Tess met Rotham’s gaze just then. From the arrested look in his eyes, she knew they were entertaining the same suspicions—that perhaps Falwell’s ghost might have some connection to the thieves.
When Rotham told the vicar about finding contraband in the caves below Falwell, Potts agreed it was possible that the miscreants were using the castle to hide their ill-gotten gains.
A short while later, Tess and Rotham politely took their leave. During the ride home, she asked him about proving that the thieves could be Falwell’s ghost. “Perhaps we should break the padlocks after all, to see if the chests contain any of the stolen jewels.”
“I intend to.”
“If so,” Tess mused aloud, “then it means we are dealing with an entire ring, and you will need more support to foil them. Surely now you will allow me to help watch the cave, and Fanny also.”
Rotham shook his head. “You heard Potts. These thieves are known to be violent.”
“All the more reason for us to be involved. We can provide strength in numbers.”
“No, it’s out of the question.”
Tess felt herself stiffen at his commanding tone. “I warn you, Rotham. I won’t just sit idly by while you confront an organized band of thieves.”
“You will, love.”
She regarded him in frustration. “You are acting the tyrant again.”
“Oh, yes,” he drawled in a voice heavy with satire. “It is tyrannical of me to want to protect you from danger.”
Brown eyes clashed with gray—but then Tess bit her tongue. She would never persuade Rotham to agree to her participation by resuming their former hostilities.
Forcibly, she adopted a more reasonable tone. “You seem to have no qualms about putting our servants at risk, or Basil Eddowes, either.”
“They are men. They can shoot a pistol if necessary.”
“Fanny and I both know how to shoot.”
“I am not putting you in the middle of a gun battle.”
“I am not suggesting any such thing,” she replied sweetly. “We are perfectly capable of going to fetch reinforcements from the castle while you big, strong men hold the thieves at gunpoint.”
When he only scowled, Tess continued. “I am not a fragile flower, Rotham.”
“No, that you are not,” he allowed grudgingly.
“You need us. Otherwise you will have to involve the castle servants, who may warn the thieves away.”
Rotham sent Tess a quelling glance. “Your stubbornness is highly annoying.”
“Well, you delight in purposely annoying me, your grace. Turnabout is only fair play.”
He grimaced. “Your grace, this … Rotham, that. Your formality grows irksome.” His tone held irritated masculine impatience. “Must I remind you again that you are my wife now? You may call me by my given name rather than my title, as I have mentioned before.”
Tess pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I have thought of you as my nemesis for so long, it would seem strange to use anything other than your title.”
“Ian is my name. I prefer you use it.”
“And in return, Ian? Will you allow me to participate?”
A pained smile touched his lips. “I expect you will leave me no choice.”
Tess’s own smile was brighter. “No indeed, dear Ian.”
Rotham eventually gave in, Tess decided, because he knew she was right. When they reached Falwell Castle, they left their horses on the bluff and made their way down the steep path through the woods to join Miles and Fletcher, who were lying in wait in hopes of catching the smugglers.