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There were many hiding spots along the coast. Quarries and caves dotted the landscape. This was smuggling territory, after all.
Nathan vividly remembered his own runs with the smugglers in the area. Most of the operations would have died down after the war, as trade resumed, but for a while, there had been a thriving team. Mostly lace, brandy, and tobacco, all of which were easy to appear to look legitimate.
While the excise men would not approve, joining a smuggling gang’s runs was practically a time-honored tradition for the lords along the coast during times of war. Even Nathan’s father had not tried to stop him and Sebastian from joining in, though he’d curtailed any other activity that involved them actually mingling with anyone in the lower classes. Valerie had been very careful never to be seen by the old despot for more than one reason.
“Can you describe how he was found?” Nathan asked, turning back to Moore. Unsurprisingly, the other man hesitated. It was not a common question, but Nathan was not a common man. He had seen enough death when he was overseas to last a lifetime and enough injustice to know he could not stand another. “Where was his head?”
“Ah, feet nearly at the sand, head up that way.” Moore jerked his own head upward, using his chin to indicate the area. Nathan turned and looked, cocking his head this way and that, ignoring the tightening of his chest as he pictured the scene.
Devil and Sebastian must have had their backs to the rocks, but what would have made Devil rear? There was nothing around here but sand, waves, and the rocks upon which Sebastian had been thrown.
Nathan’s gaze was drawn back to the cliff.
Someone could have easily stood atop there and done something to startle Devil. Like throwing a rock. Or shooting at them.
Lips pressing together, Nathan wondered if he would ever know the full truth.
* * *
Lily
Letters written, Lily glanced down at her dark green damask and grimaced. It was the best option she had under the circumstances, but she hoped someone could bring her something more appropriate. If not, perhaps there would be a shop in one of the nearby villages.
When her husband returned, she would ask him. Or perhaps Mrs. Moore. She should have thought of that before sending the woman off to hunt down linens for the guests who would be arriving, but that was important, too. She was juggling multiple balls at the moment.
One of which should be trying to find out more about the smuggling operations on Talbot lands and whether any of Nathan’s family had been involved in smuggling more than cargo.
Leaving her room, Lily glanced about, but there was no one in the halls. Presumably, the household was readying for the guests that would soon descend. Her family, her and Nathan’s friends, and some of his cousins would likely be coming in for the funeral.
They would need to arrange a viewing as quickly as possible. If those coming from London arrived tomorrow, the viewing could be held the day after and the funeral the day after that. Doing the mental calculations in her head of everything she would need to do before then, Lily made her way to the earl’s study with only one wrong turn.
As there was no one in the hall and no one knew when her husband was expected back from his ride, Lily had no reservations about letting herself into the room. Closing the door behind her, she took a moment to look around. Yesterday she had not gone inside when Mrs. Moore had pointed it out on the tour of the house.
In the center of the room was a large desk facing the door she had just come through, which meant one’s back would be to the large picture window on the opposite wall. However, there were two armchairs arranged, so one could sit and enjoy the view if they so desired. Two smaller chairs were set in front of the fireplace on her left. The entire right wall boasted shelves covered in books, which immediately attracted Lily’s interest.
Duplicates to some of the books in the library or an entirely new collection? Her fingers already itched to find out.
That would have to wait. Nathan had already been gone for at least two hours. What his schedule would be, she was not sure, but she did not want to waste this opportunity. Once their guests began arriving, it would be much harder to find the time to go through anything.
She also did not want him to find, then hide evidence of his family’s involvement with treachery. While the impulse would be understandable, it would not be helpful to their investigations.
It was better if she was the first to find anything that might be there.
Scanning the room, Lily decided to start with the desk. There were papers still atop it, and it only took a quick glance to know Nathan had not touched them. The first letter in the center of the desk was addressed to Sebastian and appeared to be from Lord Gabriel Warwick.
Quickly reading it, it seemed Lord Warwick was answering some of Sebastian’s questions about import/export from the coast. The letter was marked from London. Import/export… could be code for smuggling or could refer to legitimate business. Something for her to look into.
Lily put it back where it had been.
Another envelope on the desk was addressed to Sebastian from Nathan, likely the notification of their impending wedding. Lily’s heart ached. She could all too easily imagine Nathan’s brother setting the letter aside to be read and enjoyed after his ride… except he never got the chance.
Quickly shuffling through the rest of the papers on the desk, she did not find anything particularly noteworthy, just the usual correspondence of a gentleman of a certain position. To be thorough, she opened all the drawers, checking their contents with as much speed as she could while checking for any hidden compartments. At some point, she would need to search the earl’s rooms, but that would likely be easier than the study as her room should be attached to the earl’s bedroom once she and Nathan made the move.
“Ah-ha!” Sliding her fingers along the underside of the center of the desk, where one’s legs would be when seated, she found a small catch. Opening it only took a moment. A panel dropped down, and a single piece of paper slid onto her lap.
Lily stared at it. A hidden piece of paper? It must be important. The question was whether it was related to whatshewanted to know.
Putting the panel back, she got to her feet and placed the paper on the desk. A long list of names, with Matthew Moore’s at the top, covered it. All men’s names. A total of about twenty, the first eight of which had been crossed off. None of the names were familiar to her, which was not surprising, but there was also no indication of what any of it might mean. Her gut was telling her the list was important, even if she did not know why.
