“Or whoever he hired. And Lorne.” They’d asked around about him last night, while the ladies and gents were having their fancy dinner at Oliver and Beth’s house. Settled themselves down at the pub with Tas-gwyn Gibson, who was more than happy to lend a hand. Apparently, when Sheridan had shared what he knew of Lorne yesterday, her grandfather had been convinced he was the one who’d knocked him upside the head on Monday. He had a vague recollection of seeing a little dinghy that he recognized as one the Morrises had rented out for the summer, and of hearing a voice behind him curse in a rough London accent.

They still couldn’t be certain if it had been Lorne or the Scofields’ lackey that had knocked her head in Piper’s Hole, but they’d learned more than Mabena had hoped. More than she wished were true. A few islanders had ferried Lorne about here and there until he’d rented that boat for himself, all of them reporting that he seemed keen on learning every facet and rock and crevice on all the islands.

Not that the islanders had told Lorne much—they all had a healthy distrust of incomers whose interests went beyond mere curiosity—but they couldn’t exactly stop him from exploring. And they’d been seeing him for weeks, here and there. No one was certain where he was staying. Some thought St. Mary’s, others Bryher, others still reported seeing him here on Tresco late enough at night that he couldn’t have meant to leave.

Bad news, all of it.

But they’d come up with their own plan to keep Casek’s students safe from Lorne’s influence. One that wouldn’t interfere with the scheduled search of King Charles’s castle later today.

“There they are.” She nodded to the beach by the Hills’ little house, where Perry and the Grimsby boys were even now stealing down the sand toward Mr. Hill’s old rowboat. Just as Casek had overheard them planning to do yesterday—to sneak over to Piper’s Hole this morning.

Casek had said he’d debated trying to talk them out of it, letting them know he’d heard their plans. Perhaps even warning them away from Lorne directly. But it wasn’t so long ago that Casek had been a boy just like them. He’d known that forbidding a thing would only make it more alluring. So instead they’d decided to put themselves here, now.

Enough morning mist hovered over the water to help their voices carry. “That’s what Beth said.” She recited her agreed-upon line to get them started, turning her head a little to send the words toward the lads, though careful to keep her eyes trained solely on Casek, who didn’t so much as glance toward the shoreline.