Marianne and the Marquis. Anne Herries

to a younger woman…which was quite foolish, of course. Marianne would not have encouraged him had he shown an interest, which he had not. She had merely been interested in what he had to say about the social conditions of the area. Jane could not have known that, of course, and she might have thought Marianne was concerned to attract his attention.

      If Jane cared for the doctor, why had she not mentioned her feelings to her employer? Some employers did not encourage their staff to have followers, of course. Perhaps Jane thought she might be turned off if she allowed her partiality to show? And Lady Edgeworthy had just told Marianne that the doctor could not afford to marry…

      Supposing that the legacies they had been left would enable them to marry? Marianne paused on the stairs as the awful thought struck her. Would they plot together to murder Lady Edgeworthy, knowing that the money she had left to them as individuals would be quite substantial when put together?

      The possibility put a different complexion on the matter and was chilling. Marianne shivered, feeling suddenly cold all over. She had not believed that Jane was capable of such a thing…but a woman might do anything for the love of a man.

      Without the means to marry, Jane was condemned to a life as companion to her employer. Lady Edgeworthy was kind to her, but others might not be in the future, and the legacy might not be enough to enable her to live comfortably without seeking further employment should Lady Edgeworthy die. Besides, if she was in love[ ]Marianne did not wish to think ill of either Jane or the doctor, but it now seemed that she must consider them as possible culprits, and as yet she had not met Mr Joshua Hambleton.

      Of course there was also the mysterious tenant at the house on the cliffs. She had seen him from a distance several times as she was walking about the estate, although as yet they had not come face to face. Quite often she would turn and see him staring in her direction, and she had wondered if he was following her—but why should he be? Besides, he had only recently taken up residence and had not been here when her great-aunt’s medicine had been tampered with….

      Chapter Three

      ‘I missed my chance that morning, damn it,’ Drew said. ‘I was too slow to act, Robbie. I should have tackled him before he got into the boat.’ He was feeling frustrated for there had been no further sightings of the French ship—and none at all of the man he sought.

      ‘You can’t be sure he was the one,’ Robbie reasoned. ‘He may just be one of the smugglers. You said the cave was empty, but you saw evidence that barrels had been stored there.’

      ‘There were marks in the sand where they had stood,’ Drew confirmed. ‘The tide washes into the first cave, but the caverns go back a long way. I could not explore further at the time, for I had no means of lighting the path, but I think there is a man-made tunnel leading inland. I dare say there is a warren of tunnels all over this part of Cornwall, made by miners centuries ago when tin and copper were first discovered. The smugglers know of them and have turned their existence to their advantage.’

      ‘That must be how they get the contraband through,’ Robbie said. ‘It would be too dangerous to take packhorses through the village, because they run the risk of being betrayed, and on the open cliffs they would be bound to be seen. Even on a dark night, someone would be sure to notice and call out the militia.’

      ‘Perhaps, though often the locals are remarkably closemouthed on the subject. I think they take it to somewhere on Lady Edgeworthy’s land,’ Drew said. ‘The tunnel must have its outlet there—and perhaps it is being transferred to an out-building somewhere on her estate until it is thought safe to move it inland. I dare say there may be several dropping zones before it reaches its final destination.’

      ‘You do not suspect Lady Edgeworthy of being involved?’

      ‘No, not at all,’ Drew said. ‘I am certain she does not know that her estate is being used as a cover. While the Revenue men watch the coast, the packhorses are already inland and heading for their next destination.’

      ‘Will you approach her? Would she allow you to make a search?’

      ‘For the moment there is probably nothing to find,’ Drew said. ‘I think the drop must have been made some time before we arrived—that is why I believe the man I saw being picked up is the one we are after. He was dropped when the cargo was brought ashore, and he had been…wherever he goes on his dirty business. The ship came in specially to take him off and they would not have done that unless he was important.’

      ‘He might simply have been the one they trusted to sell the contraband,’ Robbie suggested.

      ‘Yes, you may be right, but I have a hunch that he was the French contact, though it is the English spy we need.’ Drew frowned. ‘I should have acted sooner, but I was looking at the ship and the boat. I did not realise that he was hiding in the cave, waiting to come out. I missed my chance to grab him, damn it!’

      ‘He will come again,’ Robbie said. ‘If he has been successful this time, he will be back for more—whether it be gold for smuggled goods or information he can pass on to the French. Besides, it isn’t the smugglers you want here—is it?’

      ‘No, it is not. And you are right, he will come again,’ Drew said. ‘Next time I shall be waiting for him. I intend to follow the packhorses and see where they go—and then I shall have him!’

      ‘If the smugglers don’t see you first,’ Robbie cautioned. ‘It’s madness to try this on your own, Captain. You should have asked some of your friends to help you.’

      ‘I thought my ill health was a better cover,’ Drew said. ‘But I might send a letter to Hal Beverley, ask him if he is game for a lark—that should fetch him.’

      ‘Aye, no doubt,’ Robbie replied. ‘He was as wild as you were in the old days, Captain, and that is saying something. Send for him if you wish, but ask Captain Harcourt—or Lord Harcourt, as I should say now—to come with him. Four of us will do better than three—and I’ll wager that he is as bored with his life as you are. Besides, of the lot of you, he was the most sober…’

      ‘Perhaps,’ Drew agreed. Harcourt and Drew had been survivors on that day, when they were ambushed. ‘Yes, I shall write to both Hal and Harcourt—but I doubt that Beverley will come. He has responsibilities enough these days. Hal’s father demanded he sold out after his brother was killed. I have not seen anything of him since he came home some months back.’

      ‘No doubt he has duties, as you do, my lord,’ Robbie said with a disapproving look. ‘A man in your position has much to lose—and well you know it! A fine scandal there would be if it were known you were here under a false name. People would be bound to think the worst.’

      ‘I know that you think me a fool to come here,’ Drew said and grinned at him. ‘But it amuses me, Robbie—and it was a favour to Jack…’

      ‘And he saved your life at Salamanca,’ Robbie said. ‘You will go your own way as usual, Captain—but do not take too many risks. You should not forget that others depend on you…’

      ‘I do not forget,’ Drew replied and frowned, for he was neglecting his duty. ‘But I have an agent who prefers a free hand with the estate, and for a while he shall have it. I promise you that I shall take no more risks than need be.’

      Robbie’s dour look spoke volumes, but he said no more.

      Drew smiled as he left the house. He was remembering better times. They had indeed been a wild bunch in those days, carousing half the night, living life to the full…perhaps it was merely companionship that he missed.

      Suddenly she was there in his head, a beautiful girl with sea-green eyes and spun-gold hair. He frowned as he recalled the girl who had called to him from the top of the cliffs as he climbed down to investigate what was going on in the cove. He had been annoyed that anyone was there, because she might have alerted the men in the boat that he was there, and it was only later that he had wondered if she was the beauty from the coach. Surely it was his imagination—it was unlikely that she would be here, so far from