Sophia admired afresh the girl’s acting ability.If things became desperate, Mildred could probably support herself from gambling or treading the boards.
They paused at the entrance of the cave long enough to light the two torches the men had brought.Fairfax led the way with the first torch, Sophia on his heels.Then came Mr.Huntley with the second torch, now holding hands with Mildred, and Theo right behind them.
Should she take Fairfax’s arm again, and distract him from going into the cave where Mildred had been sleeping?Should she allow him to discover the cavern full of contraband?What had Mildred been trying to tell her with that nod and smile?
As though he had been heading straight for it, Fairfax’s steps led them directly to the cave where only a few hours ago Mildred had her blanket and valise.
They were not there.
Instead, there was only the scrap of blanket on the outcropping, just as it had been when Sophia first saw it.
“Hullo, old friends,” Fairfax said, so softly Sophia barely heard him, as he pushed the blanket aside and picked up the two toy soldiers.
Huntley raised his torch higher and stepped close.“How did you know those were here?”He took the soldier with the rifle from Fairfax’s hand and examined it from all angles.
“I had forgotten about them until recently.I must have left them here when I was ten or eleven.My first few visits to Aunt Gert, I played in here for hours at a time if the weather was too stormy to play on the beach.”He took the soldier back from Huntley and tucked both of them in his coat pocket, leaving the blanket behind.
Sophia took the chance to look around the cavern.She would never have guessed that until this morning somebody had been living in here for over a week.Making sure she had Mildred’s attention, Sophia gave her a subtle nod of approval.What had she done with her things?Probably hid them among the rocks by the bluff.
Mr.Huntley stepped back out into the tunnel.“Let us see what else is down here.”He and Mildred took the lead, followed by Theo.
Fairfax offered Sophia his arm.She accepted it with mixed emotions.She enjoyed the contact, reveling in the feel of his fine woolen coat and the firm muscles of his arm beneath, yet worried she might give something away by her trembling.Perhaps he would simply attribute it to nerves from being in a cave.
They peeked into one cavern after another, even those where rocks had tumbled down and partially blocked the entrance, seeing nothing of note.Sophia’s nerves stretched taut as finally they approached the cavern with the contraband.She struggled to keep her breathing even and not clench her hand on Fairfax’s arm.
“What in blazes?”Mr.Huntley held his torch high as he stared at the crates, casks, and sacks of goods.
Mildred gasped and held her hand to her mouth, her eyes suitably wide in shock.Theo raised her eyebrows and also let out a gasp.
“What the hell is all this?”Fairfax demanded, too shocked at the sight to apologize for swearing in front of women or perhaps even notice he had done so.He stalked down the narrow aisles, needing to turn sideways here and there to fit, reading the labels.
“Oh my,” Sophia quietly said, more out of awe in watching and listening to Fairfax than pretending shock at the contents of the cave.
“Is this not part of the household stores for Mrs.Digby?I think we’re close to the house by now.”Mildred batted her lashes as she looked at Fairfax.
“It most certainly is not.”He held the torch aloft with one hand, the other fisted and propped on his hip.Instead of echoing off the walls as they had in the empty caves, their voices were swallowed up, disappearing into the space that now felt impossibly small and full.
“Do you remember when Aunt Gertrude would tell us stories about how smugglers used to use these caves?”Mr.Huntley said.“I thought she was simply entertaining boys with tales by the fire on a cold winter’s night, but perhaps she was telling us the truth all along.”
“Actual smugglers?”Theo managed a squeak and looked genuinely startled, but surely Mildred had earlier told her what they would find in this cave.
“When do you think they might come back?”The slight edge of fear Sophia allowed in her voice was no affectation or artifice.
“No telling.”Fairfax shifted his gaze from glaring at the goods to the three ladies.“We’re getting the hell out of here.Right now.”He grabbed Sophia’s hand in a firm grip and towed her out to the tunnel, barely sparing a glance over his shoulder to see that the other three followed, and did not let go of her even when they emerged into the sunlight on the beach.
Neither of them was wearing gloves.His hand was warm, his grip firm but not painfully so, and Sophia felt no inclination to disentangle her fingers from his.Mr.Huntley and Mildred stepped out, arm in arm.Theo gave them all a quick glance and ducked her chin to hide her smile.
Both men doused their torches in the sand and leaned them against the wall just inside the tunnel.
“What now?Do we send for the magistrate?”Free of the torch, Mr.Huntley patted Mildred’s hand where it rested on his forearm.
“I need to think.”Fairfax plowed his fingers through his long, black hair.
Sophia felt the urge to do the same.Tohishair, not hers.
“Should we tell Aunt Gertrude?”
Fairfax inhaled a deep breath and let it out through his mouth, letting his cheeks puff.“I’m not sure.She seemed to enjoy herself in Sidmouth, but something feels off with her today.”
