Chapter 30
Chase paced across the library’s Oriental carpet. “It’s not like Annie to be so late without sending some type of message.” He pushed both hands through his hair yet again, causing it to stick out in wild fashion around his head.
“You’re going to wear that rug away if you don’t stop. We need to decide on a plan.” Drew gazed out the window overlooking the front courtyard. In his pocket, he worried the miniature that had been through so much strife and trauma in his life. Once again, life had possibly taken a dangerous turn. “On that point, I would remind you the two of us left for this estate without a note to anyone. She was so excited to make progress here she allowed me to remove her from town without a word of dissent.”
Chase tracked across the floor once again. “But still, she’s a responsible young woman. Everyone knows that. And Miss Jane said she intended to play tea with Andrea. Annie would never want to disappoint her daughter.”
After a perfunctory knock on the door, Wellingford entered. “Dinner is ready, my lord. Should we serve it or shall we wait for her ladyship a bit longer?”
“Serve it in the morning room, Wellingford. As soon as we’ve had a bite to eat, we will go out searching for her.”
Movement in the courtyard caught Drew’s eye and he pushed up from the window jamb. Honey, Marianne’s mare, meandered into view. “Her horse!” He rushed out of the room, down the corridor, and out the manor’s front door.
After taking the steps two and three at a time, Drew slowed to near the horse at a calmer pace so she wouldn’t be startled and run. He gently took hold of her bit and stroked her nose. Honey whinnied and shook her head but stayed calm.
Still holding onto the bit and then the reins, Drew walked around the horse inspecting her body and the tack.
Chase arrived and Wellingford soon thereafter.
“Neither the horse nor the equipage have any damage. I don’t think she fell off but that does remain a possibility.” As he stroked the mare’s mane, he turned to the butler.
“Wellingford, we’ll need a very quick meal as we haven’t eaten for hours. In the meantime, have our horses prepared and we’ll set out for the village in short order.”
Wellingford nodded before making haste back into the house.
“We should leave right away.” Chase tugged at his hair. “I should send a note to our parents. I need to let them know.”
A groom hurried up and Drew handed Honey’s reins over. “Let’s just check in the village first before we upset your parents any further.”
~ ~ ~
After stuffing in a meal while standing, they mounted their horses. Checking along the way to see if Marianne had fallen from her horse and finding no indication of such an accident, they headed toward the village. In less than a half hour, they stood before the dressmaker’s door while Drew knocked insistently.
“My lord.” Mrs. Pins answered the door in a wrapper, her hair covered by a mobcap. “What is it? What is the matter?”
“Mrs. Pins, was not my wife here to see you this afternoon?”
“Why, yes, she was. We picked out a lovely day dress for her and designed a new pinafore for Miss Andrea. I even gave her a sketch and a swatch of the pinafore fabric to show the little miss.” She patted her head and smoothed her wrapper, clearly self-conscious of her déshabillé.
“And after, did she leave directly for home?” Drew stayed as calm as he could. Getting everyone around them keyed up would not help matters one bit.
“Well, she was going to but she stayed a while longer. You see, she had forgotten the swatch and the sketch and when I saw her go into the inn I went and retrieved them and found her there.”
“Excellent! What was she doing in the inn, Mrs. Pins?”
“Why she looked to be having luncheon, my lord. A full meal, tea and everything.”
Chase nudged him from behind. Drew pushed gently back with his elbow. They had to have patience, not panic.
“Mrs. Pins, was she alone?”
“No. No, she wasn’t. She was eating with a man. They seemed to be cordial and friendly with each other.”
Drew could feel the radiating heat of his brother-in-law behind him. He was practically breathing down Drew’s neck. And Drew couldn’t blame him for his anxiety.
“This is a very important question, Mrs. Pins. What did he look like?”
Mrs. Pins took a few moments to think about her answer. “Well, he was sitting down so I can’t tell you his height. Slicked back, dark hair, yes. Dark eyes, maybe brown but I don’t know. Definitely dark, though. Not as fit as you, my lord. Couldn’t say he would be a sportsman or the like.”
Chase pushed Drew aside. “His clothes, Mrs. Pins?”
“Oh, yes. Not a natty dresser. I may live here in the village but it’s my trade to stay au courant. I order the fashion sheets and magazines all the time. Neat but definitely not in the latest style.”
Chase turned to Drew. “It’s him. That bastard Gentilly has my sister.”
Mrs. Pins made a distinct sound in response to Chase’s observation of Marianne’s circumstances, his profane language, or a combination of both.
“Yes,” Drew nodded, “it certainly was Gentilly.” He turned back to the dressmaker. “Mrs. Pins, would you please be so kind as to send a note to the manor? Tell them we are off to London. They will understand.”
“Certainly, my lord. You may want to stop by the inn, though, before you go. Someone there may know something since her ladyship was there last.”
“Excellent idea. We’ll go directly.”
After discussions with the innkeeper and the barmaid, who had served Marianne and Gentilly, they learned his wife seemed to have been feeling faint when leaving the inn. Evidently Gentilly had helped Marianne outside. The barmaid had glanced out the window to see a gig leaving town heading in the direction of the manor, his wife swooning inside.
“I bet they’ve headed for London.” Chase remounted his horse.
“Well, they certainly didn’t make it back to the estate.” Drew settled into his saddle. “I think we should head off to town immediately. What say you? Do you know where he lives? How he supports himself?”
Chase tugged on his reins and directed his horse down the road. “I know little of the man but I’m sure my parents can give us some if not all of the information we need. How fast can you ride? I made it here in a day and a half. Can you keep up?”
“Well, the horses are quite fresh and the roads are dry. I doubt there will be much of a challenge.” Drew kicked his horse in its flanks and the two of them took off into the night.