The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne by Madeline Hunter

Author:Madeline Hunter [Hunter, Madeline]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101560891
Google: OBlE6BguFlEC
Amazon: B005GSZJ4S
Publisher: Jove Books
Published: 2012-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Mrs. Norriston served a light supper before they left. Southwaite excused himself as soon as he was finished, to see that the carriage was ready.

Emma noticed as she stepped into the carriage that the earl’s horse had been tethered to the rear. He would come with her and show her the spot in question but she would return alone.

It took them no more than ten minutes to arrive at a rise along the coast where the shore began the climb that would end in the high cliffs at Dover. Southwaite helped her down, and they walked the hundred yards to the path that snaked at the top of this bluff.

“He walked here from the house, I was told. There was no horse or carriage,” she said.

“Apparently he walked along this path often. It goes all the way along the coast, and he could access it not far from his cottage.”

She stepped cautiously from the path to where the ground dropped away. It was not as steep as it would become farther south, but it was steep enough. “I suppose he was right here when it happened.”

“So I am told.”

She raised her gaze and looked out to the sea. The height and location of this spot gave good prospects of the coast. Far in the distance to the north she spied a massing of lines and forms. It was the Thames fleet, she realized, guarding the sea route near London.

“I was told he fell in the evening but was not found until morning.”

“The justice of the peace learned at the inquiry that he was seen walking the path around eight o’clock.”

“Late evening, then. Almost twilight. Did you attend the inquiry?” She had not. She had not wanted to hear the details then, or ever, until now.

He nodded.

Southwaite left her to her thoughts. She appreciated that, but she also found his manner very reserved. The man who had revealed his emotions so vigorously a couple of hours ago had become a cipher.

She looked up and down the coast again.

“He was here fairly late,” she said. “It would be dark when he walked home. Perhaps he fell on the way back, at a later time, when it was dark and he could not judge the path as well.”

“That is possible.”

“One wonders why he would take a turn along a dangerous path like this at such a time. Do you have any ideas about that, Lord Southwaite?”

“No doubt there are many possible explanations.”

She could think of only a few. One in particular made too much sense. She pondered it, and suspected from his closed and quiet manner that Southwaite had pondered it too.

Her father could have been watching the coast for someone. Smugglers had such watchers, who would signal if the way were clear to bring in boats at night. She did not know if Southwaite believed her father had been doing that, but he was not stupid and the possibility would not have been dismissed by him.

She looked at him, standing there with the sea behind him, waiting patiently for her to finish with this cliff walk.

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