After hugs and laughter, Ness took a tour of the room, all the while expounding her view of the hypocrisy of society and ending on a heavy sigh to add, “And to think that instead of rewarding me for a job well done—for I beat that canting park saunterer, I am banished to Cornwall!” She turned to her godmother, a woman she had long ago learned to confide in as a friend. “Where is the justice in that, Guss?”
As it happened, Augusta Penrod personally saw nothing shocking in a female taking on a race and winning it and said so, but countered it with, “Ah, but, my dear, although I have always been an independent woman, my causes were always supported by my husband, and now, as the widow of my dearest Penrod, I have a great many influential friends…loyal to his memory and fond of me. You, on the other hand, are still a young maid and such behavior just will not be allowed without consequences.” She reached out and took up Ness’s hand. “My love, your lease of infancy was up some years ago. You know as well as I that justice does not always prevail.”
Ness sighed again and turned to her brother and accused, “And you. You are a man! You don’t think I did something wicked, do you?”
He actually did not and was quick to assure her on this point, turning to his cousin to join in on this opinion. Randall of Southvale did agree and said so.
Pleased with their response, Ness said, “I suggest we start to do something about such inequalities. Women should not be subjected…” and then remembered the face of the frightened girl she had seen and interrupted herself to say, “oh, Guss, I saw…”
Once again, Toby entered the room and announced the Echworths of Montlaine. The butler’s face was rigid with disapproval when Mr. Orson, closely followed by his mother and sister, swept imperiously past him.
Ness’s eyes glittered with amusement as she witnessed this and turned immediately to see that her dear Guss did not look pleased.
Under her breath, Ness clearly heard Guss whisper, “Drat.”
Aha, thought Ness, unwanted visitors. She turned and surveyed the newcomers with interest.
Orson Echworth had poise and was not unattractive in a florid sort of way, Ness thought as she watched him bow low over Lady Penrod’s offered hand.
“In or out of London, my lady, you are ever the irresistible magnet,” he said, and his voice was low and flirtatious.
Ness was not surprised by this. Augusta Penrod had never been a beautiful woman, but she was, Ness thought, very attractive and always in the first style. She was tall and elegant, charming, and well versed in every aspect of the beau monde. She had often seen the young London beaus flirt with her ladyship.
“Scamp,” Lady Penrod said as she rapped his hand and turned to his mother and sister.
Ness’s brow went up as Guss scarcely smiled when she greeted these two women, and there was something frigid in her tone when she said, “Mrs. Echworth, Sheila, how good to see you are out and about.”
Whatever did that mean? Ness wondered as her ladyship turned to Toby and requested refreshments be brought. Ness was also surprised to see an ‘odd’ glance exchanged between the retainer and her ladyship. All her instincts were on alert, but she found herself fending off a very aggressive Orson Echworth, without very much help from her brother and cousin, who were bowing low over Sheila Echworth’s hand.
The amenities passed quickly before an uncomfortable and momentary silence ensued.
Her ladyship, never at a loss, mentioned the regent’s latest escapade, but Mrs. Echworth seemed impatient to get onto something else, and Ness watched her closely.
“Lady Penrod,” Mrs. Echworth said, and paused for a pregnant moment. “I hesitate to speak of our troubles before your guests…”
There it was, thought Ness, who leaned forward. She had been right! A mystery in Cornwall? How exciting!
“Would you like us to leave?” Ness offered, hoping the rules of politeness would prevent Mrs. Echworth from asking for such a catastrophe.
Lady Penrod disliked Mrs. Echworth. Instant umbrage at the thought of dismissing Vanessa and the lads struck her as intolerable. Mrs. Echworth’s troubles were common knowledge and sooner or later, Ness would hear of it, thus, it might as well be here and now.
“Don’t be silly, dearest Ness. Mrs. Echworth has no objection to your remaining to finish your tea.” She smiled coldly at Mrs. Echworth, whose smile faded on her unattractive face.
“Well, then, this is no idle visit, my lady. We are most distressed…about Mary!” Mrs. Echworth blurted out. “We don’t know where she is. There are papers to sign, legal…”
“And, of course, we are worried about our cousin,” Orson stuck in, giving his mother a ‘look’. “She is, after all, only a child. Where can she have gone?”
“I would think perhaps to relatives in London. I heard talk among the servants that she was helped in that endeavor,” offered her ladyship with ever so slight a blush creeping into her cheeks. The Echworths didn’t apparently take note of her pink cheeks, but Vanessa did, and with some quiet surprise.
“But,” Orson returned, so very quietly and with an affected hint of puzzlement, “we are Mary’s closest relatives and were at Montlaine, why would she not come to us?”
“But, as you say, you were already at Montlaine when all…the horror began!” her ladyship snapped, unable to contain her contempt at this juncture. “Perhaps Mary did not feel you had…interceded on her brother’s behalf and would not have done so on hers.” She put up her hand and added, “I see I have shocked you with my candor. However, all I can say is that it is too bad I was in London at the time Montlaine was accused and subsequently chased to his untimely death.”
Vanessa gasped at the same time her brother and cousin said in unison, “My word.”
Her ladyship allowed them the moment before continuing, “If I had been at Penrod, it is for certain that matters would not have progressed as they inevitably did.”
“So, you are saying that she would not have come here in your absence?” Orson asked, ignoring everything she had just said.
Lady Penrod did not smile as she said, “If Mary could not feel safe at Montlaine with you, her closest relatives, among her own servants, who I know all care greatly for her well-being, how then could she feel safe at Penrod without me here, without my authority in attendance? No, make no mistake, she has gone to London.”
Orson stood, his mother and sister followed suit. It was obvious to Ness that they had not been convinced. It was also obvious that if they did not leave, her ladyship would have dismissed them.
“I am sorry we have had to trouble you while you were entertaining,” Mrs. Echworth managed to say.
“No trouble. I was meaning to stop by and offer you my condolences. It still is, however, so very difficult for me to even talk about, and I can only imagine what grief it dredges up to be reminded. Tell me, is it true that Midnight actually broke out of his stall and cannot be found?” Lady Penrod asked, Nessie thought, very carefully.
“Yes, I am afraid so, at least, according to Epps. Personally, I think the old groom sold the horse for a pretty sum and pocketed the money,” Mrs. Echworth said with an accompanying sniff.
Toby appeared with the tea tray and Lady Penrod, ever polite, said, “Oh, do stay and have tea with us.”
“No, I think not. I should like to get home and jot off a letter to Duncan. He is in London, you know, and perhaps he can find Mary,” Mrs. Echworth answered.
She turned and smiled, and Ness realized that Sheila was flirting outrageously with both her brother and cousin.
Ness’s eyes narrowed, for they were among the biggest marriage prizes in the beau monde, and she had no doubt that Miss Sheila Echworth was fully aware of that.
Mrs. Echworth touched her daughter’s arm and said with a sweet smile, “Come along, Sheila.”
Good-byes were exchanged and Nessie turned to Lady Penrod and said, “Well! Now, my dearest Guss, you may tell me just what that was all about.” Her finger went up as she giggled. “And you needn’t try and do me up brown, for I shall find out in the end, you know.”