To Desire a Wicked Duke (Courtship Wars)

Avoiding the castle servants while examining the cellars would be much harder, they concluded, as would justifying their presence without raising suspicions. Therefore, even though a duke and duchess needed no reason to explore their own residence, they gathered Fanny from the library to provide a logical excuse for scouring the castle depths, claiming they were plotting some new scenes for her novel.

Their search of the cellars came up frustratingly empty, however. It wasn’t until they scrutinized the second of the two towers, on the lowest floor, that they finally found a panel in the wainscoting similar to the one in Tess’s bedchamber that hid a secret passage. But while the concealed space off her room had been dusty and stifling, this narrow passage was cold and dank.

Taking two lanterns, they squeezed through the panel opening and proceeded single file, with Rotham leading. A steep flight of wooden steps led to an underground tunnel hewn out of earth and rock. The tunnel eventually spilled out into a dark, shallow cave, they discovered.

A sliver of daylight glinting before them pointed to the cave’s entrance. Upon investigating, they found an opening in the rock that was shielded by a wall of lush vegetation and further hidden behind the tumbling cascade of a waterfall.

Beyond the waterfall, they could see the cove below Falwell Castle in the distance and hear the quiet rush of waves swelling against the sandy shore.

“This cave would be ideal for smugglers,” Rotham said, voicing what they were all thinking.

Turning back to explore the interior, they found a stash of contraband at one side, behind a low wall of boulders—a dozen casks of brandy as well as three sizeable chests that were padlocked.

“This evidence suggests that our ‘ghost’ is real,” he added with satisfaction, “and not the haunted spirit of my murdered ancestor. I’ll wager that whoever left this bounty has been using the tunnels to gain access to the castle.”

“Should we try to open the chests?” Tess asked.

“Not at present. We would have to break the locks, which could forewarn our culprits when they return to claim their goods.”

Tess nodded in understanding, although disappointed that the contents of the chests would have to remain a mystery for now.

Fanny spoke up then. “So what do you propose, your grace?”

“I want to catch our intruders in the act of stealing into the castle. For now we’ll use our own servants to set up a watch around the clock. We may have to trust the Hiddlestons, but I don’t want to involve the other castle staff in case they’re complicit.”

Tess frowned slightly. “Do we have enough of our own servants to mount a full-time watch?”

“I expect so. We’ll need at least two armed men per shift, but if Eddowes and I join our footmen and coachmen and grooms, that should be adequate to apprehend the smugglers if they reappear.”

“I would like to help,” Tess said earnestly.

“So would I,” Fanny seconded.

“We’ll see,” Rotham said noncommittally. “For now, let’s find the trail from the beach so we’ll have an alternate route to and from the castle other than the tunnel. We don’t know if the smugglers will be returning by sea or by land.”

They soon found a path through the woods that climbed up the bluff to the castle. Rotham identified the best places to lie in wait for their quarry, and upon retracing their steps to the caves, decided to divide the watch into six-hour shifts, with a man inside the cave and another outside, judging that one could hold the smugglers at gunpoint to prevent them from escaping while the other summoned reinforcements from the castle.

He wanted Tess’s two footmen to take the first watch, since Miles and Fletcher were trained in firearms and fisticuffs. Rotham was still hesitant to allow Tess to participate, however.

She was about to argue the point when she realized the time. “I have an appointment at the vicarage at two o’clock,” she said, regretting having to leave.

“I’ll accompany you,” Rotham informed her, “since I want to speak to the good reverend. Potts may have useful information about the local smugglers, even though a man of the cloth isn’t likely to be involved with the actual misdeeds.”

After setting the two footmen to guard the cave, Tess and Rotham rode saddle horses to call on the vicar rather than take a carriage and require their servants to drive. When they arrived, the congenial, silver-haired Gideon Potts fawned over the duke and showered Tess with gratitude for her efforts to help the poorest of his congregation.

“It is just amazing, your grace,” the vicar gushed to her, “We have been getting contributions daily, and it is all your doing.”

Rotham waited until Tess’s business was concluded before inquiring about his main interest.

The long-winded vicar obliged with a

n extensive sermon on the subject.

“There are not as many Freetraders nowadays as in the past, you see. Smuggling has died down because customs duties were reduced significantly once the long wars with France ended—which made the trade far less profitable. But truly, smuggling has never been considered all that grave a crime in these parts, your graces. Most Cornishmen are sympathetic to the cause and often aid the Brethren in avoiding the excisemen.”

He went on to explain that Freetraders were often seen as romantic adventurers performing a valued service.

“Outright thievery is another matter altogether, however.” Potts’s florid face grew solemn. “Sadly, we had a ring of thieves at work in the neighborhood over the past summer. Several of the great houses suffered break-ins, with valuable jewels and silver stolen. It is particularly worrisome, since innocents are being hurt. Only a week ago, two of Lord and Lady Shaw’s servants were struck on the head and rendered unconscious. The thieves have yet to be caught.”