‘I am sure Lord Armitage would not approve of how you are managing his Estate,’ she said.
Gibbs spun clumsily around, his bloodshot eyes flaring with sudden fury.
‘You have no right to question me! I have powerful friends. If you interfere, I will make sure you never see the light of day!’
Grace barely had time to react before he lunged. His hand clamped around her throat, dragging her close, his breath reeking of liquor.
‘I know men who would pay a high price for a pretty virgin spinster like you,’ he leered. ‘But I might just have a taste for myself.’
Panic surged through her. Summoning every ounce of strength, she drove her knee into his groin. He howled in agony. Seizing the moment, she struck him across the head with her reticule and bolted.
Grace rode back to the cottage as though the hounds of hell were on her tail. Bursting into her room, she locked the door and collapsed onto her bed, her whole body trembling.
Grace’s mind raced, but eventually, she calmed sufficiently to realise that Gibbs had been threatened by the mere mention of Lord Armitage. He had been acting without the Duke’s knowledge—she was certain of it now. If Charles had recommended him, could he be responsible for this entire mess? The thought that a member of her own family might be so treacherous fuelled her need for justice. She needed to warn the Duke—but how could she do so without Gibbs finding out?
It was clear that Gibbs was not acting alone; otherwise, how could a mere steward maintain his position while behaving so abominably without being exposed or dismissed? He must have accomplices.
Grace resolved to write another letter, detailing what she had learnt from Mary and the other staff. However, out of sheer embarrassment, she decided not to mention her disastrous encounter with Gibbs. Likewise, she felt that mentioning the missing girls without evidence was premature. After completing the letter, she hesitated. What if it fell into the hands of one of his corrupt employees? To avoid this, she decided it must be sent directly to Lord Armitage himself.
But how?The idea struck her—Mr Smith could deliver it in person.
Then she remembered. Heather was heartbroken and refused even to speak his name. Though Grace was furious that Mr Smith had caused her sister such pain, she understood what Heather could not: a gentleman needed something to live on and love alone could not provide that. If she contacted Mr Smith, it would have to remain between them. There was no benefit in mentioning it to her sister.
She immediately set to work on the letter. It was difficult to strike the right balance—asking for a favour without appearing to condone his treatment of Heather. After several attempts, she completed a version she was satisfied with.
After posting it, she rose each morning in anticipation. At length, a letter in Mr Smith’s familiar hand arrived.
Dear Miss Skye,
I wish to reassure you that I have personally delivered your letter to Lord Armitage, who sends his gratitude. I had no idea matters had become so dire at Skye Estate.
Curiously, during my meeting with His Grace, he mentioned that Mr Gibbs had been submitting the Estate’s profits on time and in full each month. If the tenants are struggling to pay, then how is Mr Gibbs managing to supply the expected sums? Where is this income coming from?
I am certain His Grace will launch a full investigation. He spoke of sending a trusted individual to Skye Estate to deal with Mr Gibbs.
Lastly, I wish to express my sincere regret for my behaviour towards your sister. It will remain a great source of sorrow for me.
I remain at your service should you require any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Grace was relieved that her plan had been executed and that some of her guilt was alleviated. However, a few weeks after sending the letter, troubling news reached them—Mr Gibbs had disappeared. The town was abuzz with gossip, but more alarmingly, another girl had gone missing on the very same day.
This news struck the Skye sisters deeply—their beloved new cook, Melissa, had vanished without a trace.
Melissa, on her days off, would visit her family. On this occasion, Jimmy had taken her on the cart. When she failed to return the following day, Grace felt a growing unease. With a sense of urgency, she made her way to the farm.
Melissa’s family recounted what they knew: she had visited a friend that afternoon. This friend confirmed that Melissa had been with her but had left in the late afternoon, intending to return home for supper. Yet, as the night fell, she never arrived. Her family was beside themselves with worry.
Determined to find her, Grace and Melissa’s family organised a search party, scouring the area over several days. But Melissa was nowhere to be found.
Mary was inconsolable, unable to be comforted by either Heather or Grace.
‘The constable says she ran away, but I know my Melissa. She wouldn’t leave her family like this,’ Mary cried. ‘It’s him—he’s gone and kidnapped her! I know he has! He knew Chris wouldkill him if anything happened to her, that’s why the coward has left the Estate. I just know it!’
No one could persuade Mary otherwise, and Grace was beginning to agree with her. Melissa had shown no signs of discontent at Skye Cottage—quite the opposite. And yet, aside from the fact that Gibbs had vanished on the very same day, there was no evidence linking him to her disappearance. With little trace of either of them, there was frustratingly little that could be done.
Even stranger was the manner of Gibbs’s departure. None of his belongings had been taken. He had informed the staff he would be riding out to the Estate yet never returned. More bizarrely, the prized stallion he had ridden, came back to the Skye stable without its rider later that same day.
