Page 54 of A Misguided Devotion

“I had a tussle with some smugglers, Miss Barrington.”

Laura’s colour faded. “What dangerous work. You should take more care. Fortunately, it is my face Mr Merry is painting—not yours.”

He bowed his head. “Fortunate indeed. I was coming up to the house to see your father. Shall we go together?”

As they walked back along the path, Kitty considered Mr Jenkin’s injuries and how he said he’d gained them. She recalled someone else she had seen with a battered face just last night—Hugh’s butler, Blake.

In an instant, all her doubts returned. The riding officer could have been attacked by smugglers as he claimed, but what if his bruises had more to do with marriage than smuggling? Could Hugh have set Blake on Mr Jenkin for daring to visit Laura at night?

It was not the way she would have expected a magistrate to behave, but Kitty supposed he might have been pushed to such lengths to protect his daughter’s virtue.

If her suspicions were right, it cast him in a most unfavourable light. A man who resorted to violence when his will was thwarted would not make a kind husband.

But she must not jump to conclusions. It was a harsh judgement to pass on anyone, and until now, Hugh had given her no cause to suppose he would act like that.

It all came back to the person she had seen smoking in the garden at night. Was Mr Jenkin visiting Laura, or was there a lunatic in the basement?

Chapter 16

William lagged behind the others as they returned to the house, wanting to calm himself before facing Kitty again. How could she contemplate marrying Mr Barrington—an older man for whom she clearly cared nothing? The very idea of it revolted him.

True, one of his cousins had married an earl of a similar age, but Caroline had been over the moon with the match which had made her a countess. There was no question of her being forced into a marriage against her inclination. Certainly not because of her circumstances, which must be the only reason Kitty would consider accepting Mr Barrington’s offer.

If her brother were here, William was certain he would put a stop to it. As it was, she had no one to give her another option. Thank heavens neither of his unmarried sisters would ever face such a predicament.

As far as he was able, he would stand as Kitty’s honorary brother, but as a single gentleman, there was little he could do. He would ruin her reputation if he offered her his protection, so that she was free to reject Mr Barrington’s proposal.

But he could fulfil his promise to take her into Weymouth to examine St Mary’s parish records that afternoon. If they could prove she’d been told lies about her father’s birth, at least he could restore to her the dignity of her name.

William followed Mr Jenkin and the ladies into the house. Mr Barrington arrived in the entrance hall at the same moment.

“What are you doing here, Laura? Are you not sitting for your portrait this morning?”

Colour flooded the young woman’s cheeks. “I was—”

“It is my fault,” said Kitty. “I was lured outside by the sunshine and lost track of time. Mr Merry and Laura came in search of me.”

“It would appear they found you, my dear.” Mr Barrington’s eyes softened as they lingered on her face, and William’s fingers curled involuntarily, digging his nails into his palms.

“That does not, however, explain your presence, Mr Jenkin. Is Portland awash with smugglers this week, or are there more escaped prisoners of war to report? I am surprised you ventured out at all, given your rather battered appearance. Did you tumble down the stairs?”

William pitied the man who stiffened at the unsympathetic reference to his injuries.

“We are always overrun with smugglers, sir, and I came to inform you of my encounter with some of them last night. It ended in a tussle which left me somewhat worse for wear.”

“I am sorry to hear it, Mr Jenkin. You must come and give me a full account. Shall we retire to my study?”

The riding officer hesitated before turning to the ladies. “I wondered if you would care to drive out to Cave Hole this afternoon. The wind is in the right direction and as the barometer is falling, we can expect the waves to grow stronger as the day progresses. The conditions are such that when the spring tide is high, water should spurt out the top. I don’t believe Miss Lacey has witnessed the phenomenon.”

“We must go,” said Miss Barrington, grabbing her hand. “It is such a sight. What do you say?”

“I’m not sure I understand. What exactly is it?”

“It’s a hole in the ground above a sea cave,” Mr Jenkin said. “Under certain conditions, water fills the cavern and spurts out the top like a fountain.”

Kitty’s eyes lit up. “It sounds intriguing. I’d love to see it.”

Mr Barrington leaned toward her. “Then we shall ensure that you do.”