Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) (17 page)

“Thank you, Mabel, a bit of tea would be most appreciated. Get my brain in gear this morning.”

Mabel nodded, took her bucket and elbowed through to the kitchen. “I’ll be right back, mum. Won’t take but a moment.”

Tanyth watched the two girls—Elly and another that she didn’t recognize—working on the last of the tables. They smiled at her as they took up brooms and set about sweeping down the large room, shepherding the dirt toward the hearth, their straw brooms making little scritch-scritching sounds on the worn floorboards. Tanyth stepped aside and took a seat out of harm’s way just in time for Mabel to come back from the kitchen with a sturdy china pot and two mugs.

“Here we go, mum.” She set the pot on the table and took a seat with her. “I’m ready for my tea as well. Do you mind if I join you?”

Tanyth smiled. “It’s your place. Help yourself.”

Mabel grinned back. “Well, I don’t wanna impose, but I do so miss conversation...” She stopped, coloring a bit about the ears as she covered her confusion by pouring tea into the mugs.

The two girls finished sweeping and put their brooms away. Mabel saw and called to them. “Thank you, girls. Your tea’s on the work table in the kitchen.”

They each gave a short curtsey then scurried off to their breakfasts.

Mabel looked across at Tanyth. “They’re good girls, really. Just need a bit of direction now and again.” She blew across the mouth of her mug before taking a sip. “And somebody to keep ’em on the straight and narrow, if you know what I mean, mum.”

Tanyth took a sip of her own tea, nearly scalding her tongue on the hot brew, and nodded. “I suspect it’s hard with so many men here all the time.”

Mabel gave her head a little sideways shake. “Odd but the carters and drivers that we get behave pretty good. Most are too fat or too old...” Mabel fetched up on that with a glance across at Tanyth. “No offense, mum.”

“None taken.”

“Your Frank’s a fine gentleman, he is. Been comin’ here for three or four years, I think.”

“Well, he’s not
my
Frank.” Tanyth said over the top of her mug. “I’m just kinda borrowin’ him for a time. I need to give him back when I’m done.”

Mabel blinked at her as if not quite sure what to make of the statement.

“I’ll be taking passage to North Haven as soon as I can. He’ll be heading back to Ravenwood when he finishes his business.”

“Ravenwood, is it? That what they decided on for a name?”

“Yeah. Seems to suit. They built an inn out there last winter. Should make things a little easier for ’em.”

“Do tell! Sounds like it’s turning into quite the little township.” Mabel sipped her tea. “Frank don’t talk about it much, but once in a while we get him chattin’ in an evenin’.”

They sipped tea quietly for a few moments before Mabel asked, “What’s in North Haven?”

“Just passin’ through on the way north. I need to visit somebody up there.”

“My goodness! Nothin’ north of North Haven that I ever hear tell of,” she said. “Nothin’ but woods and mountains and more woods and mountains.”

Tanyth grinned. “Well, I’m heading up to Lammas Wood, so I guess that’s part of the woods.”

“Just you and the girl out into the wilderness like that, mum?” Mabel seemed shocked.

“You know Lammas Wood?”

Mabel shook her head. “Not me, mum. Only what I hear. Stories and whatnot around the fire.”

“What kinda stories?” Tanyth asked, making conversation and not really expecting any answers.

Mabel leaned in and lowered her voice. “Well, mum, I hear there’s bears there. And wolves.”

Tanyth smiled at the seriousness of the woman’s tone. “Can’t say as I’m surprised. That’s where the bearskins and wolf pelts come from. Figger they must grow up there.”

Mabel nodded and sipped her tea. “Still, mum, some of the stories the men tell ’bout what happens up there...”

“Well, men. You know how they can be. Strong enough in groups, but scared of the dark by themselves, some of them.”

Mabel rocked back in her chair with a hearty laugh and took a deep pull from her tea. “Well, that’s true enough, mum. And they do come up with some outlandish stories at times, I swear.” She gave a half smile and arched an eyebrow in Tanyth’s direction. “Still, good to snuggle up to on a cold winter night, eh, mum?”

Tanyth toasted the younger woman with her mug. “I’ll drink to that,” she said with a smile.

A man wearing a dark green shirt rolled up to his elbows and a pair of work pants held up with suspenders walked into the taproom from the kitchen. He nodded a greeting to Tanyth and Mabel reached out to take his hand. “Mother Fairport, this here’s my husband, Matt. Matt, this is Mother Fairport. She’s stayin’ with us for a few days.”

Matt knuckled his forehead, the scent of horse wafting from him. “Good mornin’, Mother Fairport. Pleased to meet ya.”

“Matt,” she nodded. “Nice to meet you, too. Frank tells my you run a fine stable.”

“Frank Crane?” he asked. “Nice of ’im. Got a crack team, he does. And ’e knows how to treat ’em. Better’n some treat their wives.”

Mabel coughed and looked up to her husband. “Something you needed, my dear?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, reminded of his errand. “When Toby comes down, tell him his mare’s set. Your brother finished shoeing last night and she’s ready to get back on the road.”

Mabel nodded. “Sure will. He’ll be glad to be movin’ again.”

“Thanks,” he said and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “Pleasure to meet you, mum,” he said to Tanyth. As he turned to walk back through the kitchen, Mabel gave him a pat on the backside. He smiled back at her from the door.

Mabel saw Tanyth looking and gave her a shy smile. “Fifteen winters we been together. He still warms me just by lookin’.”

Tanyth smiled and thought of the old man asleep in her bed. She took a pull from her mug and remembered that she’d locked him in. “Speakin’ of men. I better go let Frank out. He’ll want to be getting’ on with his day, I wager.”

Mabel snickered. “You locked him in?”

Tanyth stood and smiled down at her. “Well, good man like that, you don’t want him wanderin’ around loose on his own now, do ya?”

Mabel laughed and waved her off. “We’ll have a full breakfast here in another hour or so. Bring him down and we’ll feed him up for ya. He’ll need his strength.”

Tanyth laughed at that and headed back up the stairs to see if the man in question was awake. As she climbed, she pondered how she might wake him if he weren’t.

Tanyth’s staff echoed a bit in the cavernous office belonging to George Pendleton, Esq. She felt a bit unsure of herself among the fine furnishings and walls with paintings on them. A large, glazed window gave George Pendleton, Esq. a fine view of the docks over the roofs of a few low buildings. Tanyth turned to face the florid-faced man standing behind the ornate carved-wood desk.

“Mr. Crane, always a pleasure. How can I help you today?”

Frank shook Pendleton’s offered hand. “Nothing for me, Mr. Pendleton. This is Tanyth Fairport. She’s the one you need to help today.”

Mr. Pendleton looked from Frank to Tanyth and back again. “Certainly, and what might I do for Mother Fairport today, Mr. Crane?”

Tanyth stepped in front of Frank and said, “You can start by talking to me directly, young man.”

Mr. Pendleton looked Tanyth up and down once very slowly. The touches of gray at his temples told Tanyth he probably wasn’t used to being called young man. His sour expression told her he didn’t much like it.

“Madame, it is simply not appropriate for you to take that tone with me.”

Tanyth smiled. “Good. At least we agree that tone is important. I have business with you, Mr. Pendleton. I’ve brought Frank along to vouch for me. You know he’s an agent of William Mapleton’s company?”

Mr. Pendleton blinked rapidly several times, glancing up at Frank and then back at Tanyth. “Yes, madame. He is.”

“Excellent,” she said and pulled the sealed envelope from her coat pocket. “I was instructed by Mr. Mapleton to present this to you so I can arrange passage to North Haven.”

Mr. Pendleton looked at the envelope as if it might be a snake, or perhaps a mud pie. “Madame, this is the Royal Bank, not a booking office.” He scowled at Tanyth as if mortally insulted.

“Mr. Pendleton, perhaps you might read the letter from William?” Frank suggested. “I believe it will clear up any...um...misunderstandin’s you might have about Mother Fairport here.”

Tanyth was mildly put out with Frank for interfering, but Mr. Pendleton looked at Frank and then back at the envelope before taking it gingerly between thumb and forefinger. “Very well,” he said in much the same tone that Tanyth had heard children agree to eat vegetables.

He tilted the envelope up to the light, pushing his spectacles up to peer closely at the seal.

“It’s valid, Mr. Pendleton,” Frank murmured.

Mr. Pendleton shot a look at Frank. “Do you know what’s in this?”

Tanyth heard Frank shuffle his feet but fought the urge to look back at him.

“More or less.”

“So you’ll know if it’s been tampered with?” Mr. Pendleton looked at Tanyth with a barely concealed accusation in his eyes.

“Oh, yes, sir. Without a doubt,” Frank said.

Pendleton sighed, took a seat behind the desk, and broke the wax seal. He removed a single sheet of paper. As he read it, the color on his face drained away and then refilled again in a rich scarlet. “This is preposterous,” he said. He looked over Tanyth’s head at Frank once more. “Mr. Crane, you cannot believe that the Royal Bank will honor this request. It’s simply not done.”

“Are you certain, Mr. Pendleton?” Frank asked. Tanyth recognized a quiet, dangerous tone in Frank’s voice and turned to look at him. He smiled down at her.

“Quite positive, Mr. Crane.” Mr. Pendleton jumped to his feet and shook the letter in the air. “To give this much to a woman? It simply is not done, sir.”

Tanyth felt caught between a whirlwind and the deep blue sea. She thumped the iron heel of her staff once on the wooden floor. “You might try talking to me, Mr. Pendleton, and explain what the issue is.”

Mr. Pendleton looked up to Frank and back at Tanyth. “Madame, Mr. Mapleton has asked me to withdraw from his accounts a sum which is completely inappropriate for a woman to have in her control.”

“How much, Mr. Pendleton?” she asked, more curious than furious, although she suspected her fury would come along soon enough. The closeness of the office after over a week on the road, the cloying scent of furniture wax, and the ludicrousness of the situation added fuel to a temper that was already dangerously close to breaking lose.

“Twenty gold crowns, madame.”

“And does his account not hold twenty gold crowns, Mr. Pendleton?” Tanyth asked.

“Of course, of course, madame, but that’s not the point.”

“What
is
the point, Mr. Pendleton?” Frank’s voice, calm and deceptively quiet cut through the office.

“Mr. Crane, you know as well as I that handing that much money over to a woman is completely inappropriate.”

Frank laid a hand on Tanyth’s shoulder. She felt him vibrating through it. “So if, for example, I was to request that amount, there would be no problem?”

Relief washed over Mr. Pendleton’s face. “Exactly so, Mr. Crane. I’m so glad you—”

Frank held out a second envelope. “Then perhaps you might read
this
letter, Mr. Pendleton.”

Mr. Pendleton smiled and took the letter. “Of course, Mr. Crane.” He broke the seal and began reading even as he talked. “Royal Bank stands ready to...” His voice trailed off and he sat back down, gingerly balancing on the edge of his chair. Tanyth could see his eyes trace and retrace the words on the page.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Pendleton?” Frank’s voice chilled even Tanyth.

Mr. Pendleton took off his spectacles to stare at Frank over Tanyth’s head. He opened and closed his mouth several times as if looking for and failing to find the words.

“Is there?” Frank repeated.

Tanyth watched Mr. Pendleton fumble his glasses back onto his face and take a moment to smooth his shirtwaist. His hands shook visibly. “No, Mr. Crane, no problem. Just one moment, please.”

Mr. Pendleton rang a small silver bell on his desk and a youth entered the room almost immediately. “Bolton, please fetch twenty gold crowns for me.”

“Twenty gold crowns, Mr. Pendleton. Yes, sir.”

“A moment, if you please?” Tanyth said.

Mr. Pendleton’s color lost some of its pastiness and he was able to almost look at her. “Yes, Madame Fairport?”

“Correct me if I’m mistaken but a gold crown is rather a heavy and unwieldy item?”

Frank snorted behind her in something that she suspected was a laugh.

Mr. Pendleton looked at her with an expression of disbelief. “Well, madame, perhaps so. Why do you ask?”

She sighed and turned to Frank. “Mr. Crane, should a frail old woman like myself be wanderin’ the streets of this fair city with that much gold on my person?”

Frank's eyes danced and his lips twitched in what threatened to be a grin. “No, mum. That might be a bit unwise.”

“I thought so myself.” Tanyth nodded as if making up her mind about something before turning to Mr. Pendleton. “Sir?”