Silence fell as everyone pondered that prospect and whether it got them any further.
Eventually, Nicholas shifted focus. “Another question is whether the man who met Phillip in the tavern is the blackmailer—meaning the person who wants the horse—or merely an agent acting on orders.”
Adriana nodded. “If he is a go-between, then even if he hands over the letters, us then seizing him might not lead us to the blackmailer—meaning the one actually behind this.”
The others murmured reluctant agreement.
“Another point that’s been bothering me,” Phillip said, “is how did the man I met in the tavern—or if he’s merely a go-between, then the ultimate blackmailer—know about The Barbarian in the first place?” He looked at Adriana. “From what I’ve gathered, Papa didn’t advertise that he had the horse.”
Nicholas tipped his head Phillip’s way. “That’s another excellent question.”
Viola looked from one of them to the other. “We seem to have a lot of questions to which we have no answers.”
Adriana sighed. “Indeed.”
“Given it seems unlikely that it’s another breeder, illicit or otherwise, behind this,” Nicholas said, “then learning why the blackmailer wants The Barbarian in particular will almost certainly give us a clue as to who the blackmailer is.”
Everyone agreed, but as that still got them no further, by mutual accord, they set aside all unanswered questions and speculations and returned to reviewing their arrangements for the handover.
Phillip observed, “I expect he’ll be waiting farther along The Drove, where it’s open fields on either side.”
“Most likely,” Nicholas concurred. “He won’t want to risk being seen by some cottager.”
“So,” Adriana said, “when, leading The Barbarian, Phillip rides his chestnut along The Drove to meet the man, we’ll already be in position behind the hedges.”
“Us and the grooms and stablemen,” Nicholas confirmed. Viola had added two of her stablemen to their group. Nicholas went on, “All told, we’ll have nine on watch, stationed around the likely handover site and along the lane in both directions, ready to follow regardless of which way the blackguard goes.”
Dickie nodded. “And whichever route he takes, we’ll follow.”
Viola frowned. “But as the meeting is at ten o’clock, in the very last of the light, surely he won’t be able to go far tonight.”
Nicholas shrugged. “Most likely, he’ll head north to Holdingham. That would be within reach.”
Phillip nodded. “If he stays there overnight, he’ll be able to head north, east, or west, or even south, bypassing Sleaford, in the morning.”
“That does seem his most likely move.” Adriana looked at Phillip and Viola. “Are you sure about the number of letters there should be?”
“I’m sure.” Viola looked at Phillip. “There should be seventeen in all.”
He gave her a weak smile. “I’ll make sure to count them before handing over The Barbarian’s reins.”
“Once you do,” Nicholas continued, “you’ll come straight back here and wait to hear from us as to which way he’s gone.” He looked at Adriana and Dickie. “Meanwhile, we three and the others will wait in The Drove and on the lanes and follow the man when he leaves. After we know where he’s gone to ground for the night, we’ll return here as well and make plans for following him when he continues on tomorrow.”
They sat and imagined how that would play out.
Adriana mused, “We do need to follow him, don’t we? We can’t just stop him in The Drove and take back the horse, because that won’t necessarily tell us what this is all about.”
“What the man does with the horse will tell us whether he himself is the blackmailer or if he’s working for someone else,” Nicholas said.
“If he’s just a go-between, working for the blackmailer,” Dickie said, “we’ll need to follow long enough to learn who the blackmailer is, then expose the pair of them.” He sounded quite bloodthirsty.
Silence ensued as they pondered that.
Eventually, Viola stirred. When the others looked at her, she said, “In reality, how easy will it be to reclaim the horse?”
Along with the others, she looked at Nicholas.
He smiled reassuringly. “Given the earl holds The Barbarian’s registration papers, which includes a detailed description of the horse, then that together with my standing in the Thoroughbred breeding industry will ensure that laying claim to the horse will be a mere formality.” He glanced at Phillip, Adriana, and Dickie. “Having three Sommervilles, including the earl’s heir, present will make the outcome a foregone conclusion.”
