Page 75 of A Misguided Devotion

“Thank you,” he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee and taking a vacant seat at the table.

Hugh leaned toward him. “Did you find anything?”

“Nought but a broken barrel.”

“How disappointing.”

Kitty shared his disappointment. Mr Jenkin’s men must have taken too long to arrive to catch the smugglers at work.

“Is that all?” William said. “Had they secreted the barrels away before you got there? There were at least a dozen being unloaded from the boat.”

Mr Jenkin took a sip of coffee and put down his cup. He glared at him, his lip curled in a sneer. “I didn’t realise it was you who alerted Mr Barrington to the smugglers. Are you sure your eyes didn’t deceive you? I find it hard to believe they’d be operating in daylight.”

What was the man talking about? Had he only just investigated their report? No wonder he hadn’t found anything.

“That’s because it was dark when I saw them at eleven o’clock last night.”

The admission seemed to distract the riding officer from his line of enquiry. “Rather late to be out for a stroll.”

“It is hard to go stargazing during the day.”

“Alone?”

Kitty bit down on her bottom lip. Would William answer him? Hugh would not be pleased to discover they had been out walking together.

He did not disappoint her. “That is none of your business.”

“So, you were out with someone.”

“You assume too much.”

The man glared at Laura. “Do I? You need not defend the lady’s character.”

William raised his chin and responded in a haughty tone that Kitty thought was every inch a viscount. “Do not presume to dictate my actions, Jenkin. I will protect the reputation of any woman who needs it.”

“It is unnecessary.”

Laura jerked her head up, her eyes aflame as they rested on the riding officer. “Until I have a husband who will stand as my protector, I am grateful to any gentleman who looks out for me.”

The more the pair glowered at each other, the wider Mr Barrington’s smile grew. Though he probably knew it was not Laura who had gone out walking with William, he was content for that assumption to be made. It kept the riding officer at arm’s length and put more pressure on the Viscount to marry his daughter.

After a few moments, Mr Jenkin pulled his gaze away and turned again to William. “You’ve wasted my time. If you saw the smugglers last night, why didn’t you see fit to send me word at once? Can you explain the delay—or are you in sympathy with the free traders, as I suspected once before?”

The tension sizzled between the two men. Kitty was tempted to calm the situation by admitting that it was she who had been out walking with William, not Laura, but thought better of it.

“I resent the implication, Jenkin. I am as keen to uphold the law as you are.”

“Are you? Or are you hiding more than just your identity—Lord Droxford?”

Oh dear. That would not help William’s cause. If news of his clandestine stay in this house spread, speculation would be rife.

Laura’s mouth dropped open. It was clear she had not been in on the secret. “What are you talking about, Mr Jenkin?”

“That this man is not who he claims to be. I thought he reminded me of someone, and so I described him to my mother. She knew who he was at once. The Viscount Droxford, grandson of Her Grace, the Duchess of Wessex, and heir to the Earl of Harting.”

Related to the Duchess of Wessex as well? That was a piece of information William had not deigned to share with her.

“Is it true?” Laura asked.