Page 141 of A Debt Inherited

Fitzwilliam drew off one glove finger by finger. “Roark.”

The broad man’s eyes shifted towards the passage.

Simms smiled without warmth. “Obliged.”

A door opened beyond the room.

A man came out wiping his fingers with a folded cloth. He wore no coat, only a dark waistcoat over shirtsleeves turned once at the wrist. His hair lay smooth. A scar cut from his forehead through a clouded eye and down to the side of his mouth. He had the unhurried look of a man who met surprise with equanimity.

Fitzwilliam saw the cloth was stained with blood.

Roark exchanged the cloth to his other hand, wiped his fingers, then dropped the cloth on a table.

His knuckles glistened wet.

“You enter with ceremony,” he said.

Fitzwilliam let the glove hang from his bare hand. “Roark.”

“That depends upon who asks.”

“Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

The man’s good eye moved from Harris to Simms, then to Villiers. It lingered there.

“Then I am Roark.”

Fitzwilliam looked at the wet shine upon Roark’s knuckles. “Busy evening.”

“A private correction.” Roark flexed his hand once. “You have interrupted the lesson.”

Fitzwilliam allowed his mouth to curve. “Then let us be civil over a glass. We have matters to discuss.”

Roark sucked on his teeth. “My pleasure, Colonel.” He gestured to the broad man behind the bar. “The house buys one, Jessup.”

A few men shifted towards the casks, their backs to Harris and Simms.

Fitzwilliam inclined his head. “Sensible.”

Jessup set two glasses upon the nearest table and poured from a stone bottle.

“And those two?” he asked, throwing a look over his shoulder at Harris and Simms.

“Colonel?” Roark inquired.

“Leave them be,” Fitzwilliam said. “They prefer free hands.”

Jessup muttered, “Bloody red-coats and their kennel curs,” and hurried away.

Roark drained his glass. Fitzwilliam left his untouched.

Roark’s good eye moved to the glass. “You asked for civility.”

“I did not promise thirst.”

Roark set down his empty glass. His good eye sharpened with interest.

“You have my curiosity, Colonel.” Roark leant forward and laced his fingers. “Let us discover which of us dislikes the answers.”