us coming and he tried to get away.” He lifted his glass to his lips with a shaking hand and took a deep draught. He didn’t cough as he normally did after a deep intake of such a powerful spirit. “He ran out of the cottage but we caught him further down the street, and we started to hit him. I saw Rose there, and I told her to go home, but she ran after us.”

Richard, sitting next to me, sighed in what sounded like a resigned way, but I kept all my attention on Tom. “She ran off towards the Manor and I thought she was doing as I’d told her and going home. We hit the man, and he fell to the floor, but he must have been hellish strong, because he came up again with that knife in his hand. I don’t know what happened then but I was so angry I forgot about any danger and I rushed him. I caught him off balance and knocked him over. And when he didn’t come up again we looked a bit closer, and we saw he’d fallen on the knife.”

He stopped abruptly and took another drink, emptying his glass. In the silence, we all heard the glass rattle on the table as he failed to control his shaking hand. James sighed. “An unfortunate accident. We should be thankful for that.”

“Yes indeed,” Martha agreed.

“The Cawntons might not let it rest,” said Richard sombrely. “This is the second incident in the village, and they may see it as a campaign against them. They may also see it as the unfortunate loss of a worker, especially this close to a run, and take umbrage. Tom should consider leaving for a time.”

“They wouldn’t dare hurt Tom!” Martha cried in outrage.

Richard frowned. “They might. It would give his parents peace of mind if he was away from here. Has he any relatives he can visit for a time?”

Tom made a disgusted sound. “I won’t leave the high ground to them. They can’t run rough-shod over us!”

“They may, in the short term,” Richard said regretfully.

Tom was beside himself with indignation “No. They break the law and they put terror in the hearts of ordinary decent people. Do you know our fields empty the day before a run, because they’ve all been told to rest and prepare for the night’s work?”

“No, but it’s the sensible thing for them to do,” Richard replied mildly. “You can’t fight smuggling from here. If you really want to help, get yourself elected to Westminster and lobby there. It’s a countrywide problem, even though it is handled locally. It needs to be tackled from the centre, not piecemeal.”

“Faugh!” Tom turned away. I was appalled at his lack of control, but Tom was overset by the recent events, and must be at the end of his patience. We sat in silence, until Tom said, in a milder tone, “I beg your pardon, sir. I shouldn’t have done any of this. I should go and tell my father.”

“Please consider going away for a time,” Richard repeated. “They may seek reprisals.”

Tom said nothing, but bowed to us, and he and Theo left the room.

Richard sighed heavily. “I’m much afraid the Cawntons won’t leave this incident be.”

“Is there nothing you can do?” I asked him.

“My dear, what can Strang do?” Martha protested. “He’s a man of fashion, not at all concerned with these matters.”

Richard shook his head in regret. “We should try to persuade Tom to go away until this blows over. There’s a run soon I believe, and they may choose to forget if it’s a successful one.”

James’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How can you know that?”

Richard smiled easily. “My dear Hareton, you’d have to be blind not to notice the frantic activity in some areas.”

James nodded briefly. “I suppose you’re right.” He was unimpressed.

“You’d be best advised to leave this alone, Richard,” said Gervase gravely. “After all, you have other things to concern you.”

Richard looked at me and smiled, an intimate one this time. “So I have,” and he said no more on the subject.

Chapter Sixteen

The Earl and Countess of Southwood arrived in Exeter safely. Now Society appeared thick and fast in preparation for the wedding. I found it hard to believe it was all for me, but it seemed so. My worries for Tom not a whit abated, I realised I had other duties, and set about fulfilling them.

Richard took me into Exeter to visit his parents. When I stepped from the carriage outside the house, it brought back all the memories of that afternoon. I felt shy and confused, but I must have been getting better at controlling my feelings, because nobody noticed except Richard, who pressed my hand encouragingly as we went through the front door. This time a superior butler took us all the way up to the drawing room and announced our presence in ringing tones.

There were servants present now, the smell of cooking seeped up from the kitchen below, and there was a feeling of busy habitation, entirely lacking before. I regained my composure, as I climbed the stairs resting my hand on Richard’s arm, just like a proper visitor.

The earl and countess formed a formidable partnership. Both unbendingly strict, and determined to have their way in all things, Richard had infuriated them more than once with his wayward behaviour.

At first sight the earl bore little resemblance to his sons, so I could find nothing familiar about him, nothing I could befriend and find sympathy