Page 43

Creeping closer, they finally reached the hedge and, peeking through, could finally see what the shepherd had been so afraid of.

‘I can see two of ‘em,’ Billy hissed. ‘Big buggers too.’

‘At least they’re chained for the moment,’ Ben breathed, studying the huge dogs. He didn’t recognise the breed, but Billy was right. Their size left no room for comfort. ‘My guess is they’re kept chained up while there are people and carts moving about, then let loose at night.’ As they watched, the beasts climbed as one to their feet, standing watchful and alert. Initially, Ben feared they’d been rumbled, but a few minutes later, a man came round the corner carrying a bucket. Immediately the dogs began barking and pulling on their chains excitedly until he threw them scraps from the pail, at which point they jostled with each other as they wolfed down the mystery pieces in seconds.

‘They were waiting for him,’ Ben whispered, nodding towards the man’s now retreating back. ‘Means there’s a routine the dogs are familiar with.’

‘We don’t ‘ave enough time to find out wot time they let ‘em loose,’ Billy muttered. ‘An’ I don’t fancy me arse ‘avin a chunk taken out o’ it jus’ cos we got ‘ere a bit early...’

Ben nodded, gritting his teeth in frustration. ‘We’ll keep watch for another couple of hours,’ he decided, hunkering down. ‘See if we can establish some kind of pattern at least.’

They remained where they were for the better part of two hours, confirming that the carts arriving at the front gate were unloaded round the back and the contents put into the outhouses. Two men came out of a nondescript door to do the unloading, but they were unable to see what was inside. There was no sign of any children, and no faces pressed against the windows higher up. All in all, they saw three men, their attitude one of unhurried boredom. Clearly, whatever they were guarding had so far given them no trouble.

Not long after midday, they retreated the way they’d come. Ben’s mood was one of frustration more than anything. In truth, they’d learned very little.

It did clarify one important point, however…

They definitely needed someone on the inside.

* * *

By the time they arrived back at the inn, Henry had paid the innkeeper’s son to send the two telegrams via the local post office in the village and was anxiously awaiting a response from both. Charlotte had requested two more rooms for their additional guests, smoothing the way by gushing about the beautiful area and how they desperately wanted members of the family living further afield to be able to meet with their long-lost cousin before he returned to Australia.

Naturally, the innkeeper was perfectly happy as long as they continued to pay. Fortunately, he didn’t hear Charlotte’s muttered comment to her brother about imminent bankruptcy should they have to stay for much longer…

Rob and Beatrix had taken the day’s watch on the front gate, and, despite the gravity of the situation, they both savoured the unexpected time alone, especially since Charlotte hadn’t insisted on a chaperone. Bea assumed it was simply the belief that nothing untoward could possibly happen given the circumstances. Naturally, her aunt hadn’t been present in the kitchen just a few hours earlier…

As they sat side by side on the fallen tree, Bea supposedly sketching, but in reality making notes of every movement, Rob told her about Australia and why he believed the children would benefit from being taken there. Naturally Beatrix put up lively arguments, but as much as she was loath to admit it, deep inside she was as convinced as he was that giving the orphans a fresh start would be the very best outcome for them. Indeed, listening to his fire, she realised something she’d not previously given a name to.

She’d fallen head over heels in love with Robert Noon. Exactly how or when it had happened, she couldn’t quite decide, and to be fair, there hadn’t been a blinding revelation striking her from above. In fact, she very much suspected that she might have loved him since the moment he first knocked on Cliff House’s door and mistook her for a servant.

Nibbling at her bottom lip, Beatrix wondered if she should express her feelings. Last night in the kitchen… well, it was clear he was very attracted to her, and his promise to come back was very prettily said. But whether he would seriously consider settling on the opposite side of the world to his family was another matter entirely.

Gritting her teeth, Bea forced her runaway thoughts to stop, giving herself a mental shake. What the devil was she doing, mooning over a man – especially in the middle of the current situation? Bernie would undoubtedly scoff, declaring her a saddle-goose at the very least. Giving a small sniff that was unknowingly the image of her aunt, she determinedly pushed aside the feelings and turned her attention back to watching the comings and goings at the gate. Romance had no place in her life at the moment.

By three o’clock, it had to be said that romance was the furthest thing on her mind since her bustle now resembled a pancake and was no longer remotely effective at lessening the discomfort of sitting for hours on a log – which in fairness was not a bustle’s primary reason for existing. There had been no movement for the last hour, so Rob decided to walk back down the small lane to wake their wagonette driver who’d spent most of the day dozing in the spring sunshine, much to his delight.

While he was gone, however, there was a sudden flurry of activity at the gate. Frowning, Bea got to her feet and pushed her way through some bushes to get a better view.

This time the gatekeeper didn’t let whoever it was through without so much as a by your leave. Indeed, there appeared to be quite an animated discussion going on between the supposed gamekeeper and whoever was in the carriage. In the end, the occupant actually climbed down, and Bea heard his angry words quite clearly.

‘I will attend the young woman who is in distress, and if you attempt to stop me, your employer will hear of it. I suspect he will not take kindly to the loss of a healthy specimen.’

Moments later, he climbed back into the carriage, which continued to the folly without further ado.

* * *

That evening, there were mixed emotions at dinner. Rhys had confirmed that the Cliff House contingent would be on the first train out of Paignton the following morning. However, the telegram from Gladys garnered a little more consternation.

I’LL BE ON FIRST TRAIN STOP ARNOLD GETTIN REST OF FAMILY TOGETHER FOR GOIN AWAY PARTY END.

Naturally the foremost emotion was that of trepidation. But the more immediate urgency was the arrival of the carriage Beatrix had spied.

‘It has to be a doctor,’ Henry fretted. ‘Where the devil are they keeping these children?’

‘Well, they ain’t wanderin’ the grounds, that’s fer sure,’ Billy commented. ‘Likely there’s another cellar like the one you found in that ‘aunted ‘ouse.’

‘We’ve seen a total of three guards - plus the one on the gate. Given that we think there might be nearing forty children, it makes sense they’re being kept locked up,’ Ben retorted grimly. ‘Billy and I saw no signs of life at any of the windows today. And Jacob White mentioned the use of opium back in Castel-a-Mare.’