“I am hopeful his disposition will improve when he is the man in charge,” Mrs.Digby quietly said.
“I just chatted with Mr.Renwick.Does not sound like he plans to retire anytime soon.”
Mrs.Digby clucked her tongue, and climbed into the carriage when Bickford pulled up beside them.
The ride back to Hobart Grange was unremarkable though no less pleasant than the drive to town had been.As Sophia handed off her cloak and bonnet to the butler, she could not help surreptitiously checking her pocket watch.Theo and Mildred might still be down on the beach, but it mattered not if she needed to immediately go into the library and resume work with Mrs.Digby.
“Thank you for a most pleasant outing.”Mrs.Digby tugged on Fairfax’s shoulder so she could kiss his cheek.“You as well,” she said, her glance taking in Mr.Huntley and Sophia.As she put her foot on the bottom riser, she looked back at Sophia.“I am still going to have that lie-down.I will see you at supper.”
Fairfax and Huntley took their leave and headed down the hallway, their conversation concerning the billiards table and an uncollected wager.
Deciding to skip her bonnet, Sophia retrieved her cloak and hurried out the back door and down the path to the beach.Her heart pounding, she sped toward Theo’s excavation site at the bottom of the bluff, walking so fast she was practically running.“Oh, thank goodness you are still here,” she said when she saw Theo and Mildred.
“We were beginning to think you were not going to join us today.”Theo stood, frowning.“Is everything all right?”
Sophia bent over, hands on her knees, as she caught her breath.“I have just returned from dining at the Sidmouth Inn with Mrs.Digby, Lord Fairfax—”
“And Mr.Huntley?”Mildred clasped her hands together over her heart.
Sophia nodded, still breathing hard.
Mildred practically swooned.“What was he wearing?Which knot did he use to tie his cravat?Did the wind muss his hair?His gorgeous, wavy, auburn hair?”As she spoke the last, she mimicked running her hands through her hair.
“A dark blue velvet coat and tan breeches, I do not know the name of it, and yes.”
“I can just picture him.”Mildred sighed and turned in a circle, her arms and skirts flaring out.
“No need to picture him,” Theo quietly said, stepping aside so her back was to the path Sophia had just taken.“Here he comes.”
“What?”Sophia straightened so abruptly her back cracked.Mildred squeaked.
Chapter 9
Mr.Huntley was indeed making his way toward them, with Lord Fairfax at his side.Like Sophia, they had elected to leave their hats in the house, and the wind tousled their hair.
“Good afternoon, ladies!”Mr.Huntley called.
Fairfax reached up as if to tip the hat he was not currently wearing, then abruptly dropped his hand and nodded to them instead.
When they were within speaking distance, the men exchanged polite greetings with each of them, including Sophia, as if they had not just spent over two hours in each other’s company.
Sophia fought the urge to clench her teeth.She had not yet even had a chance to discuss the contraband in the cave and the danger it represented to Mildred.She did not know if Theo was aware of this recent development, and now they couldn’t very well discuss it with the men present.Even if Fairfax had the power to make her stomach flutter and his voice tended to wash over her like a soothing caress.
She realized she had lost track of the conversation again when she heard Huntley saying their farewell.
“We did not mean to intrude on your tête-à-tête,” Fairfax added.“We have been reminiscing today, and realized it has been years since we explored the tunnel together.”He gestured at the cave.
Sophia’s breath caught in her chest.She stared at Mildred, trying not to let her panic show on her face.
“What a lovely idea!”Theo exclaimed.“I have been meaning to go into the tunnel to see if this fossil is visible on the other side.Did you by chance bring torches?”
Before Sophia could strangle her friend, Mildred caught her eye and gave her a subtle nod and encouraging smile.Everything would be all right.“Ooh, what a lovely idea,” Mildred said.“May we join you?”
How?How could everythingpossiblybe all right?
“We did indeed bring torches.”Fairfax furrowed his brow in puzzlement.“You want to leave the beach on this beautiful, sunny day to venture into a dark cave?”
Mildred tucked her arm through Mr.Huntley’s and looked up to gaze adoringly at him.“I am sure we will be safe with you.And I confess to some curiosity as to what is in the tunnel beyond the sunlight.”
