Thirteen

Elisabeth rose at dawn the next morning, after a restless night, and walked down the hallway to Tony’s door. After getting no response to a soft tap, she opened it and found that what she feared was true. Tony had not been in his bedroom that night. Elisabeth looked around, but she could see nothing out of the ordinary. The room looked neat and completely undisturbed.

Sleep was out of the question. Elisabeth returned to her bedchamber, sat down at the dressing table, and tried to calm down. Tony had become so independent lately, she told herself, that it was very likely he had simply forgotten to tell anyone that he wouldn’t be home. Perhaps he was staying with some friend. She bit a fingernail. Why had he taken the dog, she wondered. Where could he be that such a large energetic animal would be welcome? She made a wry face. Surely no house in London. She tried to recall what he’d said when she saw him yesterday; they’d met at breakfast, and she’d teased him about the florid pattern of a new waistcoat he was wearing. Elisabeth frowned. They had said nothing of consequence, as far as she could remember. She looked at her reflection. “The really frustrating thing,” she told her image, “is that I can do nothing whatsoever for hours yet. No one will be up.”

The intervening hours were indeed hard. Elisabeth washed and dressed. She paced about her room. She went down to the library and paced there for a longer time. Several times she sat down at her desk and stared at a blank sheet of paper, pen in hand. Finally, she wrote a note to Derek Wincannon, asking him to call as soon as possible. It was the only thing she could think of to do. She then went in to breakfast and tried to reassure Cousin Lavinia, whose concern over Tony was only partly overshadowed by Belinda’s great news.

Derek arrived soon after, and Elisabeth breathed a sigh of relief. Now, at least, something would be done. She held out her hand. “It was kind of you to come so quickly. Tony has not turned up, and I’m beginning to worry about him. You will say I’m being foolish. Indeed, that may be why I’ve called on you, so that you will say so. I’m in need of reassurance.”

But Mr. Wincannon was frowning. “He didn’t return all night?” Elisabeth shook her head, and his frown deepened. “Graceless young pup,” he murmured.

“Do you think something has happened to him?” asked Elisabeth anxiously.

“What?” He looked up sharply. “I beg your pardon. I do not. But I think he has been very thoughtless indeed not to tell you where he’s gone.”

“You…you think he may be visiting friends, then, or… You do not believe he is in any kind of trouble?”

“No more trouble than any youngster thrown on the town for the first time may get into,” he replied. “But I did think he was more sensible than to worry you.”

“But where do you think he is?”

Wincannon shrugged. “He may have dipped a bit too deep and stayed at one of his cronies’ rooms to sleep it off. That is what I think most likely. He has not, ah, expressed any interest in females? You will pardon me for asking.”

Elisabeth smiled ironically and shook her head. “Oh, no. It can’t be that. He took Growser with him.”

“The dog?” asked her companion. And as Elisabeth nodded, he frowned again. “That is odd. And he left no word with anyone?” She shook her head. Derek looked thoughtful. After a while, he said, “May I speak with his valet? Privately.”

Elisabeth cocked her head. “Do you think he will tell you something he would not say to me?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps. At least he may be able to give me some idea of Tony’s usual haunts.”

The valet was duly fetched, and Mr. Wincannon was closeted with him for some time. Elisabeth, not wishing to be idle, questioned Belinda about Tony’s friends and collected a list of his closest companions. She managed to do this without alarming Belinda too much, though she had to admit that he hadn’t yet returned. Belinda thought it typical of her brother that he hadn’t informed them, and she maintained that he must be staying with Mr. Penswreath.

When she returned to the library, Elisabeth found Derek thoughtful. He glanced up as she entered. “I got very little information,” he said.

“I’ve found out who his best friends are,” she replied. She mentioned them.

He nodded. “Well, I suppose we have enough to go on with. I’ll look for him. But I must tell you that I shall give him a rare dressing down if I do find him.”

“I hope so,” answered Elisabeth. “I plan to do that myself.”

He smiled down at her. “I should like to see that. May I?”

“Certainly. If you bring him back, you may help me beat him.”

“So motivated, I cannot fail,” he said lightly, as he made ready to go. “I shall keep you informed of my progress.”

“Thank you.” Elisabeth held out her hand and smiled. “It is so kind of you to do this. It must be excessively annoying. I don’t know how to thank you.” He looked at her with an unreadable expression for a moment, then bowed over her hand and went out. After he’d gone, Elisabeth felt an immense relief, as if her problem had been lifted from her shoulders. She also felt a bit shaky, but she put this down to worry. “How I shall scold him!” she said aloud to herself.

The afternoon was interminable. Elisabeth could find no task that held her attention. When Ames came in to tell her that Mr. Jarrett was below, her first impulse was to refuse to see him, but then she decided that the time might pass more quickly if she had someone to talk to.

They exchanged greetings and a few commonplaces about the weather. As they talked, Elisabeth recalled the scene in the street and the peculiar warning she’d received. She eyed Jarrett with renewed interest. Their conversation faltered.

Mr. Jarrett watched her narrowly for a moment, then said, “I don’t mean to pry. There is nothing I dislike more than thrusting myself into others’ affairs unasked. But I would be of help if I could.”

“Help?”

“Pardon me. You seemed worried about something.” He looked at her. “You may tell me to sheer off, you know. I won’t take offense.” The concern in his eyes appeared genuine.

“There’s really nothing wrong. It’s just that my care-for-nobody young cousin forgot to inform us of his plans, and I have been a little worried about where he may be.”

Mr. Jarrett frowned. “He’s missing?”

“Oh, no,” answered Elisabeth quickly. She already regretted having said so much. It would not do to have the story of Tony’s disappearance spread. “I expect him to turn up at any moment. It is of no consequence.”

The man looked at her closely again. “Of course,” he agreed. “But would you like…that is, if you should care for it, I might poke about in town to see whether I can get word of him.” He said this diffidently, as if he did not wish to push himself forward.

“That’s very good of you,” she said, rather more warmly than before. “But a friend is already doing that. I expect he’ll return with Tony very soon.”

“Who?” asked Jarrett sharply.

Elisabeth raised her eyebrows. “A good friend of the family,” she replied coolly. “You may be easy.”

Mr. Jarrett bowed his head, acknowledging her rebuke. “I’m glad,” he said. There was a short silence, and then he spoke again. “I hope you aren’t offended. I offered my help sincerely, as I think you know. Finding myself back in England with neither family nor close friends has been somewhat difficult. I refine too much, perhaps, on the little kindnesses you and your family have extended. I have no right to consider you anything more than acquaintances.”

This rather melancholy speech and Jarrett’s downcast look roused Elisabeth’s pity. “We don’t know each other well,” she agreed, “but that may come with time.”

Jarrett brightened. “I hope so indeed. I have been much alone of late years. But when I met your cousin, and spoke to her about William and the past, her kindness made it seem as if I could start afresh here at home.” He stopped and shook his head. “How maudlin I sound. Please forgive me. I’m a brute to be going on in this way when you have your own worries to occupy you.”

Elisabeth had been rather moved by his confession. “Not at all. If I do have worries, you divert my mind. I’m certain you will soon feel quite at home in England and make many new friends.”

He leaned forward eagerly. “If I could believe that…” he began. Then he paused, took a breath, and rose from the sofa, walking over to throw an arm along the mantelpiece. His striking eyes focused on Elisabeth. “Miss Elham,” he said, “you have seen that I’m reluctant to talk of my life abroad. I can tell you that there is much about it I regret and much I would change if I could. One gets wisdom with age, they say, and I hope I have done so. I really wish to make a fresh start.” He seemed to wait for an answer, but Elisabeth had nothing to say to this. “You must think me strange, to be saying this to you,” he continued, “but something in your face tells me I can trust you absolutely.”

“It is good of you to say so,” responded Elisabeth. In spite of herself, she was a little amused at Jarrett’s dramatizing.

He saw this immediately. “Ah, you think I’m putting on airs once again.” He smiled ruefully. “Well, who can say, perhaps I am. But I’m sincere in my wish to be your friend, Miss Elham, and to help you in any way at any time.”

“Thank you. I shall remember it.”

He seemed satisfied with this. “Good. And now perhaps I should go.”

Elisabeth rose. “Please believe that I am very sensible of your kindness, Mr. Jarrett.” She held out her hand.

He took it and held it for a moment. “It’s nothing. You do not know. Remembering William, I…well, it makes no matter. I have no right to say anything further as yet, but I would do you any service in my power, Miss Elham. In the short time since we met, I have…” He stopped, hesitated, then raised her hand to his lips. “I must say no more. Goodbye.” He didn’t wait for an answer, but strode out of the room immediately.

Left alone, Elisabeth looked first at her hand, then toward the door, then out the front window. Jarrett was just leaving the house and turning down the street. She drew a deep breath. “Well,” she said aloud, “this is a fine development. Whatever am I to do with him?”

Just then, she heard a carriage pulling up outside, and all thoughts of Jarrett were driven from her head. She reached the landing in time to see Derek Wincannon entering the hall. When he glanced up, she gave him an anxious look, but he merely shook his head slightly as he started up the stairs. Elisabeth returned to the drawing room to wait for him. She sat down and folded her hands tightly together.

When he walked in, she said, “You haven’t found him. Oh, I’m beginning to be truly worried. Tony wouldn’t go away for so long without telling me.”

Wincannon sat down beside her. “You must not upset yourself or jump to conclusions,” he answered. But he looked grave.

Elisabeth sighed. “Have you no news at all?”

“I have some word,” he said, “though I’m not sure it does us any good. It appears that Tony made the acquaintance of an animal trainer recently and has been very enthusiastic about the possibility of training his dog.” He smiled slightly. “I understand the animal is not thoroughly domesticated.”

“You are a master of understatement.”

He laughed. “In any case, Tony had talked of taking Growser out for a training session, and since he has taken the dog, I hazard a guess that’s where he is.”

“It would be just like him. And I suppose that horrid dog has run off after rabbits or some such thing, and Tony has become so involved in searching for him that he hasn’t thought we might be worrying.” She felt a great relief.

“Perhaps,” answered Derek, but he looked a little doubtful.

Elisabeth didn’t notice. “So we need only find this trainer’s home, and we shall find Tony. Or word of him, at least,” she amended.

“That’s the odd thing,” said Mr. Wincannon. “I can’t seem to find out anything about the man. None of Tony’s friends knows his name or direction. In fact, they haven’t even seen him. I don’t understand it.”

“What are you saying?” asked Elisabeth.

“I’m not saying anything other than that I cannot find the man,” he replied. “Don’t excite yourself unnecessarily. None of Tony’s friends was much interested in his dog. It’s probably reasonable that they wouldn’t meet this trainer. However, I must say it is a bit unusual. I have some superficial knowledge of the set the fellow should have frequented, and no one there can tell me anything. He may be new to London, of course. Or any number of other things. But I think I shall hunt a bit more seriously now.”

Elisabeth wrung her hands. “I keep imagining Tony lying in a ditch somewhere…”

“Good God,” exclaimed Derek. “You’ve allowed your imagination to carry you far beyond the limits of what is probable. The very worst I expect—mind you, the worst—is that Tony has fallen in with a ruffian who hopes to get money out of him. And even that I consider very far-fetched.”

“I…I see,” said Elisabeth shakily. “You must pardon me. I don’t mean to be a ninny, but I have never been party to a kidnapping before, you see. It’s very odd. Life in London appears to be much more like fiction than I was ever allowed to believe. I think I must begin to read some lurid novels. Then I should know just how to go on in this situation. Shall I receive a ransom note, do you think?”

“No, I do not,” replied Mr. Wincannon sharply. “But you may receive a scolding if you persist in this folly. We have no reason to believe that Tony has been kidnapped. I hope you will not spread such a story about.”

This brought Elisabeth back to earth. “Of course I won’t,” she said indignantly. “Do you think me idiotic?”

“I was becoming uncertain,” he said with a smile. “You had begun to act very like a delicate female—these die-away airs.”

“Oh,” declared Elisabeth. “That is unfair. I have been worrying all afternoon.”

His smile faded. “I know,” he said. “And I wish you will stop. It does no good and may do you harm. I’ll find him. You may be easy.”

“That is easily said. But I feel very responsible for my cousins, you know.”

He nodded. “Yes. But fidgeting yourself into the vapors won’t help. Do you have an engagement this evening?”

Elisabeth looked surprised at this abrupt change of subject. “Yes,” she replied. “But I shall cancel it, of course.”

“That is what I feared you would say. I think it very unwise.”

“But I cannot…”

“No good will come of sitting and worrying. I think you should go out. I shall call tomorrow morning with news.”

“But if you should hear something tonight…”

“You may be sure I will let you know it. It is much better for you to be occupied, however.”

Elisabeth looked up at him ruefully. “But I don’t wish to go,” she answered plaintively. “I would be so pleased to cry off.”

Derek smiled. “What is it?”

“Lady Darnell’s dinner party. Won’t you give me leave to miss it?”

He smiled again, but shook his head. “Go, by all means. It will keep your mind off Tony. I daresay it will be a very amusing evening.”

Elisabeth made a face. “You wouldn’t say so if you were invited.” She held up a hand as he started to speak. “All right. I get nearly frantic waiting here. I shall go.”

“Good,” he said. “And I shall find Tony. Never fear.”

Some hours later, when her carriage set her down at the door of the Darnells’ townhouse, Elisabeth nearly changed her mind and returned home. The amusement this dinner would provide would not equal the discomfort it was sure to inspire, and she really didn’t wish to go in. But the door was being opened; the butler was bowing. Elisabeth shook out the ruffles of her primrose gown and walked resolutely up the steps and into the hall.

The whole family awaited her in the drawing room. Lord Darnell stood with a smile as she entered, and his mother held out a languid hand from a recumbent position on the sofa. “So pleased you could come, my dear,” she said. The three girls sat together on a sofa opposite their mother, and when Elisabeth was introduced to them, she had some trouble keeping her countenance. Not only had their mother dressed them all alike in pink muslin dresses trimmed with deeper pink ribbons, but she’d obviously warned them to be extremely deferential to this rich potential sister-in-law. All the girls rose and curtsied when presented. The eldest, Aurelia, looked quite overawed. Her sister Portia looked sly, and the youngest, Augusta, appeared slightly rebellious. Lady Darnell watched complacently as each girl expressed her pleasure at meeting Elisabeth.

Introductions over, Elisabeth was made to take the armchair that Lord Darnell had vacated. “The most comfortable chair in the room,” his mother insisted, as he pulled up another from across the room.

Elisabeth surveyed the family group. All were blond and had some of the slender elegance she’d first noticed in Lord Darnell. The sisters’ identical costumes seemed to emphasize their differences. The eldest closely resembled her mother, with very pale blond hair and delicate features. She was also the most slender, and Elisabeth had no trouble picturing Aurelia in twenty years; she would become Lady Darnell.

Portia and Augusta were less ethereal. The middle sister had yellow-blond hair; her eyes were not the pale blue of the rest of the family’s, but rather a clear hazel. She looked at their guest with avid speculation so clear in her glance that Elisabeth nearly laughed. There was a smile in her eyes, in fact, when she turned them toward Augusta, and she found that this young lady was gazing openly back at her. Their glances met, and seeing only frank curiosity, Elisabeth did smile. The younger girl seemed surprised at first, then smiled tentatively in return. Her blond hair was tinged with red, and she had some tendency to freckles. She seemed uneasy about the evening, and Elisabeth thought that she would like her better than the others.

During this time, Lady Darnell had kept up a constant chatter about commonplace things, but when her eyes sharpened suddenly, Elisabeth got the feeling that the preliminaries were over. “Do you know what I heard when I stopped in at Hookham’s this morning, my dear?” Lady Darnell asked, then answered her own question, “Emily Cowper told me, in the strictest confidence, of course, that your cousin had become engaged to the Duke of Sherbourne. Is it indeed so?”

Elisabeth smiled. “Yes,” she replied. She couldn’t bring herself to be angry with such frank cupidity, but she didn’t feel inclined to provide them with more gossip, either.

“A duke,” murmured Aurelia, “and so very rich.”

Portia nodded. “A splendid match,” she added. “How old is your cousin? She’s just out, is she not?”

Elisabeth nodded. “She is eighteen.”

The two girls twittered excitedly. “The same as Aurelia. Only think.”

Lord Darnell had been unusually quiet up to this point, but now he addressed Elisabeth with the air of a man hard pressed. “I told you Sherbourne liked her. Remember?”

“I do,” answered Elisabeth. “You were very right.”

“I should think they will suit admirably.” Elisabeth nodded. She’d never heard him utter such commonplaces.

Portia sighed. “He must have twenty thousand a year.” This remark did not meet with her mother’s approval, and Portia received a sharp look. “Shall we go in to dinner?” said Lady Darnell.

At dinner, the conversation turned to Aurelia’s come-out, and Elisabeth soon realized that she’d been asked to dinner not only as a possible daughter-in-law, but also in the hope that she’d help Aurelia into society. Her mother, it appeared, was too frail to go about with her. Elisabeth found this assertion incredible and concluded that Lady Darnell hoped both to save herself expense and to put her daughter in the path of eligible gentlemen by pushing her on Elisabeth. She was well acquainted with the size of Elisabeth’s fortune and her generosity to her cousins. She seemed, in fact, well pleased by the news of Belinda’s engagement, despite the consequent removal of a highly eligible bachelor from the ranks. She professed to believe that Elisabeth would now be quite lonely and in need of other female companionship.

Aurelia appeared only too eager to fall in with this plan, and Elisabeth felt sorry for the girl. It was so obviously her only chance to get out, for her mother was not likely to exert herself for anyone, Elisabeth saw, even her own family.

Though Lord Darnell tried several times during the meal to steer the talk into new channels, he was forestalled each time by his mother. Elisabeth was astonished, in fact, to see how differently this young man behaved at home. He seemed cowed by his mother’s personality, and his usual amusing chatter disappeared, a strong disappointment since Elisabeth had counted upon him to make the evening bearable.

As it was, by the time coffee was brought to the drawing room, Elisabeth was very tired of the Darnells and very bored. Lady Darnell was not amusing for more than ten minutes, and the girls seemed interested in nothing but clothes and finding husbands. She’d been longing to leave for quite an hour before she dared broach the subject. And even then, she was forced to stay half an hour more. Finally, unable to bear it, she pleaded fatigue and a headache and escaped. She wouldn’t allow Lord Darnell to escort her home, but he took her down to her carriage, and as he handed her in, he looked at her gravely. “You were very kind to come,” he said: “And now it is over. Thank you.”

“Why, I…I had a pleasant evening,” faltered Elisabeth.

His old smile appeared. “Gammon,” he said. “I know you didn’t. But you are very good to say it. And it is kind of you to let Aurelia come see you, too. She never gets out, you know, and…well, I thank you for that, as well.”

“Oh, but I…it will be…”

He grinned again. “I know just what you mean. But let us say no more about it.” He shut the carriage door then, and gave her coachman the signal to start. He waved once as they pulled away, then turned and went back into the house. Elisabeth was left feeling surprised and somewhat touched by this new Lord Darnell. She wouldn’t have thought him capable of such delicacy.