“Eventually, those foreigners learned to speak enough English to tell their story to sailors, and we all know word-of-mouth travels fast. But, by then, Rupert had married an Irish widow named Moira, had several stepchildren, and a son of his own. He had settled down… except when it came to the rum trade.” Glory paused and drew a deep breath. “He was still diluting the rum to make it go further, but charging the same price for every drink.”
“And you know this – how?”
“I am descended from the daughter of Rupert’s oldest stepson. We heard the stories, always told with a reminder that… ‘there’s a family connection, but NOT blood related’.”
“You have an interesting family history, Glory.”
She laughed. “Just don’t spread it around. Some family members like to pretend it doesn’t exist.”
“We’ll just say you heard the stories handed down through generations,” Harry said, with a chuckle. “And we have something else to share with you.” He nodded at Joe.
Joe handed her a shiny object. Her eyes grew wide as she turned it over and stared at it. “Where did you get this?”
“Chamber outside basement… on way out… almost missed it,” he said.
“It looks old,” Silas said.
“Do you recognize it?” Harry asked.
She shook her head. “Not really, but Rupert’s partner was said to always wear a ring with crossbones on it. Maybe the rumours of him setting the first explosion were true after all.”
“I think you’re right,” Harry agreed, “and it looks as if he might have got caught in the explosion. Agree?” Everyone nodded as he looked around. “However, I don’t see any need to make that bit of information public. Do we agree?”
“It wouldn’t serve any purpose now,” Silas said.
“In this case, I think it might be better to leave the rumours unsolved,” Miss Pinkerton added.
“I agree,” Harry said. “The truth might bring curiosity seekers, trying to sneak into the tunnel under Black’s Farm, in the hope of finding relics of some kind.”
“Don’t want that…” Joe said.
“But the ring is yours, Glory, if you want it,” Harry said. “You’re the closest to a descendant of Rupert that we know of. You can keep it, give it to the Historical Society, or whatever you want with it.”
“I don’t want it,” Glory said. “Return it to where you found it. And someone should suggest that Miss Pinsent should consider having the entrance to the tunnel in her cellar permanently sealed.”
“Drafts down there…” Joe said.
“Tell her that,” Harry said. “That’s an excellent reason to seal it off.”
“And we all know that rumours and legends are part of history,” Silas said, as they prepared to leave.
Harry paused at the door. “Is Ralph a descendant of Rupert?”
Glory shook her head. “His family bought it from Rupert’s son just before he changed his name and disappeared.”
