“I did not tell you to do that.”
“No, Your Grace. But there I was, so close, and I thought to take a look.”
“I would have done the same thing,” Amanda said.
“Don’t encourage him.” Gabriel gave Vincent a glare appropriate to his disobedience. “As long as you showed unseemly initiative, what did you learn?”
“I do not think it a large property, but there is a good-sized house on it, one that needs tending. It is close enough to the sea that I think the sea air takes its toll. The gate up the lane is rustier than is good, for example.”
“I trust you did not enter that gate.”
“I would have,” Amanda murmured.
“No, Your Grace. I did, however, climb up a section of the wall away from the front of the house, just to see what was what. I was going to go over, but—”
“But you knew that would anger me, I am sure.”
“I would have gone over,” Amanda whispered.
“Yes, of course, Your Grace. Wouldn’t do at all, would it? Also changing my mind was I saw two people outside on the grounds. Wouldn’t do to get caught, I thought.”
“Two people?” Gabriel said.
“A man and a woman. The man was a middling sort of fellow. Not too tall, not too dark or fair, not too fat or thin. He was not too much of anything.”
“And the woman?” Amanda asked.
“A lady, I would say. Fine garments and a very fancy bonnet. They were not together as such. The lady strolled the grounds and the man trailed behind her.”
“Her hair? Her face?”
“Dark hair. Handsome face, from what I could see. Hard to know her age, but older than you, Miss Waverly, I’d say.”
Amanda stood. “It is she, I am sure. At least she is safe still. I am going above to pack a valise. We must leave in the morning at first light.”
Gabriel let her go. “Thank you, Vincent. You have been helpful.”
Vincent cleared his throat. “Um, there is more, Your Grace.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “More?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I rode cross-country coming back. Thought to save a few miles that way. So I rode over the property.”
“I wish you had not.”
“Yes, sir. Well, there were these . . . holes. There’s no other way to describe them. Every now and then, the ground would open up to a big hole maybe four horse lengths wide. I saw three of them, and there may be more. I don’t know if you and the other gentlemen intend to go there at night, but I thought I should mention them.”
“Holes? How deep?”
“Deep enough to lame a horse or throw a rider. Six feet, maybe ten. One was much deeper.”
“That is good to know.”
“Perhaps they are there to catch intruders.” Vincent shifted from one leg to the other.
“What else more is there, Vincent?”
Gabriel could see the young man debating whether to go on. He gave the footman a stern glare.
