Talek heard the hesitation in her voice and glanced back at his sister.
‘He wouldn’t.’ Amelia attempted to touch his arm as he walked by her. ‘Talek, please calm yourself. We have known Henry for years. He is a good man.’
Talek looked less convinced, but he nodded. Whether it was to reassure his sister or himself, Grace could not tell.
‘I told Mr Williamson it was nothing I could not sort out.’ He stared hard at the floor as if he hoped to find the answer there. ‘Has he said anything at all? You were as thick as thieves before his accident.’
‘No nothing.’
Grace came to stand beside him, silently urging Amelia to tell her brother all that she knew, but Amelia refused to look at her.
Talek turned away, frustrated. ‘How long does it take to harness a horse?’
‘You know very well how long,’ soothed Grace. ‘Be patient.’
‘He had better have a good excuse. Has the man taken leave of his senses? He would have emptied out our account if Mr Williamson had not refused him.’
Word came that the trap was outside and waiting for him.
‘Where are you going?’ asked Amelia.
‘Where do you think? To his house. I want him to explain himself.’
‘Give him a chance to explain,’ pleaded Amelia. Talek ignored her and strode from the room.
Grace hurried to Amelia and took her hand. ‘I have to tell him about Henry. He is going to find out anyway.’
Amelia clutched her hand. ‘Do you think Henry is really up to something? Do you think it has something to do with the new clay contract?’ Her face crumpled when Grace remained silent. ‘You do, don’t you!’ Her lips began to tremble as tears welled in her eyes. ‘Then I really have betrayed my own brother. Go! Quickly! Tell Talek everything, but not my part in it. I could not bear Talek knowing that.’
‘I will.’
Tears rolled down Amelia’s cheeks as Grace stood up. ‘I trusted Henry. I would have given my life for him. He’s lied to me.’ Amelia began to sob.
Grace gently squeezed her hand between hers. ‘He has lied to us all, Amelia,’ she soothed, ‘but Talek will find a way out of this mess, so do not fret.’
‘He will never forgive me,’ she wailed.
Grace slipped her hand from Amelia’s grasp, concerned Talek would leave before she could speak to him. ‘I have to go. I’m sorry.’
She ran from the room and out into the blinding sunshine. Talek had already climbed into the trap and was taking up the reins when she reached him. A servant ran out of the house carrying his hat and coat, but he refused it.
Grace held on to the trap’s seat so he could not drive away.
‘Stand back, Grace, or you will be hurt.’
‘You’ll not find Henry at his home.’
Talek frowned. ‘Why not?’
‘He is staying with his cousin on the outskirts of St Austell.’
His frown deepened. ‘And how do you know this?’
‘I found some discrepancies in the accounts and went to see him and was directed to where he is staying.’
‘Discrepancies?’
‘Yes.’
His voice, barely a whisper, was full of pain and confusion. ‘Why am I only learning of this now?’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘And you have visited him there?’
‘Yes. Twice.’
It tore at her heart that she’d not shared it with him before. The reason for not doing so now seemed less clear. He was a good man, why hadn’t she just spoken to him? Why had she doubted her own skills so much? Why had she doubted him?
‘And you did not think to discuss it with me?’
If she could relive the last few weeks she would, the moment she had made the first discovery, she would quite happily have shared it all. But even a fool can seem wise if they had the gift of hindsight.
‘At first I was unsure if I had made an error.’
‘And was there an error?’ The hope in his voice pained her to hear. He was hoping for something to cling onto, but she could not give it to him.
Grace took a deep breath. She would not lie. ‘No.’
