. “Miss Baker, the Duke of Carlisle.”
The duke gave her a bow. “Charmed, I’m sure.”
“I remember you,” she said. “You were less than charming when you started the riot last night.”
The duke’s brows went up. “I remember you now. You’re the little blue-eyed vixen from the tavern.”
King cleared his throat. “Miss Baker is the proprietress of the Silver Unicorn.”
“It looks as though it’s seen better days,” the duke remarked.
“No thanks to you!” she retorted. “Have you come to take him away?” She aimed her thumb at the marquess.
“Not just now,” the duke said. He looked at his friend. “King, I leave you in very capable hands. Shall I write to you here if I have—er, news?”
“Yes, do. And, Henry, make it quick.”
The duke hopped into his coach, and a moment later, his coachman was urging the horses through the crowded streets. Violet was already inside the tavern. “If you don’t want the clothing stolen right off your back, you’d best come inside,” she told King.
He seemed to wake from his reverie, looked about, and strode inside. She closed the tavern door and barred it. Spying the pile of clothing on the bar, she moved to examine it. “What’s all this, then?”
“Nothing of your concern,” King said, scooping it into his arms. “That five pounds you took was all I had. I’d like it back, please.”
“This tavern is all I have. I’d like all the bottles and tables and chairs you broke back. Not to mention my publican.”
The marquess glared at her.
“You realize that even with these five pounds, you still owe me two pounds—”
“Fifteen shillings. Yes, I know. I too can subtract.”
“When will you pay me the rest?”
“Vi.” Joshua took her arm and pulled her into a corner. “Look at the man.” She glanced over her shoulder to look at King. He was leaning against the bar, clutching clothing to his chest. “He looks as though he’s had a shock. He may need a day or two to come up with the blunt.”
“You’re onhisside?”
“I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m just saying, if you look past the money, you’ll see something is wrong. He wouldn’t be here if it weren’t.”
“If I look past the money?” Violet shook her head. “If I forget about the money, then we can forget about the tavern. And if we lose that, we’re out on the street. I don’t have to tell you what happens if we’re forced to live on the street.”
