“Uncle Roderick!”

Roderick looked up the moment Henry walked into the drawing room, a bright smile immediately jumping onto his face.

“My goodness, that was a rather brief visit to London, was it not? Whatever are you doing back?”

“I have to see her.”

His uncle frowned, his expression a little more grave. “See who?”

“Jacintha.”

“I thought that was who you went to London to see,” his uncle replied, slowly, rather confused. “What are you talking about, Henry?”

The words came out in a rush, betraying the anxiety that had been dogging him ever since he left London. “My sister informed me that Lady Jacintha, her sister and her father have all been invited to Lord Slate’s estate here in Ferryway.”

His uncle’s expression grew astonished. “Lord Slate has returned, then?”

“He must have done,” Henry answered, beginning to pace up and down the room. “Have any of your men seen him?”

“Not that I am aware of,” Roderick replied, “But, then again, they have been caught up with this smuggler and searching the caves.”

Henry stopped his pacing for a moment, recalling that they had been waiting for low tide. “And?”

“And they found quite a few things,” his uncle replied, solemnly. “Sit down, Henry, and I will explain everything to you. You are making me tired simply watching you pace up and down!”

Feeling even more anxious than before, Henry did as he was asked and sat down, leaning forward and clasping his hands together. His uncle got up and poured them both a snifter of brandy, handing him one before resuming his seat.

“My men were only able to search the caves a few hours ago,” he began, quietly. “They did not find anything in particular – no contraband, I mean, but there was something of particular interest.”

“What?” Henry asked, taking a sip of his brandy and enjoying the way the warmth spread all through him. “Something linking it all to Lord Slate?”

Roderick nodded slowly. “We think so. There is a passageway cut high into the rock.”

Henry blinked, quite confused about what his uncle had said. “A passageway? How can that be?”

“Believe me, I was as confused as you until I saw it for myself,” his uncle chuckled, shaking his head. “Little wonder we didn’t discover it until now. It can only be accessed at high tide, although obviously before the sea reaches its turning point. There is a short window of time when a boat can be sailed into the cave, with supplies then taken into the passageway.”

“But what should happen if the tide were to become any higher when the operation was underway?” Henry asked, frowning hard as he tried to make sense of what his uncle said. “Surely the men would be trapped?”

His uncle shook his head. “They could easily climb further into the passageway, and I suspect that that is actually what occurs. One man steers the boat, whilst the other puts the contraband into the passageway. When the boat leaves, the man in the tunnel remains and carries the contraband further into the tunnel.”

Nodding slowly, Henry tried to make sense of what he had heard. “So then where does the tunnel lead?”

“That is the most frustrating part,” his uncle replied, with a shake of his head. “There is a trapdoor much further along – for the tunnel leads quite far up and along within the cliff walls themselves, but then we cannot go any further. It is locked and bolted from the other side.”

“And you think it goes to Slate’s manor house.”

“I don’t think, I know,” Roderick replied, gravely. “There’s nowhere else it could lead.”

Henry blew out a long breath, his anxiety rising. “And now Jacintha is in there, as is her sister and the Duke.”

“I do not think she is in any kind of danger if that is what concerns you,” Roderick said quickly, wanting to reassure Henry. “Why not go up and ask if you can call on them? I am quite sure that Lord Slate would welcome you, given that you are a friend of the family.”

“Do you think so?”

“It would be quite rude of him if he did not,” Roderick said, with a half-smile. “I’ll come with you if you like.”

“Can we go now?”

His uncle chuckled. “I think we must, or it will be too late for calling on anyone.”

Awash with relief and hope, Henry hurried from the house, glad that his uncle had suggested such a thing. If he could only speak to Jacintha, then he would be able to inform her of what he and his uncle had uncovered about Lord Slate. It might be difficult to talk to her alone, but he would try and manage it somehow. Waiting impatiently for his horse to be saddled, Henry looked along the hillside to where the Slate estate sat, determination growing in his heart. He would reach Jacintha and tell her the truth about Lord Slate. Even if she did not turn to him, even if she did not want to hear of the affection he had for her, then he would be glad that her association with Lord Slate would be at an end. All he wanted was her best.

Rapping sharply on the front door, Henry lifted his shoulders and stood tall, clearing his throat gruffly as the butler answered it at once.

“Lord Henry Musgrove,” he said smartly, handing the butler his card. “And Lord Roderick Musgrove. We hear that Lady Jacintha, Lady Harmonia and the Duke of Seaworth have come for a short visit and would very much like to greet them.”

The butler held the door open and Henry and Roderick stepped inside.

“Please do wait here for a moment,” the butler intoned, giving them a slight bow. “l shall return in a moment.”

Henry let out a long breath, his eyes roaming around the ornate hallway and marble staircase. Lord Slate clearly had a beautiful home, with plenty of space to store contraband, if he was actually using it for smuggling.

“You see?” Roderick murmured, as the butler came back towards them. “His swift return means that they will be vastly glad to see you, I am quite sure.”

Hope zoomed into Henry’s chest, making him smile broadly as the butler drew near.

“I am very sorry, my lords, but the master and his guests are currently unavailable.”

The smile died on Henry’s face at once. “Unavailable?” he repeated, looking at the butler in astonishment. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I mean, they are indisposed,” the butler replied, with a mall incline of his head. “I am very sorry, my lord. Perhaps tomorrow.”

“Perhaps tomorrow?” Henry spluttered, about to shove past the butler and hurry into the house in order to find Jacintha. “What are you talking about, man?”

“Henry,” Roderick murmured, putting one hand on Henry’s shoulder. “Come now. We must go. It would be rude to remain when we have not been invited in.”

Henry shook off his uncle’s hand, his anger rising steadily. “What on earth can have indisposed them so much that I am unable to see them?”

The butler lifted his chin, a taut line around his mouth. “My lord, the Duke of Seaworth is unwell and both his daughters are attending him. Lord Slate is, of course, caught up with business given that he only returned to Ferryway yesterday.” His jaw set, his eyes flashing just a little as he inclined his head yet again. “I do hope you understand, my lord.”

Henry was forced to step back, his anger spiraling away.

“Come on, Henry,” Roderick said again, grasping his arm. “Do give our regards to the Duke and his daughters, as well as Lord Slate,” he continued, addressing the butler as Henry turned away from the house. “And tell them that we will call again in a few days once the Duke recovers.”

“Of course,” the butler replied, as calmly as ever. “Thank you, my lord.”

Henry did not know what to think as he left the house, torn between believing that the Duke was, in fact, ill and unable to see them or thinking that Lord Slate was deliberately keeping them away from Henry.

“Walk slowly,” Roderick murmured, as they stepped out of the house. “Give no appearance of anger or frustration.”

He laughed aloud, slapping Henry on the back who looked at him askance.

“We must appear to be quite at our leisure,” Roderick murmured, as Henry continued to glower. “Give the man no indication that we are in the least bit troubled by these turn of events.”

With an effort, Henry shook the tension from him and tried to smile, recalling that they were doing their best to keep Lord Slate completely unaware of their investigation into him. He allowed Roderick to speak rather loudly, his jovial tone still grating on Henry’s nerves as they approached their waiting horses.

“Mount and turn the horse in a circle, so that you face the house for a moment,” Roderick said, as he pulled himself into the saddle. “And for goodness sake, smile.”

Hating that he had to put on such a façade, Henry did as his uncle asked – only to freeze in his seat as he saw none other than Lady Jacintha looking out at him from one of the windows.

The urge to race towards her was stronger than ever before.

“Don’t.”

His uncle’s fierce whisper met his ears, forcing Henry to look away.

“I can see her too but you must ride away. Lord Slate cannot know that we are worried about their presence in his home. You have come to call on them and that is all. Please, Henry, do as I ask.”

With an effort, Henry turned his horse and began to follow Roderick down the estate path, devastated that he had to leave Jacintha behind. She had not been smiling when he had caught her gaze, nor had there been any happiness in her expression. Was that because she was glad to see him leave? Mayhap she did not wish to see him, mayhap it had been her own wish to send him away.

A heavy weight settled in his stomach, bringing him nothing more than torment and pain. Spurring his horse to a gallop, he rode out past the gates that led to the estate and then down towards the beach, the horse’s hooves kicking up sand as he went. Roderick was right behind him, clearly aware of his frustration.

“You ought not to have shouted at the butler,” Roderick said, as Henry pulled his mount into a trot. “I know you are desperate to see her but such a reaction will only arouse suspicion.”

“I need to see her,” Henry replied, looking out at the sea and trying to calm himself down. “What am I to do if he will not allow me into his home?”

“Then you simply try again,” Roderick replied, simply. “Give it a couple of days and, in the meantime, remember that we are doing all we can to try and apprehend the smugglers. It may be that, in doing so, we find a way to reveal Lord Slate’s true nature to her regardless of your intervention.”

Whilst that was true, it did not bring Henry a great deal of comfort. “I can hardly bear this, Uncle.”

His uncle gave him a grim smile. “I’m afraid there is nothing more you can do, Henry.”

Closing his eyes for a second or two, Henry drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs with sea air. How much he had changed in these last few months! How much he had grown! Jacintha was the only one he thought of, the only one in his heart. His affection for her, his love for her, was growing steadily until he thought it might burst from his chest.

“Very well,” he muttered, turning his head to look at his uncle. “Then show me what I can do to help. I want to do all I can to stop Lord Slate.”