Her Grace's Stable: A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 2

Her Grace's Stable: A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 2 Read Free Page B

Book: Her Grace's Stable: A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 2 Read Free
Author: Joely Sue Burkhart
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Chumlee, introduced the man only as Jemm. He drew up with a righteous glare of indignation when he saw that she wasn’t alone.
    “Mr. Jemm, come in, sir, and make your accusations.”
    “No mister, just Jemm,” the man muttered. He yanked his cap off and twisted the wool in his hands. He might be dressed as a yeoman, but the wool and linen were especially fine quality to her eye. “Your man took something last night and my boss wants it back.”
    “I see,” Violet replied coolly. “Pray tell, what did my man take, and who may your boss be?”
    “He took a slave and my boss wants him back. I won’t tell you who she is because I’m well paid to protect her privacy.”
    “Slavery is illegal in all of Her Majesty’s territories.” While the Sheriff of Blackmyre might have suspicions about exactly what happened at the current Duchess’s parties, she was staunchly for Queen first and Blackmyre (no matter what eccentrics the aristocracy might possess) second. “You must make a formal statement about how this slave was acquired.”
    For a moment, Jemm tensed and glanced at the door as if to make a run for it, but then he grinned and shrugged. “I’ll tell you what I remember but I’m afraid my memory’s not the best. I’ve been kicked in the head a few too many times by feisty horses.”
    Violet narrowed a glare on the man, because his meaning was clear. “If your boss was interested in willing ponies I don’t think you’d have been kicked quite so many times.”
    “What’s the fun in that? Don’t you know, Your Grace, it’s the unruly ponies that are the most fun to break?”
    He gave her a lecherous wink that made her stomach quiver with cold dread. Perhaps she’d made a mistake inviting the sheriff to be present. Her loyalty had been unswerving thus far, but if the truth came out about exactly what kind of pony slave they were talking about…
    I don’t care what Society thinks. But I do care if my own people begin to revile me, like the Dowager hated Papa.
    “I’m confused,” Sheriff Benton said slowly. “Are we talking about slaves or horses?”
    Jemm waited with that awful gleam in his eye, but Violet refused to back down. There had to be a way to reprimand the man without revealing all the cards in her hand. “I’m not entirely sure,” she said just as slowly, letting a frown flicker across her face. “My man found a pony being horribly mistreated last night, so badly that we almost had to put him down. Is that what you’re talking about, Jemm?”
    “This pony ,” Jemm replied just as carefully, “hadn’t been sold yet and was putting up a good fight at the auction. His handler might have gotten a little out of hand.”
    “An auction,” Violet drawled, leaning forward. “Now that’s something I’d be interested in. I’m always on the lookout for good horseflesh.”
    “I thought as much.” Jemm laughed and rubbed his hands together as though he could already feel the heavy weight of her gold in his hands. “Perhaps my boss will extend an invitation to our next private auction if Your Grace is interested.”
    She pushed one of her calling cards across the glossy desk toward him. “Indeed, I am. Please do extend my regrets to your boss about last night’s unpleasantness. Given the dreadful condition of the pony we recovered, I’m afraid I can’t in good conscience let him be returned. How much would it take to compensate your losses?”
    He quoted a sum that made her arch her brow, but quickly amended, “But since he’s been damaged, as you said, perhaps you’d consider half the price?”
    “Agreed, on one condition. The handler who abused him must be terminated immediately. I’m appalled at the way this poor pony was treated.”
    “I’ll pass your recommendation on to the boss, Your Grace. I don’t have any say in the business dealings between her and the handlers.”
    “Perhaps she could arrange a tour at your next auction so I can see the training procedures. I

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