Julia spent a restless night and awoke heavy eyed and listless. Sipping her morning chocolate, she reflected on the previous week and all that had happened. On reporting the return of the barouche and horse to her great uncle, she received a mere nod, as if to say, ‘I told you so.’
On asking Ridges if he could have Athene groomed and checked out thoroughly for any hurt she may have suffered, he looked harassed and said Wyatt would be in that morning and no doubt would know what to do for the mare.
With some trepidation Julia changed into an old dress, borrowed an apron from Mrs Knight, and went to the stables herself where she did her best to tidy Athene. Fortunately, the horse appeared to have suffered no ill effects from her mysterious journey apart from losing some skin off her back leg. She eagerly ate the oats and feed Julia found for her.
And that wasn’t all she found!
In the next stall was a keg, which one sniff confirmed it to be French brandy, plus a package tied up in oil cloth that contained a length of exquisite Mechlin lace. Her first impulse was to report the finding to Lieutenant Wareham, but after reflecting on it, she decided she would wait and see what the next few days would bring. Further developments may occur.
Immediately after reading to her great uncle she returned to the stables and there was Wyatt, grooming Athene. His black eye was still visible giving him an even more brutish appearance. Not to be put off, Julia advised him that she would be going riding at three o’clock and please have the mare ready.
As she turned to depart, Wyatt spoke gruffly. ‘I hear there’s been a revenue man here?’
Julia took a deep breath and steadied herself. ‘Yes. No doubt you are aware of what occurred on Thursday night?’
He looked hard at her. ‘The whole village knows.’
He moved forward menacingly and she instinctively shrank back.
‘It’s not wise to have social calls from revenue men. The less you have to do with them the better. Do you understand me?’
Julia felt herself trembling, but held her head high and simply nodded, afraid to speak for fear her voice would betray her.
‘Good.’ He spat contemptuously on to the ground. ‘Remember it.’
Dismissing her, he turned back to the horse while Julia forced herself to walk at a leisurely pace back to the house when all she wanted to do was run. She was seething at the effrontery of the man. Her fingers twisted her mother’s ring in agitation. She would speak to her great uncle. Wyatt must be dismissed. Her cheeks burned and she felt humiliated. She also felt real fear from the ruthlessness she sensed within Wyatt.
Julia was greatly relieved when she saw Gerald Hamilton ride up and after exchanging the usual pleasantries they were soon outside the gates, riding towards the marshes. They didn’t gallop for too long as Julia wanted to be easy on Athene. As they walked together, she told Gerald all that had occurred since she had last seen him.
She had the feeling that most of it he already knew but his face looked grave as she finished with her account of Wyatt’s rudeness. It was some minutes before he spoke, his eyes full of concern.
‘Wyatt has been with your great uncle for many years. It’s been long known hereabouts that Wyatt has had some connection with the smuggling trade but the same could have been said of many others. The Hawkhurst gang you may have heard about. They were a group of murdering smugglers who were tried and hung at Tyburn for their crimes in the area years ago. Since their execution, and since the recent peace agreement was signed and the Bourbon’s were returned to rule France, extensive smuggling in this area has diminished considerably.
‘At least the free trade agreement between both countries has reduced the scale of smuggling from what it was, say, thirty years ago. In this situation though, it would appear it was not necessarily goods that were the prize.’
Julia reined in Athene. She had had difficulty believing that brandy had been carried in the barouche. It was clearer now.
‘Yes. I see. The use of the carriage seems to indicate it was a person or personages that were transported here and smuggled ashore. But why?’
He shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
‘It could be someone with a price on his head wanted by the French Government. The possibilities are endless, and,’ he grinned at her playfully, ‘we could go mad thinking of the different possibilities. Let’s gallop to the far stand of trees and see if you can beat me.’
Gerald won the race though he gallantly tried to let Julia win. She felt so comfortable with him. She looked out to sea. There was little activity in the channel. They let the horses relax and nibble grass, and the soft breeze fanned their faces. His next comments shocked her into rigidity.
‘As you no doubt know, Mr Farraday is regarded as a very warm man in these parts and it would seem unlikely that he would be mixed up in any smuggling on the coast.’
He cast a sharp glance at her and realised immediately he had offended.
‘My apologies, Julia, if I have spoken out of turn, but how well do you know your great uncle?’
His look was searching.
Julia related to him her early history and finished with her present situation. There was silence for some time as he digested this. In the background she heard the bleating of the sheep and the sound of birds calling and of horses munching on the grass.
‘Mr Farraday is reported to be worth fifty thousand pounds a year and whether that’s all due to his East India trading or other ventures is anybody’s guess.’
He skewed around in the saddle to look at her again. ‘As his sole relative and one must assume heir, this leaves you in a very enviable situation. After all, your great uncle is very old now and who knows how much longer he will live.’ Gerald shrugged his shoulders.
Julia said nothing. She was shaken and didn’t know whether to be offended by his comments or to treat them lightly. It was too serious a subject to dismiss but the sum he had mentioned was incredible. Surely he was mistaken or it was all hearsay? As her eyes met his, she realised he was far more aware of the facts than she was.
‘Why Gerald, I had no idea! If what you have told me is true…I’m completely overwhelmed.’ Fiddling with her riding gloves, she looked through her lashes sidelong at him.
‘Perhaps, in light of this, I might find a suitor after all.’
His glance was very serious. ‘Of that I have no doubt at all. Though why you should think your great uncle’s fortune would be the main attraction, surprises me.’
Julia felt a surge of joy and smiled up happily at him. Suddenly he leaned across, and taking her hand, he kissed her wrist above her glove. Her heart pounded and a flush rose on her cheeks as he released her hand. She felt a feeling of contentment envelop her. Perhaps her future need not be so lonely or uncertain as she had always secretly feared.
Smiling, they urged their horses to a trot and in comfortable companionship headed home.