Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

T he next morning, Robert filled a hipbath with warm water for Victoria, and while she bathed in front of the hearth, he cooked them breakfast. Victoria still missed her sourdough bread, but Robert had his own way of making up for any other disappointments.

After he had taken her on the table last night, he'd wrapped her up in a large woolen blanket and made them toast. The wine and cheese had been cleverly paired. When sleep had finally beckoned, her husband had led her upstairs and to their huge bed. The moment they had snuggled under the blankets, she'd reached for him, and he'd claimed her once more.

Dressed and with her hair pinned up, Victoria sat in a chair at the kitchen table, and offered Robert a soft, sated smile. It felt odd not having servants in the house first thing in the morning, but when he'd stroked her to an orgasm in front of the warm stove a little while earlier, she'd understood the benefits of the two of them being alone in the house.

When things were a little more settled, she would raise the issue of bringing Mary, her maid, over from Mowbray House. But not today.

A plate of fried eggs and bacon was set in front of her. "I usually have a better selection of breakfast offerings, but I've been busy this week. I promise once we get to Tolley Manor, the morning food will be of a better standard."

Her eyebrows raised at the mention of his ducal estate, and she asked, "When do you plan for us to visit the country?"

Setting his own plate of food on the table, Robert took the seat next to hers. "I was thinking we could leave today. I mean all your things are still in their travel trunks from when they were moved here yesterday. I have a full wardrobe waiting for me at the manor house. It would be good for us to get out of London. Get some fresh air."

Victoria nodded. "Let me finish reading the newspaper, then I shall go get ready. It's one morning habit I'd like to keep now that we are married. I used to read the paper, then go to the local German bakery every day for my breakfast, but even that's now changed. New people have taken it over and apparently the food standards have slipped."

"Really? What happened with the food?" he asked.

She hoped the look she gave him conveyed her utter disgust at the events of yesterday morning. "From what I understand, customers found bits of rats in the buns. They had to close. If they don't fix things quickly, they will soon be out of business."

Robert gave a huff of agreement. "That will definitely see them out of the bakery trade." He handed her the newspaper. "Here you are, take your time. I've got a couple of things to get sorted this morning, after which we can leave."

Victoria lay the Morning Herald on the table in front of her. She was thinking how funny it was that she'd just married their restaurant critic, when a headline caught her eye.

Investigations continue into spice theft.

The London Port authorities are continuing their efforts to thwart a bloodthirsty gang of spice pirates who have been resp0nsible for the theft of several large shipments of spices from ships owned by the Honorable East India Company. Directors of the EIC are reported to have lodged a significant claim with Lloyds insurers.

"Have you heard about these spice thefts from the ships of the East India?" she asked. Two of the restaurants Robert had recently reviewed had been dealing with supply issues due to a so-called spice war, and she wondered if he might know anything about them.

Cold dread gripped Robert. Victoria's remark about the German bakery had been cause enough for concern, now she was asking about stolen spices. His new world and his old one were sitting staring at one another, and he wondered how long it would be before they eventually recognized each other. And when they did, he feared that any chance of a calm start to this marriage would be lost.

He had to hand it to them, the East India were cunning opportunistic bastards. They'd clearly decided to capitalize on the small amount of spices he had stolen from them and turn it into a much larger insurance claim. Lloyds insurers would have underwritten a maritime policy and be paying out on a sizeable claim.

Well I know why they haven't come looking for me, they just wanted the money.

Robert hadn't been able to understand why news of his highway heists had never been made public, but now it all made sense. His enemy was making someone else pay for its losses. And it also saved the East India the embarrassment of having to admit that it wasn't protecting its cargos once they reached England.

"I did hear rumors of some establishments having supply issues, but this news of spice pirates sounds terrible. I hope the East India can get to the bottom of it and soon," he replied.

If they were putting in claims for the lost shipments via their insurers, then perhaps they would leave him alone. But it would also mean they were not losing money.

I can't break their monopoly if they are not feeling any pain.

Robert bit his bottom lip. It sounded all too easy. He had dealt with the East India Company long enough to know that it did the dirtiest parts of its business in the shadows. Something told him, the sooner he and Victoria left town the better.

Things were too quiet and that was never a good sign.