Richard wasted no time and the very next morning took his favorite stallion in to be shod loosening one shoe just slightly to give him an excuse. "Excuse me," Richard said as he tried to get the attention of the elderly man hammering away in the corner of the shop.

"Pardon me," Richard said again. The man had seemed to finally recognize there was someone in his shop.

"What can I do for you son?" the older man asked wiping the sweat and some dirt from his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

"My horse," Richard said, "has slipped his shoe. Could you repair it?"

"Of course, horseshoes are my specialty. Let's take a look," the farrier said as he rounded the counter to examine the hoof of the black beauty outside. "Fine looking animal you got here," he said as he gave the animal a pat to let it know he meant it no harm, rubbing its muzzle in a comforting way. "You from around here?"

"Thank you. No, just passing through. My name is..." Richard had to pause a moment he couldn't say his given name... "Cyril. Cyril Kane," he said, using the first male name to that came to mind. He did not wish to arouse suspicion. He even took care to dress beneath his station, to make the ruse complete. "And my friend there is Midnight."

"Well good day to you both," he said wiping his hand on his apron before shaking Richard's hand. "Barneby. Barneby Smith."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Smith. I certainly appreciate your taking a look at him right away like this. You seemed awfully busy back there. I thought I might need to come back tomorrow. Do you not have any help?"

"No need really," Barneby said as he looked over the damage to the shoe. "I manage to do just fine on my own. My son used to help me around the shop but I really did not need him here. Besides he had plans to be a famous barrister someday. He is paying for his own education," he said with pride.

"Really," Richard said with the appropriate amount of surprise, "that must be difficult." A killer with an interest in law, interesting, Richard mused. "I could not afford school myself so I up and joined the military," Richard supplied hoping to receive as much background information as he could on Marcus.

"Well my son, Marcus, he has never been afraid of hard work. In these changing times, a man can gain a position from wealth, he seems more driven than ever to make a name for himself. He has taken a position as a groom at Bentley Manor just south of here. Impossible to miss it if you travel that way. The place looks like a palace," Barneby announced as he removed the shoe and tried banging out the obvious bend in it.

Richard was grateful that Barneby was busy working. It gave him time to recover from the shock that a murderer may be living currently under his very roof. "However did he manage a position there?" Richard asked a little louder to be heard over the hammering.

Barneby just shrugged as he examined the shoe for any more dents. "Don't rightly know. The Mistress of the household has been pretty neglectful of us tenants but I understand the new Lord of the Manor has recently returned and is making many needed improvements."

"Does he enjoy employment under the new Master?"

"I really cannot say. I have not seen my son much since he started working there a few months ago. They must be keeping him very busy."

So, Marcus must have been hired at Bentley Manor immediately after Mr. Chase had let him go. With a letter of recommendation from Mr. Chase, Marcus would have been accepted without question if such a position was available within his home. He must talk with Albert, he would be in charge of the hirings.

"Well, good as new," Barneby said after shoeing Richard's horse and dusting off his pants.

"You are craftsmen," Richard said looking over Midnight's shoe admiring Barneby's work. "What do I owe you?"

"Five shillings will do," Barneby said as he went back into his shop. "Here have eight?" Richard said. "Consider it a thank you for the good conversation it has been a long and lonely ride."

Barneby Smith smiled. "You are welcome to stop back any time Mr. Kane. It has been a pleasure." Richard shook hands with the man again. Richard took his leave and rode for a mile before turning around and heading home again.

Once again, his mind was a whirlwind upon entering the Manor. "Albert, the den. Now!"

Albert was concerned. Lord Bentley once again, seemed extremely disturbed about something and it made Lord Bentley's mannerisms highly agitated. He followed him and Richard stood aside to allow him to enter. Richard took a quick look around, making certain that no one else was near before he shut the door behind them. He had not even discarded his cape but quickly pulled at his gloves tossing them carelessly on the desk.

"Take a seat," Richard told him. Albert did as instructed, but felt extremely nervous, as servants were normally never called into the den unless they were being let go. After all his years of service, he could not fathom what he had done wrong.

Richard whipped off his cape and threw it over his chair. He was still trying to digest the idea that Marcus was living here at Bentley Manor and how to best handle the situation. He felt too disturbed to sit.

Richard's highly restless manner was doing nothing to quell Albert's fears but he just waited patiently for Lord Bentley to speak.

"Albert, as head of the household staff, I am in need of information on a particular servant that has been recently employed here. Perhaps as part of the household staff for Lady Bentley's dinner party or even sooner?"

Relieved that he was not he that Lord Bentley was upset with, Albert asked, "Of whom are you inquiring, sir?"

"Marcus Smith, I believe he would have been taken on as a groom possibly for the stables," Richard noted.

Albert gave a snort of disgust at hearing the name. "I released him from duty, my Lord. I hope I have not done anything inappropriate."

Bloody Hell. It was bad enough thinking of Marcus living at the Manor but at least Richard had known where he was hiding. Now... "When did he leave our service?"

"I let him go shortly after Miss Cecelia's death, my Lord. I believe he gave me no other option."

"Do you happen to know who may have employed him since," Richard asked.

"That I would not know, sir. I sent him away without recommendation."

Richard was immediately alarmed. Whatever the man did, it would have been a most serious offense to be let go without a letter of employment.

"What exactly did he do?" Richard wanted to know.

"He was a very brash youth," Albert began. "He caused much unrest among the staff here. Marcus showed no respect to the elder male wait staff and he was positively lewd at times with the woman staff members. Especially..." Albert paused. "I just believed it for the best, to let him go," Albert concluded.

It was not like Albert to hold back information from him. Finding out all he could about this man's character was vital to discover if he were indeed the murderer he was looking for. "Now is not the time to be timid, Albert," Richard said. "Your knowledge of him is essential to my needs and I will have what you know," Richard informed him, making it quite clear his demands were to be met.

Albert sighed briefly. Not quite knowing how to start. "Permission to speak freely then, sir?" Albert asked making it known that he did not want to be held accountable for what he was about to impart.

"Permission granted," Richard said as he took up position in his leather wing back chair, needing to sit still and focus on whatever it was Albert would impart.

"Marcus would many times make comments. Vulgar sexual comments mostly about or to Miss Anna," Albert began.

This got Richard's undivided attention. He had not considered that Marcus would have been working at the Manor at the same time as Juliana, and a sick feeling began to gnaw at his innards.

"What sort of things?" Richard demand to know.

Albert felt uncomfortable but continued. "He said she was her Master's whore and he would like a chance at her to see what all the fuss was about. He made several comments about what he would do to her if he got her into bed. And when the men told him Anna would never go near someone like him, he became unruly and said he had ways to make a woman submit to him.

Lord Bentley, please know that Miss Anna had done nothing to provoke this behavior. Since she had come to work for us over ten years ago she has been nothing but a true lady. It has been difficult... her time with us here. She is a very learned woman but she would never step above her station. She was quite kind to the children of the household staff and for those men that would listen, she would teach them to read and write in her spare time so that they may find better-paying positions should they be let go. For that reason and several others, the male staff here are quite protective of her. Marcus has taken a number of thrashing on her behalf, all deserved, but I am certain it only fueled his animosity towards her.

Marcus thought Miss Anna to be quite beneath him. I had concerns for her safety and was very grateful for your decision to send her to Miss Annabelle in London. I knew she would be safe there."

An idea just occurred to him. "Albert, do you know who Anna really is?" Richard inquired.

"Yes. She is Miss Juliana Wadsworth," Albert said. "She's been with us since the fire that destroyed her home. I was the one who found her that fateful night. It is a night I am not likely to forget. It took days to put it out. Juliana and her mother were tossed from a second-story window by her father who never made it out. Her mother died, we believe, on impact. Her body was broken, but somehow Juliana survived. Your father took her in and nursed her back health. It took quite some time as her injuries were severe, a few times I know your Father worried he would lose her but told me he had to keep her alive, if for no other reason than his belief in your love for her."

Richard coughed to clear his throat and steel his nerves from the stinging he felt in his eyes. His father's love of him was never a question. It struck Richard hard that he did not get to say goodbye. He hoped and prayed his father knew how much that sentiment was returned. Then there was the pain and suffering Juliana must have endured.

"Why did you not tell me who she was?" Richard asked thinking himself the most obtuse person in the world to be the only one not to know the truth.

"To be honest, my Lord I did not know you were unaware of her real identity. The way you two... interacted," Albert hinted modestly, "I assumed you knew." Richard knew Albert must be referring to the stolen kisses and caress he inflicted on Juliana while she was here. Albert was the eyes and ears of the household and little escaped his attention.

"I hope I did not offend my Lord by dismissing Marcus without your permission."

"No, not at all, Albert. I trust your judgment when it comes to the household staff. You said, however, it was not until recently that you had let him go. Why did you wait?" Richard asked curiously.

"After Miss Anna left things improved. He appeared calmer, but it was not long before he took to his old ways. Only the target for his comments was Miss Cecilia once he heard we were to start with the plans for your wedding. I am truly sorry for your loss, sir."

Richard felt the cold creep over his spine, "Miss Cecilia?"

"Yes, Sir." It was obvious Albert was feeling awkward about the conversation again.

"Please continue, Albert," Richard prompted. "I am asking you to tell me these things as a friend not as an employee. It is most important that I know."

Albert took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly trying to bolster his confidence. "He called her an unfaithful slut and many more unsavory comments I really wish not to repeat.

After Miss Cecelia was buried there was a rumor that she was with child when she died and Marcus seemed to become increasingly unstable. He began to torment the women staff saying how they had better watch out if they are whoring for the Master or they too may find themselves strangled in bed with a pair of their own stockings. I had enough of his terrorizing them and sent him away."

This information took Richard by surprise not even he knew how Cecelia was murdered, it was quite revealing and a matter to be taken up with Mr. Chase as soon as possible.

Could it be that he did not know of the child at the time he murdered Cecelia? It was a disturbing thought although, by Albert's description of the man, he was not certain it would have made a difference.

"You did the right thing," Richard reassured Albert and he seemed relieved by Richard's words.

"Will there be anything else, sir?"

Richard felt unsettled not knowing where Marcus could possibly be. He had not been to see his father. Barneby Smith still believed him to be employed at the Manor. With his unstable mind, he wondered what he was capable of doing. He guessed Juliana was right to believe he may be in danger. Richard knew he must put a warning out to the Chase family. If Marcus was bent on revenge he may want retribution from all those involved.

Perhaps his mother's idea of a holiday was not a bad one. He would have to convince Mr. and Mrs. Chase to find somewhere else to stay until Marcus was caught and brought to justice. He was glad he got Juliana as far away as possible at least he could be at rest that she was secure.

He must concentrate on finding where Marcus may be before he managed to do any more damage. He had no leads and only one source to tap. Perhaps it was time to arrange another visit to Barneby Smith.