‘You’re wondering how someone as young as I could afford such a project. Am I right?’

It was Hilda’s turn to blush and look away.

‘You must be a very astute businessman, Mr Dorning.’ Judy modified her tone. ‘I’d really like to know how to make a lot of money.’

‘You’d like to know, would you?’ Rob regarded her with a wry smile. ‘I have to admit I did nothing to earn the fortune I inherited, but my father and grandfather paid the price for their misdeeds. They were transported to the penal colony in Australia, but the authorities didn’t manage to get their hands on the money they’d made. Free trade is what brought me Creek Manor. Ironic, isn’t it? I believe the old squire was one of the ringleaders of their gang, but he died before it could be proven.’

‘Well, I never did!’ Hilda stared at him in amazement. ‘The sly old fox. We always knew he was up to no good, but he was obviously better at being a crook than we thought.’

‘That’s just about it.’ Rob turned to Judy with a questioning look. ‘I suppose you’d like me to leave now. A respectable woman like you wouldn’t want anything to do with a man whose family were notorious smugglers.’

‘You’re determined to put me in the wrong,’ Judy said, laughing. ‘We look forward to your invaluable custom, Mr Dorning.’

‘Now you’re laughing at me,’ Rob said equably. ‘Touché.’

Before Judy had a chance to respond in kind, the parlour door flew open and Nate rushed into the room. ‘Judy, come quickly. I think the doctor’s going to kill himself.’

Chapter Thirteen

Judy leaped to her feet, as did Rob, and they hurried after Nate, with Hilda following more slowly. The pub door was swinging violently in a gale-force wind, and rain lashed down in torrents. Judy ran outside and a flash of lightning revealed Ben Godfrey teetering on the edge of the cliff.

‘He’s going to jump,’ she cried, turning to Rob, but he was already on his way and he threw himself at Dr Godfrey, bringing him down just as he was about to plunge into the churning waves below.

Nate rushed to his aid and together they raised him to his feet and half-dragged, half-carried him back to the safety of the taproom. Judy raced upstairs to fetch a blanket and some towels. When she returned she found Dr Godfrey seated by the fire, clutching a glass of brandy. She wrapped the blanket around his shoulders.

‘You stupid man,’ she said angrily. ‘You would have died if it hadn’t been for Rob.’

He bowed his head. ‘You should have let me end it all. I’m finished.’

Rob pushed his wet hair back from his forehead. ‘If that’s all the thanks we get for saving your life, then go ahead and throw yourself off the cliff.’

‘What would you do if you were me?’ Ben Godfrey said wearily. ‘You’d feel exactly the same. I owe good people a lot of money that I can’t repay.’