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Thank you so much L3Writing for following, hope you enjoy this chapter :)

The following day was ordinarily busy, with the same quiet dinner with her son, before she repeated the process at night. With caps, aprons and garters in her basket, she walked up to Keavy and smiled as she pulled out a pair of embroidered ribbon garters. As if to show her new goods. Keavy looked at the garters, then started to look through the basket.

"He works with a French lad and a Scottish lad. Though only the French one joins him at taverns. The frog has black hair and misses a hand, so he uses a wooden one. They came here a few times, once with an Asian man, but he created enough trouble for them not to come here again. Now it's either Jenny's, World's End or Moubray's. Some of our girls work there as well and have seen both of one of them there several times."

Nodding along, she plucked out a cap to show her. Keavy shook her head as she continued to look. She smiled as Keavy reached the end of the basket and the penny that waited for her. A surprised look washed over her face before a bright smile took over. Keavy took the penny and a pair of yellow garters.

"Thank you again. I might come back again in the not so far future."

"I truly don't mind Mistress Maura. Be sure to have some nice wares for me again."

She winked and Marta smiles as they once more pretended to exchange coins. Then she walked away, making her way to the three taverns.

They were, relative to the size of Edinburgh, rather close to each other and the print shop. Though not close enough to truly be connected to the name A. Malcolm. One could only hope the Crown and its agents were not as well connected and persistent. She doubted they would stoop as 'low' as to talking with barmaids, however, so the trail would likely remain cold.

Reaching Jenny's first, she peeped into one of the few windows as she rummaged through the things in her basket. Pretending to look only occasionally as she folded the various goods. She didn't know any barmaids there and wasn't sure if she dared to try to even gossip with them just yet. There weren't any Asian men in there, though there were several dark-haired men. A few seemingly had black hair, yet it was difficult to distinguish in the darkness of night and a few candles. No hulking red-haired men either. So she decided to go directly to the Moubray's.

While most of the taverns on this side of town was a little less than respectable, Moubray's and World's End were two of the more shoddy establishments. The chance of buying entertainment for the night was only a few halfpennies away and the men were more likely to be involved in shady work than the rest of the taverns. In Moubray's, however, she knew a barmaid.

The wooden building looked much older than the rest of the buildings in the area, though it hardly in reality was. Grime and wear weather the entire building, new planks simply nailed on top of old and mouldy ones. The two small windows and the heavy wooden door did nothing to block the sound of uncountable drunk men shouting and singing. Taking a deep breath and fishing out a coin from her pocket, she opened the door and walked in.

Even in a large room filled with men, Glenna was like a beacon of light and hope. Her light blonde hair shone in the dim candlelight as she sang and made her way through the room. The moment the cups of ale were placed on a table, Marta seized the moment and tapped Glenna's elbow. She turned, a smile on her face before it morphed into surprise.

"Maura?"

"I was wondering if...?"

She let the question trail off, looking around and down at her basket. The men around her glanced at her, though largely too occupied looking at Glenna or talking to really take notice of her. Glenna took her wrist and guided her to the quietest corner of the room before looking back at her. Marta took a pair of garters and the penny in her hand, showing them to Glenna with a smile on her face.

"I was wondering about a man named A. Malcolm."

"You just missed him. He left only a little while ago. Why..."

Glenna took the garters and penny, looking at the garters as she pocketed the coin. Showing her a few other things from her basket, she looked around the room. Looking for an Asian man or a black-haired man who had a seemingly stiff hand. All the while Glenna continued to look at the things in her basket. Biting her lip, she nodded and looked back at her basket.

"How often is he here?"

Shaking her head, Glenna looked at a coloured apron with small floral motives. She kept it in her hands as she looked at a cap. She had just missed him. How on earth could she be so unlucky? Shaking her head once more, she reached for another pair of garters and compared them to Glenna's skin and hair.

"He's very careful. I don't know why you are looking for him, but my guess is he can be very dangerous if you're not careful."

Pausing, Marta looked up at Glenna. Her eyes were narrowed and her mouth tight as she held on to the apron and rather stiffly felt the fabric of the garters. Inching closer to Glenna, Marta dug out another penny and showed it to her behind the basket.

"What do you know Glenna? I promise you won't get involved in any manner."

"You cannae promise that Maura. He- Please don't force my hand, Mistress Maura."

She couldn't help but frown at Glenna. What on earth did she know of this Mister Malcolm that she was this afraid? She had been involved in rather large and dangerous tasks before, never truly having been this rattled before. Even when they first met. Pocketing the penny once more, she leaned even closer to Glenna.

"I swear on my son's life that you will not be involved in any way. Any words you say to me will not be repeated."

While her eyes remained narrow and her brows frowned, she slowly nodded. The penny found its place in one of the pockets of the apron and Marta smiled. Patting her hand, she pulled out another cap and showed it to Glenna.

"Mister Malcolm is a printer. But he also smuggles alcohol. A young Frenchman helps him, as do several highlanders. I've overheard 'em talking about Ardsmuir, do you know? Weel, yes, they meet a man a few times a month in the basement of the World's End. They are a dangerous lot, Maura."

"Thank you, Glenna. I'll make sure not to come too often, even if the need arises."

Giving her a cap, in addition to the apron, she nodded her head and made her way over to other barmaids. Though her mind remained on what she had learned about this tall, red-haired Mister Malcolm. A former Jacobite turned alcohol smuggler under the guise of a printer. Aided by former Ardsmuir prisoners. He had supposedly been at the Prince's side during the rebellion, so he couldn't be just any man. How and what on earth.

She made her way home, her hands in her pockets as she looked around. This might complicate things. She couldn't directly tell him everything she knew. That would have to wait until the opportune time if it ever arrived. It was most likely less dangerous to meet officially during the day, in official errands. Looking up at the moon, she quickly decided what to do and how to do it.

Though running on less sleep and silence than she was used to, she managed to write an advertisement before Sander woke. She also put the pot of the previous days' dinner to boil with far more water than needed. Dressing in a red short jacket with white flowers and a cream-coloured petticoat, then dressed her hair in a modestly fashionable hairstyle. With a little rouge on her cheeks and lips, she smiled at herself in the mirror. A white fichu with white floral lace and embroidery, leather gloves and she was ready for the day.

The moment Sander was eating breakfast, she forced herself to smile as she handed him the handwritten advertisement and a coin purse.

"Can you be so good as to do me a favour? There is a new printer in town, down Wilson's near Canongate Kirk. Could you ask him to print a few copies of this and give him only half of what he asks for? Tell him that I will be there in the early afternoon to pay him the rest."

He nodded, a smile on his lips as he peeked into the purse. Clicking her tongue, she smiled back and gave him a penny from within the purse. Again, Sander nodded vigorously with a growing smile as he understood that penny was for his use and nothing else. She gave him a kiss on the forehead, then watched him run down the stairs. Ready to grab the bull by its horns and be done with it so he could buy himself some candy. It would most likely be candy anyway. Adjusting her hat and gloves, she then walked out and locked both doors behind her.

Another ordinarily busy day was drawing to an unordinary early end when the doorbell announced another customer. Receiving money for one and a half ells of printed cotton, she pocketed the money as she turned around. Mairead had returned. Giving her a polite smile, Marta showed her the way to the fitting room. A loud sigh left her as she closed the door behind her. Mairead tilted her head, her arms already crossed. She was ready to listen to what she had found out the last two days.

"I had to make a promise not to repeat the words I was told, Mairead."

Mairead stared at her, her head tilting further to the side. Marta rubbed her hands together and shook her head harshly. She couldn't tell anyone. If she did, it would be this A. Malcolm and no one else. Mairead nodded her head softly. Her arms found the table behind her before she leaned heavily against it. Then sighed deeply. Marta did the same thing, crossing her legs as she massaged her temples.

"What are you willing to tell me?"

She looked up at Mairead and gave her a wry smile. Though it was more like a grimace. Yet she nodded her head and let her arms fall into her lap. Her fingers found her ring. It was turned and moved as she bit the inside of her cheek.

"I've made an appointment with him this afternoon."

"Already? What about your shop? How did you- No you didn't."

"Yes, I sent Aleksander. I need to give him some sense of security before I breach the less pleasant topics with him. I will close it for the time I'm away, then return and reopen it."

"I mean, how did you even dare to involve him, he's only seven."

"I have enough information on him to have him taken in on the hour. He wouldn't dare to do anything to Aleksander. I needed to build some repertoire with him before I met him. Trust me, I don't like it any less than you do."

The silence that followed was enough for her to almost regret the words exchanged two days prior. She had regretted sending her son the moment she decided to do it, never mind the moment he actually ran down the stairs and closed the door behind him. Yet she needed to show this Malcolm that she had some semblance of trust in him, before even trying to speak frankly. If she didn't, she might actually be in danger and as a son without a father, Sander would be the innocent victim in all of this.

At least that was the somewhat justifiable reasoning behind her actions.

Sighing, she glanced out of the small glass panel of the door and caught the time. It was soon early afternoon. Rubbing her temples once more, she rose from her seat. Looking at Mairead, she stretched her arms out and shook her head. Then sighed. There wasn't anything either of them could do to change it either way.

"If the need arises, I'll adopt both Alexander and the shop."

Fichu- A triangular 'scarf' used to fill in and cover the chest, for modesty as well as shielding it from the sun.