Thomas smiled. How very like his friend it was to want to be in the thick of things. He was reassured by the familiarity of it. What lay ahead of them was complicated and intimidating, but at least he could count on Henry and Duncan to behave in predictable ways. It seemed that, no matter what trials they were facing, the two of them would never take him by surprise.
Suddenly that fact seemed worth more than any possession he owned. There really was nothing in the world to equal a good friendship.
“Thank you,” he told them again. “I know I’ve said it before. Perhaps you’ll tire of hearing it. But I really can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing to help me.”
They looked as if they were about to answer, but before they could speak, the door to the dining room opened and Thomas’s butler entered the room.
“Lord Woodsford,” he said, his agitation showing on his face. “Mr. Crowle is here to see you.”
Thomas’s heart skipped a beat.
He was here already. It was happening. There was no more time to prepare, no more time to wait and speculate about what might happen when he arrived.
It was happening now.
“The study,” he breathed. “Take the stairs in the servants’ part of the Manor. There are pistols in my desk. I’ll delay him as long as I can. Get up there, retrieve the weapons, and hide yourselves in the sitting room. Go quickly.”
They rose to their feet, moving quietly, and retreated through the door that led from the dining room into the ballroom.
Thomas closed his eyes. He took a breath and counted to ten.
It would take them at least two minutes to get upstairs, grab the weapons, and hide themselves.
He would need to keep Crowle in the foyer, keep him talking about mundane things, for at least those two minutes.
He rose to his feet. It was time to put their plan into motion.
Chapter 34
“Good evening, Lord Woodsford,” Crowle said.
There was something mocking in his tone, something Thomas couldn’t quite put his finger on. It was plain, however, that Crowle thought of all this as a joke. He wasn’t concerned about the pain his presence might be causing Thomas. He wasn’t concerned about any upheaval in Thomas’s life.
But that’s no crime. He doesn’t have to be upset about the fact that this is difficult for me.
Thomas schooled his face. He needed to remain focused on his mission. This was about getting information, nothing more.
“Good evening, Mr. Crowle,” he said. “I anticipated that you might come.”
“Shall we proceed into your sitting room so that we might have a conversation?” Crowle asked.
Thomas knew he needed to stall. There was no way Henry and Duncan could have made it upstairs and back down yet. He had to wait, otherwise the entire plan would be for nothing.
“Do we need to converse?” he asked. “I was under the impression that you would just be here to collect a payment from me—a payment that I have ready to go, by the way.”
“I will certainly want to collect that payment from you before I leave,” Crowle said. “But there are some things we must discuss—some nuances about the arrangement we’ve agreed to, which I think you will find very instructive.”
There was definitely something ominous in his tone now. It was almost a threat.
But instead of feeling intimidated, Thomas felt excited. That sounded as though Crowle was planning to try to coerce him the way he had coerced Richard! If he made such an attempt today, in front of Thomas’ witnesses—that would be exactly what Thomas needed to get the debt collector out of his life.
His gaze cut to the burly man who went everywhere with Crowle. As always, he stood in the background, saying nothing, content to watch events unfold.
What would he do if things turned violent? Would he attack? What will he do when Henry and Duncan appear with pistols?
“We can certainly discuss all this,” Thomas said. “Will you permit me to step into the dining room first?”
“The dining room? Why?”
