Chapter 28
“Scotland?” Lady Brightwell said and screwed up her lined but still-pretty face in confusion. “But the Baron was English. Of English parents and grandparents, I cannot think that Lord Winfield had any Scottish relations whatsoever. Are you quite sure that it is his relations that Ella has gone to and not her mother’s?”
“I am quite sure,” Rufus said, careful to keep his voice low as the two of them sat taking tea on the edge of her drawing room.
There seemed to be more people than ever in attendance at Lady Brightwell’s bridge afternoon, and he hoped that the hostess would not soon be called away. Something had been niggling at Rufus for days, and he knew that he must talk to somebody about it.
He had initially determined to speak to Henry, but it seemed that his dear friend had taken his advice and had given himself some time off to recover from whatever was ailing him.
“Because I cannot remember a great deal about Ariadne Winfield’s heritage. I must say that I have an idea that she was a governess when Lord Winfield first proposed. I might be making that up, but it really does seem to ring true. And so I suppose it is perfectly feasible that the new Countess of Dandridge might well have Scottish relations. After all, I remember nothing about her relations.”
“I am most definite, Constance. Lady Dandridge told me herself that her daughter was specifically visiting her father’s relations.”
“Well, perhaps he did have a wider family than I had imagined.”
“But Constance, there is something else troubling me.”
“I can see that, my dear,” she said in her customary kindly fashion. “You must tell me, really you must.”
“I am certain that Ella told me herself that she did not have any other relations in this world to speak of.”
“What a curious thing to say.”
“Not in context, Constance. You see, I asked her why she did not leave Dandridge Hall?”
“Leave?”
“And she told me that she did not have any relations or anywhere else to go.”
“But why should she wish to leave Dandridge Hall?”
“Oh, Constance, I do wish I had confided in you sooner.”
“Confided what? Is that poor dear child in some difficulties? You must tell me.”
“She has been treated very badly by that family from the moment her mother married Ronald Belville. She has hardly been treated like a member of the family and is not even allowed to sit at the table and eat with them. I was there once for afternoon tea, and her mother sent her out of the room so that she may not be in my society at all. And I must tell you that that is what drew me to her in the first place.”
“I had a feeling that you liked her, my dear. I know that I managed to get you here on that one, fortuitous afternoon of bridge, but I am perfectly well aware that you have only returned on Ella Winfield’s account.” Lady Brightwell smiled warmly. “But enough of that, why did Ella not tell me herself how she was suffering? I do not know what I would have done, but I would surely have found some way to help her.”
“She told me herself that she would confide in you the moment she had an opportunity.”
“If only she had managed to do so before she was sent to Scotland.”
“But Constance, if she has no relations in Scotland, why on earth would she be there? That is what I cannot get out of my mind.”
“But why would the Earl, even if he does not like her, be so determined to have her out of the way?”
“Because he is so determined that I marry one of his appalling daughters that he does not want to risk having Ella there as a distraction. He has already accused her of trying to gain my attention; she has told as much. And she has only been allowed out in the daytime, to either go into town or to come here to your home. She is not allowed to attend any evening events with them, in case I am there, and I could see that the Earl was greatly troubled when he felt forced to have her in attendance at the dinner he invited me to. I cannot escape the idea that something else is going on, something that I cannot get to the bottom of. And worse still, I greatly fear never seeing her again.”
“And that would pain you?” she said gently.
“More than I could ever have realized.”
“Then we must do our best to discover where she is. If she is in Scotland, we must find her. We must set whoever we can to make inquiries, discreet inquiries until she is found,” Constance said with determination.
“Yes, I have decided to speak to Henry Mercer about it the moment he is well again.
“Your attorney is unwell?”
“He is either unwell or greatly distracted by some problem of his own. Either way, he is taking a little time to get over it.”
“I see,” she said, and then her attention was drawn by the sudden appearance of her butler. “Yes?” she said and smiled at him.
“There is a young woman to see you, My Lady. I have tried to tell her that you are currently engaged, but she quickly fell into a dreadful state.”
“And who is the young lady?”
“She said that her name is Violet and that she works at Dandridge Hall,” he said most apologetically, clearly wishing that he had been able to dismiss the young woman without bothering his mistress.
“Take her into the library, would you? And tell her I shall be along in a moment,” Lady Brightwell said in a whisper, and her butler, somewhat bemused, mutely agreed with a nod before bowing and taking his leave.
“This Violet must be one of Lord Dandridge’s servants, surely?” she whispered to Rufus.
“I must come with you; I must hear what she has to say,” Rufus said desperately.
“Yes, but we must not draw attention to ourselves. I will make my way out now quietly, and then, two minutes or so later, you follow along. You know where the library is,” she said, and without another word, she rose and hastily made her way out of the drawing room.
By the time Rufus arrived in the library, it was to find Lady Brightwell settling a young woman down onto the couch.
“I can see that you are distressed, my dear, but you must not worry. Just get your breath back and tell me whatever it is you need to say.”
As soon as the young woman saw Rufus, her eyes widened. And Rufus recognized her immediately, having seen her once or twice at Dandridge Hall.
“Please do not look afraid, my dear. You may speak to me as you speak to Lady Brightwell. Do you have news of Miss Winfield?” Rufus said, getting straight to the point.
“I have very grave news, Your Grace, Lady Brightwell,” Violet said in a trembling voice.
“You must tell it as best you can.” Constance sat down at Violet’s side and took one of her hands. “Be brave, my dear.”
“I hardly know where to begin, and I will not blame you for not believing a word I say. But I must beg you to listen anyway, for I do not know where else to turn.”
“You may speak freely, young lady,” Rufus said and moved to crouch at Violet’s side. “Anything at all.”
“I have been worried about my mistress for so long now, and never more so than these last days. You see, we have all been told that Miss Winfield has gone to visit relatives in Scotland, and yet I know that she does not have any,” Violet began tremulously.
“His Grace and I were just discussing the same thing, my dear. You must go on.”
“I have been in her room and can see that not one of her gowns has been removed. If she has gone to Scotland, she has only what she was wearing when she left.”
“And did you see her leave?” Rufus said gently.
“No, but I had hoped that she had gone.”
“What do you mean?” Lady Brightwell said.
“Forgive me, but I had overheard something in my master’s house which frightened me. I had truly believed my mistress to be in some danger, and so I raced to her to tell her to run, to come to either you, Lady Brightwell or to His Grace.”
“But what was it that made you so afraid? What did you overhear?”
“It is a very long tale, Your Grace, but suffice it to say that I became aware that my master had done something to put you in danger. He had set somebody to hide in the woods so that you might be waylaid as you made your way to Mortcombe Hall. And when he heard that his plan had not gone well, he was furious. And that is what I overheard.”
“And how does he know that his plan had not gone well?” Rufus said.
“Because Mr Mercer told him so. I overheard them both.”
“Mr Mercer? Do you mean Henry Mercer?” Rufus said and felt his heart plummet. “Are you telling me that my attorney gave Lord Dandridge that information?”
“I heard it, Your Grace,” she said quietly. “And I am afraid that I have some proof.” She reached into the pocket of her gown and pulled out a piece of paper.
“I realize that it is not addressed nor signed, it simply gives details of the time you were to leave and the route you were to take. But I am sure that that information has come from your attorney.”
“Good heavens,” Rufus said and stared at the handwriting that he knew as well as his own. “Good heavens.”
“Do you recognize it?” Lady Brightwell said gently.
“Yes, it is Henry’s handwriting.” Rufus felt suddenly nauseous as he contemplated the betrayal.
But would Henry really have done something so cruel, something which might easily have put his master in danger?
“Tell me, Violet, do you think your mistress has met with some misfortune at the hands of her stepfather?” Lady Brightwell said wincing, clearly distressed by the idea of it.
“At first, I had thought so, My Lady, and I did not know what to do. But I have since discovered something else, and I believe that Miss Winfield is being held prisoner in the attic of Dandridge Hall.”
“You have seen her?” Rufus said, unable to tell exactly how it was he was feeling.
“I have not seen her with my own eyes, Your Grace, but I followed the Countess and saw her taking a tray of food up a back staircase that we never use. And that staircase only goes to the attic. I had wanted to go myself, to creep through the house at night and see if I could find Miss Winfield but, God forgive me, I was too afraid that I would be caught.”
“My dear child, I do not think that God or anybody else would have any trouble forgiving you. Who would not be afraid in such circumstances, you poor little thing.” Lady Brightwell, as kind and as caring as ever, put an arm around Violet’s tiny shoulders and pulled the girl towards her.
“From what you say, it would certainly seem like a possibility. What other reason could Ariadne Belville have for trailing through the house with a tray of food?” Rufus said thoughtfully. “I think you have done very well, Violet, and you have been very brave. Not only brave in coming here today and presenting me with the evidence of my own friend’s betrayal, but brave in doing what you can to trace your mistress. I am sure that Miss Winfield would be very, very proud of you.”
“Thank you, Your Grace, but I do not know what to do for the best. There is only me to help her, and William of course.”
“William?”
“He is one of Lord Dandridge’s second footmen, My Lady,” Violet said shyly. “And he would do anything in his power to help Miss Winfield, we both would. But I do not know what to do.”
“You are not alone in it anymore, my dear. I would also do anything in my power to help Miss Winfield, have no fear of that,” Rufus said determinedly.
“But what can you do? Even as a Duke, you cannot simply walk into another man’s home and demand to go up into the attics to see if he keeps his stepdaughter a prisoner,” Lady Brightwell said thoughtfully. “And I doubt that the Earl of Dandridge would allow you admittance anyway once he realizes that you are more concerned for the safety of Ella Winfield than you are in marrying one of his daughters.”
“Then I will have to find another way to get to her,” Rufus mused. “I will have to find some way to get into Dandridge Hall unnoticed.”
“Oh, how very brave you are,” Lady Brightwell said approvingly. “But you really must be careful.”
“I will help you, Your Grace,” Violet said and seemed to perk up considerably. “Now that I know that there is something that can be done, I will find my courage and, with William’s help, I will come up with some way of getting you into the hall.”
“As soon as you have worked it out, Violet, you must contact me immediately. Get a message to me somehow at Hillington Hall. I will not leave that place until I hear from you, and I will be ready to make my way to Dandridge at the very moment I hear from you,” Rufus said and patted her shoulder. “Perhaps you ought to get back before your absence is realized, my dear.”
“Yes, Your Grace. William has brought me over here in the cart, and we had promised to run some errands for the housekeeper.”
“And if you need anything from me in the meantime, Violet, you must come to me. And you may even send William if you wish,” Lady Brightwell said and helped Violet to her feet. “You dear, sweet, brave girl.”
Once Violet had left, Rufus and Lady Brightwell continued to sit in the library, quite stunned.
“You are definite that Dandridge holds her there, are you not?” Lady Brightwell said when they had been silent for some time.
“I am certain of it, Constance. You heard Violet, and you must realize as I did what a very bright young woman she is. She has searched for evidence and found it and, not only that, but I can come to no other conclusion. I can find no reason for the Countess to be scurrying away into the attics with a tray. It can only be that she and her husband are holding her daughter a prisoner.”
“And if she is locked in, what will you do? If you intend to sneak in and out without being seen, surely you could not risk the noise of breaking down the door.” Lady Brightwell’s eyes were shining with fear and wonder.
“I think that Violet will come up with something. After all, who knows the layout of a hall better than one of the servants? We must trust that there will be some way. And if there is not, you must trust that I will not leave Ella there, even if I do have to march past the Earl in broad daylight to get to her.”
“Let us hope that it does not come to that, my dear,” Lady Brightwell said and rose to leave the library.