The man shifted uneasily. "I dinna' know as I'd say the proprietor."
"What are ye talking about, Jack?" the customer cut in. "You owned this shop your whole life. Got it from your dad."
"Bart," Jack growled, "mind your business." Jack scurried toward the far end of the counter. He flipped a section of the counter up, passed through, and hurried toward Bart. Jack pressed the watch into his hand. "Be on your way," he growled, and shoved Bart toward the door.
"Now, see here," Bart began, but halted when his gaze met Marcus's. He looked from Marcus to Justin. "Bloody gentry. Think they own the world." He continued grumbling as he shuffled toward the door.
The hustle and bustle of passing hackneys and men's shouts filled the room as he opened the door, then cut off abruptly when the door banged shut.
Jack hurried back behind his counter. He stopped across from Marcus and Justin. "Now, what can I do for you gentleman?"
From inside his jacket pocket, Marcus produced the pawn ticket for Elise's wedding band and placed it on the counter. "I am here about this ring."
The shop owner picked up the paper and began reading it. "Ahh, yes, I knew her husband would come for this one day. Yes, I did," he added as he scurried toward a curtained doorway in a corner behind the counter. "A fine piece of jewelry, this one. No' something a man is likely to be pleased about his wife selling." Jack paused, hand on the curtain and looked over his shoulder. "Your wife" He looked from Justin to Marcus. "Er, your wife, m'lord?"
Marcus nodded.
"I can see you have the situation well in hand." Jack disappeared behind the curtain.
A moment later, Jack burst through the curtain, a fragment of folded velvet in hand. He laid the fabric on the counter before Marcus and unwrapped it. Marcus stared at the gold band glistening against the black fabric.
"I—" he began.
"Well, there you are," Justin interrupted. "Just as you knew it would be." Justin looked at him. "That'll teach you something of a woman's wrath."
Marcus stared blankly at him.
Justin turned to Jack. "You know how women are."
"Oh, indeed, m'lord. Indeed, I do."
Justin produced a roll of banknotes from his pocket. "How much did you pay her?"
Jack picked up the paper. "Here it is." He pointed a bony finger at the figure scrawled in the bottom corner of the paper. "Five sovereign."
Justin counted out ten pound notes. "I trust this will account for your efforts."
Jack's eyes glittered. "Aye, m'lord. Indeed, it will, indeed, it will."
He snatched up the notes as though expecting Justin to change his mind and stuffed them into his pocket. He rewrapped the ring, then produced a small wooden box from beneath the counter and placed the ring inside. He looked at Marcus and extended the box toward him.
"There you go, m'lord. As good as new."
Marcus took the box.
"Good day to you," Justin said, and looked at Marcus. "Come along, my good fellow. You'd best get back and deal with this matter straight away."
Jack snickered, but Marcus paid no heed as he followed the earl out the door. Justin took a few steps on the walkway, then stopped, looking toward the east.
"What is it?" Marcus demanded, following his line of sight along the busy dock.
Justin looked in the opposite direction. "We left Kiernan hours ago. I expected him before this."
"He is on his way to London as I instructed."
Justin grunted. "You don't know your son as well as you might think."
"What matters is that he knows me. I will make good on my threat to have him bound and taken back to Brahan Seer."
"It doesn't matter if you threatened to dismember the boy, he will appear sooner or later. You should hope for sooner; that will allow you to keep him under your watchful eye."
Marcus didn't reply. Instead, he opened the box containing the ring and removed it from the velvet wrapping. His heartbeat raced. The ring had been given to Elise by another man, but it belonged to her—was once a part of her. He closed his fingers into a fist around the ring. The cold metal warmed within his grasp. If he held the only remaining part of her, he could once again hold her.
"There is much in her past," Marcus said to himself.
"You're thinking of Price Ardsley," Justin said.
Marcus looked up sharply. "He's here. Or was."
"There is something going on with him."
"Imagine if she one day demanded the twenty-five per cent interest in Landen Shipping."
"By God, Marcus," Justin exclaimed. "You're as rich as the devil himself and still landed yourself an heiress."
Marcus started.
"Bloody hell," Justin muttered. "Deem me the fool I am. The words were out of my mouth before my brain could catch up."
Marcus gave a tired smile. "An uncommon state of mind for you."
Justin sighed, then gave him a long look. "You are going to America, then?"
"You won't dissuade me."