This pleased her. They would be more relaxed and open with each other within the confines of her bedroom, and they could heal the earlierquarrel.
“Your Lordship?” Rudge appeared at the foot of the stairs. Nathaniel turned and ran back down. The butler spoke too quietly for Laura to hear.
Nathaniel glanced up to where she stood waiting, his eyes strained. “I’ll see you at dinner, Laura.”
“What is it?”
“A small problem. Nothing to worry about.”
He grabbed his oil slicker and disappeared out the front door. Yet again, no explanation offered. Feeling excluded, Laura stood there for a moment, holding the banister. The wood felt cold under her hand as she continued her climb.
Chapter Ten
Nathaniel leaned into the rain-laden wind. His overseer, Hugh Pitney, was close in height and matched his stride as they continued in grim silence. They took the left fork heading down to the shore. Pitney was one of a few men Nathaniel could rely on. He’d proven he could carry the weight of responsibility on his broad shoulders while Nathaniel was in London.
Nathaniel’s thoughts returned to the painful past, when a dangerous man had brought chaos to Wolfram. He’d slipped through the net and disappeared, denying Nathaniel the chance to bring him to justice and see him hang. But in his gut Nathaniel was sure he’d turn up again. The man was arrogant and confident no one could land a blow on him. He’d spread vicious gossip before he left, and the villagers remained in ignorance of what had happened here two yearsago.
They’d reached the stone cottage, isolated from the rest, which perched on a rise above the sandy shore below which a funnel of rock, like a pointing finger, reached out into a dark gray sea, stirred up by the force of the wind. The gale howled around them, the sand-laden wind blowing in Nathaniel’s eyes. Exasperated, he swept a hand over them and blinked away the grit.
“I’ve expected this ever since that three-masted ship turned up,” he yelled above the wind. “How did you discover this hoard?”
Hugh’s brown eyes were troubled. “I stumbled upon it, milord, when part of the roof caved in and I went to inspect it.”
“Good thing you did.” Nathaniel gestured toward the beach. “Have you checked the caves?”
Hugh nodded. “Empty. No sign of recent activity. Crazy to store anything there in this weather, and you’d think they’d know better than to try this again after the last time.”
He forced the door open as the rain became a deluge, flowing from the broken gutters. Ducking their heads, they entered the low doorway. Rain splattered down from the ceiling of the tiny entry, but the main room remained dry. Boxes were stacked over the floor.
“How did they get this lot past the coastguard?” Removing a pocketknife from his coat, Nathaniel squatted down and levered a box open. “Tobacco.” He sat back on his heels with a shake of his head. “Not been here long. They probably meant to move it by boat before we discovered it.” He straightened. “The storm has held them up. Any thoughts as to who is behind it?”
“It’s hard to say, milord. The catch has been poor of late. Some are finding it tough.”
“Get the constable over here.” Nathaniel rested his boot on a box. “I’ll wait here for him.”
Hugh drew the collar of his coat around his ears and shouldered his way out into the rain.
Left alone, Nathaniel wandered around the musty room, opening random boxes. The same smuggling ring. With a different man at the top. They’d have to round them up quickly this time, before more damage was done. Mud stuck to a man, he already had evidence of that. Disgusted and disillusioned, Nathaniel put a hand to his hair and swore. Could things get any worse? He’d lose any support he had in the Lords if word of this reached London.
He groaned. Laura! After Amanda’s death, he’d been determined never to bring another wife to Wolfram. This would frighten her. Hell, she’d only just arrived, and everything was so new to her! He didn’t want her to think life would always be this grim. It wasn’t going to be, not if he had to personally round up everyone involved. Anger and despair seeped into his bones likepoison.
***
“Wine, my lady?” The butler stood hawkeyed as the servants brought in the firstcourse.
“Thank you, Rudge.”
Nathaniel had not yet returned.
She’d been determined not to ask Rudge where Nathaniel went, but she couldn’t swallow a mouthful of food until she did. “Where did his lordship go, Rudge?”
Rudge lifted the decanter. “I beg pardon, my lady. Lord Lanyon didn’t see fit to inform me.”
Laura wondered if he just refused to tell her. Whatever message he’d relayed to Nathaniel had sent him rushing away. She glanced away from the butler’s unfathomable, black eyes. He didn’t like her. It perplexed her, for she believed she’d done nothing to warrant it. “What message did you give his lordship?”
Rudge blinked. Laura realized with satisfaction that she’d surprised him. Was the butler not used to his mistress taking an interest in the running of the estate?
“His lordship’s overseer, Mr. Pitney, sent word, my lady. A problem had arisen which required his lordship’s attention.”
