A chill ran through Grace.
‘But what remains a mystery,’ she pressed, ‘is this Averton person. You mentioned before that you would explain once we moved here, but every time I have asked today, you deflect the question.’
Now it was his turn to squirm.
With satisfaction, she watched him struggle for an answer.
At last, he sighed, as he raked his hand through his hair. ‘I was trying to shield you from it, but I see you are adamant. Very well. But brace yourself.’
Grace waited with bated breath.
‘Averton,’ he revealed, ‘is the family name of Lord Armitage. As far as I know, four people currently bear this surname: the Duke obviously, his brother, and their two cousins.’
Grace gasped.
‘Then... does that mean one of Lord Armitage’s family members is responsible—or at the very least, aware of Gibbs’s activities?’
‘It is more likely,’ Mr Stone said grimly, ‘that an Averton was the mastermind behind this. Gibbs could not have operated alone—he had to have had help from someone within the Duke’s circle. This also explains how Barnes found out too. I cannot imagine the Duke would have been careless enough to show your letter to any staff member. Your letter to Lord Armitage was most likely discussed among family members. That meansAverton himself had an opportunity to warn Gibbs, Barnes, and any other accomplices before my arrival.’
Grace shuddered. ‘This is... more serious than I ever imagined. Could there be a traitor among the Duke’s family?’
She then explained her suspicions about Charles and how he had been instrumental in hiring Gibbs.
She tried to gloss over her disastrous interview with Gibbs, but Mr Stone, ever astute, seemed more concerned with the fact that she had met Gibbs alone.
He berated her for it, much to her astonishment.
‘You are missing the point entirely, Mr Stone!’ she huffed. ‘I merely meant to inform you about Charles—he might know which Averton is responsible!’
But Mr Stone refused to relent. ‘Miss Skye, you must promise me never to put yourself at risk like that again.’
Only when she begrudgingly agreed did he relax.
‘I suppose,’ he mused, ‘we need to speak with your cousin.’
Grace cringed involuntarily.
He noted her reaction but pressed on. ‘The other question is—why did Averton send Gibbs here, and why was he so unhappy with him?’
‘Perhaps Gibbs, under the orders of this Averton, was helping to extort the tenants and becoming reckless with the gambling, drawing attention to himself too much,’ Grace speculated.
‘Possible. Butwhatwere they doing so late at night, andwhywould they return wet and sandy?’ He tapped his fingers against the desk. ‘I suspect smuggling. The coast is adjacent to this Estate, is it not?’
‘According to village gossip, there are coves used for smuggling purposes, and several of them run along the borders of Skye Estate.’ Grace responded, recalling that broken wine bottle she found in the cave several weeks ago. A chill slithered down her back.
Mr Stone appeared to be struggling with a thought, at long length he began, ‘I have a ...’
Grace exhaled, her heartbeat uneven.
A sudden knock at the door startled them both. Mr Stone looked displeased—his lips pressing into a thin line. He looked like he had been about to say something important. But now, they would have to wait. The locksmith had arrived.
Chapter 14
The locksmith was led to the cellar door first, which yielded quickly to his skills. However, the safe proved far more challenging. After several frustrating hours, he admitted defeat.
Nevertheless, Grace and Mr Stone uncovered something significant in the cellar. Crates were stacked high, untouched, and unopened.
Taking a crowbar, Mr Stone pried one open, revealing smuggled goods—wine, silks, and more.
