Lord Hawkridge's Secret. Anne Ashley

rounding on her groom, who at that moment arrived back, leading her horse, ‘your continued employment as my servant is far from certain, Judas Finn. You and I shall be having a long talk tomorrow.’

      Removing his hat to scratch his grizzled hair, Finn watched his young mistress mount without assistance and ride away. ‘Don’t much like the sound of that m’ lord. How much ought I to tell her?’

      ‘As little as possible, Jonas,’ Sebastian replied, casting the groom a meaningful look. ‘When I feel the time is right I’ll inform her that I have every right to interfere in her affairs. In the meantime—’ he delved into his pocket for John Stapleton’s pistol, and handed it up to the groom “—give her this. It might go some way in restoring you in her good books.’

      Not appearing wholly convinced, Finn did what he had been entrusted to do, and set off at a gallop to ensure that his lordship’s ward came to no harm.

      Although Emily attained very little sleep that night, she surprisingly arose little later than usual the following morning, and was more than willing to acquiesce to Sarah’s request to make a trip to the local town.

      They spent a pleasant hour visiting the shops, where Sarah purchased various bits and pieces, and then returned to the inn where the carriage awaited them, only to be informed by Finn that he’d learned that the road home had become blocked by a hay cart which had shed its load.

      ‘Oh, not to worry,’ Emily responded cheerfully, quite forgetting that her faithful groom was not precisely basking in the sunshine of her approval at the moment. ‘We’ll return by way of the coast road. It’s a pleasant morning, and it’s a pretty run.’

      ‘I’ve lived in Dorsetshire for as long as you have, Em, and I’ve never travelled this way before,’ Sarah disclosed as the carriage turned off the main road and they bowled along a narrow country lane with many twists and turns.

      ‘I’ve ridden along here only once, shortly after I came to live with my grandfather. The road passes through Gremlock. It’s a small fishing village and quite quaint,’ Emily informed her, and then smiled to herself as her companion appeared content to stare out of the window at what for her was unfamiliar landscape.

      True to her word Sarah had remained awake to unlock the door during the early hours. Agog with curiosity she had accompanied Emily back upstairs, but the instant Emily had said, ‘As I told you, I went out to discover if something I suspected was true. My suspicions turned out to be correct. But more than this I cannot reveal, lest I betray the trust of—of a friend,’ Sarah had not attempted to discover more and had returned quietly to her own room.

      Emily could not help but admire Sarah’s placid nature and self-control. Had their roles been reversed, and she had been the one to remain awake to unlock the door, she felt sure she would have persevered until she’d discovered much more.

      ‘Now, what’s to do?’ Emily muttered, abandoning her reverie, as the carriage came to an unexpected halt in the middle of Gremlock’s main street.

      Pulling down the window, she poked her head out, and was informed by Finn that it was only a drayman unloading, and they wouldn’t be delayed for very long. Leaning out a little further, Emily caught sight of a barrel being rolled down into the tavern’s cellar, then raised her eyes to see the inn’s weathered sign swinging to and fro on its rusty hinges.

      ‘Oh, dear God,’ she murmured, her face losing every vestige of colour. ‘Whatever have I done?’