Fourteen

Elisabeth felt slightly better when she rose the next morning to see sunshine pouring through her window. “Today, we’ll find him,” she told herself briskly. “I know it.” She washed and dressed and went downstairs with spirits much refreshed. She was about to begin her breakfast when she heard a commotion in the hall below. Someone was shouting, and she heard something fall. “Tony,” she cried, and jumped up. She ran to the stairs and looked down. There was Growser capering about the hall, eluding every attempt by Ames and a footman to restrain him. “Tony,” called Elisabeth again as she hurried down the stairs.

When she reached the hall, Growser greeted her affectionately. Elisabeth noticed then that he was very dirty, his coat matted, and there was what looked like a long cut on his side beneath the shaggy hair. She pushed him away gently but firmly with a “Have you been lost, beast?” and turned to Ames. “Where is Tony?” she asked him eagerly.

Ames looked grave. “I don’t know, miss,” he said. “I had just opened the front door to the postman this morning when the animal came in. I searched the streets carefully, but saw no sign of anyone with him.”

Elisabeth’s eyes widened. She bent to examine Growser more closely. The mark on his side was indeed a cut, and though it was not deep, it was a nasty scratch that extended all along his length. His long hair was matted with mud. She took hold of his head and gazed into his eyes, but his lolling tongue and responsive bark expressed only his joy at being home once again. “Yes,” said Elisabeth. “I know you would tell me if you could.” She straightened. “Someone must care for Growser. He needs a bath, and that cut must be dressed. He’s probably hungry, as well.” She looked at Ames.

“I daresay, miss,” answered the butler. “I’ve never known him to refuse food.”

The young footman spoke diffidently. “I could take him, Miss Elisabeth. M’father keeps dogs. I’m used to ’em.”

“Oh, would you? I should be very grateful.” As he led Growser toward the back premises, Elisabeth started into the library. “I shall need someone to carry a note for me, Ames,” she said over her shoulder.

When she’d dispatched a hurried letter to Derek Wincannon, Elisabeth walked slowly back to the breakfast room. Her buoyant mood of the early morning was destroyed; she was now convinced that something terrible had befallen Tony. For some reason, she couldn’t help blaming herself, though she knew this was nonsense.

Lavinia was in the room when she entered, scribbling on a sheet of paper at the small writing desk in the corner. When she saw Elisabeth, she said, “Good morning, my dear. Is there any news today?”

Elisabeth took a breath. “I don’t wish to put you in a quake. But this morning, Growser came back without Tony.”

Lavinia sat up straighter. “What? The dog came alone?”

“Yes. And he was all scratched and dirty.” Elisabeth braced herself for the hysteria she was certain would follow this announcement.

But Lavinia surprised her. “What do you propose to do?” she asked quietly. Her resolute expression was quite new to Elisabeth.

“I’ve notified Mr. Wincannon. He’s been looking for Tony, you know. He was, not at all worried, but now…”

Lavinia nodded. “He seems a very culpable man,” she replied sagely. “What shall I do?”

Elisabeth stared at her in astonishment. It appeared there was more to Cousin Lavinia than she’d imagined. “I…I do not…you might take care of Belinda for me. I’ve been so taken up with this…”

Lavinia was nodding. “Of course,” she said. “I shall tell her what has happened. I am sure she will feel a little agitated, but we shall get along. Is there nothing else?”

Elisabeth shook her head. “I…I can think of nothing.”

“Very well,” answered her cousin sturdily. “But if you do, you must tell me straightaway.” She rose. “I will go up to Belinda now.” And she left the room.

Elisabeth remained standing by the door for a few moments, marveling. Her cousin had exhibited a strength she hadn’t known she possessed. Indeed, her quiet composure had comforted Elisabeth a great deal; she didn’t feel quite so alone with her problems now.

When she explained the occurrences of the morning to Derek, he frowned and fired a series of questions at her. Then, he walked over to the fireplace and rested his arm on the mantel, staring into the fire with a look of concentration.

“What do you think?” said Elisabeth, when she could stand his silence no longer.

“I’m afraid there’s been an accident or something of the sort. I admit I was beginning to conclude that yesterday, but this seems to confirm it. I’ve found no sign of him.”

“What shall we do?” Elisabeth asked quietly. “Shall I call in a constable?”

He inclined his head. “You may, of course, if you wish it. But I think you would gain little beyond making this affair public. I suggest rather that I continue to search, with help.”

“What kind of help?” she replied eagerly. “Oh, how I wish there was something I could do.”

He smiled at her sympathetically. “I know. But unfortunately neither of us knows very much about such things. I shall go to my father, my man of business, and my groom.”

Elisabeth was taken aback. “Your groom?”

“Yes. Wills joined my household several years ago from parts unknown. He has since exhibited a remarkable familiarity with some of the less savory elements of London society. I think he may be able to help us track down this trainer. Indeed, I thought of asking him ere this, but I didn’t wish to start gossip about Tony’s disappearance.”

Elisabeth nodded. “I suppose there’s no stopping that now.”

“On the contrary. You must put it about that he has gone to the country on a visit.”

Elisabeth brightened. “I shall say he has gone down to look over Willowmere for me. To oversee the work, you know.”

“Excellent,” he replied. “The only hard thing left is to keep you from worrying yourself into a decline.”

“I don’t think it will come to that,” she said. “But it is hard not to worry.”

“I know.” He looked at her for a moment. “The best thing to do is keep up your social engagements,” he said. “It will keep your mind busy. Was your dinner party last night enjoyable?”

Elisabeth made a wry face. “No,” she answered, and she gave him a short description of the evening.

“All in pink,” he laughed. “I must meet these young ladies.”

“Oh, you will. Make no mistake. I’m sure you’re high on their list of eligible husbands.” She stopped abruptly. “Oh, what an old cattish thing to say.”

“But true.”

“Yes. However, I should be more charitable. They cannot help it, after all.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I find that hard to credit.”

“It’s their upbringing,” she replied. “But that is of no consequence. You must be on your way, I know,”

He smiled ruefully. “Yes. Tony.” She nodded, and he took his leave, commanding her again not to worry. Elisabeth only shrugged. But she had little opportunity to worry, for less than ten minutes later, Ames came in to announce, “Miss Taunton is below.”

Elisabeth stood immediately. “Jane?” she said. “Oh, send her up.” A few moments later, Jane walked into the room, and Elisabeth went forward, holding out her hands. “How good to see you,” she said. “You are just the person to divert me.”

Jane smiled. “Thank you,” she replied. “What has put you in the dumps?”

Elisabeth hesitated. She wasn’t sure she should tell anyone else of Tony’s disappearance. But as she looked at the other girl’s homely sympathetic face, she brushed such considerations aside. She was in need of a friend. “We have had some rather distressing occurrences lately,” she began, and she told Jane the whole.

The other girl appeared shocked. “The dog returned alone,” she repeated, frowning. “What can that mean?”

“That’s what I keep asking myself,” answered Elisabeth. “I fear it means that Tony is hurt, or worse. I cannot stop seeing him, lying somewhere in a ditch, his leg broken and in a fever, or…” She rose and began to pace about. “And I can do nothing! This is what maddens me.”

Jane nodded soberly. “That is always the worst element of a crisis—waiting. But surely someone is searching for him?”

“Oh, yes.” Elisabeth told the other girl about Derek Wincannon’s help. “But I hear so seldom how it’s going. I feel so useless.”

Her friend nodded once more. “Yet the affair is in good hands. The Wincannons are very capable men. However, I understand exactly what you feel. It’s difficult sometimes, being a woman. We must always wait when we would wish to act.”

Elisabeth sat down on the sofa again and clasped her hands tightly, “If only we had some notion of where he’d gone,” she said. “I can think of nothing but Tony, yet there is nothing to think of. Oh, I wish we might get some news.”

“I am sure you’ll be informed as soon as anything is known. You mustn’t allow this to overset you.”

Elisabeth smiled ruefully. “You sound just like Mr. Wincannon now. You all insist that I must not upset myself. But how am I to help it? None of you tell me that.”

“Well, perhaps I can take your mind off the problem for a few minutes,” replied Jane. “I called today to give you some other news, in fact. I’ve found out something about our Byronic character.”

In spite of herself, Elisabeth was interested. “Indeed? What?”

Jane settled herself more comfortably on the sofa. “I told you that I would make inquiries among my friends. Well, one of them had been to the Indies in recent years and had heard a bit about this man Jarrett. It seems that he went to the islands years ago in hopes of making his fortune as a planter in Martinique. But after putting all his money into the venture, he found that he had no talent for managing a plantation. He lost nearly all he had and was on the verge of ruin when he married a very wealthy and very young girl of a French family.”

“The sister!” exclaimed Elisabeth.

Jane nodded. “It sounds right, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, my friend knew little more. Soon after the marriage, Jarrett sold his holdings on Martinique and took his bride to Jamaica. There was some talk that her family wasn’t pleased about the move. But that is all I have found out as yet. I didn’t wish to attract too much attention to our researches, you know.”

“Of course,” said Elisabeth. “And then his wife died.”

Jane shrugged. “So it would seem, from the reports of Mr. Jarrett’s pursuer. And clearly he has got her money.”

Elisabeth raised her eyebrows.

“Well, he had none of his own left,” continued the other girl. “And he appears to have an income now. Where can it have come from, if not his wife?”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“It seems certain,” agreed Jane. “And if he was left her money, her brother is probably angry about it.”

“But he said that Mr. Jarrett had ruined her.”

Jane shrugged. “People say outrageous things when money is involved. I’ve seen it in my own family. A great-aunt of mine left her fortune to charity, and the outcry was enormous. You should have heard the things my cousins said to one another.” She looked thoughtful. “And living on the edge of poverty is not particularly amusing. It’s hard to see money slip away. One can imagine going to some lengths to keep it.”

“Then you don’t think Jarrett did anything wrong?”

“Oh, I didn’t say so. I meant only that it is silly to believe everything said by a man who may have lost out on a fortune. He may be painting his rival blacker than he is.”

“I’m sure that must be so. Mr. Jarrett seems a gentleman. When he called here recently, he was very kind and understanding. Villainy is something for novels, not real life. Indeed, I’m a little uneasy about your inquiries. Is it fair to snoop about as we have been doing?”

Jane smiled. “Now you’re being naive, I think. What harm can it do? And I should say simply that we don’t know the man’s character or his past sufficiently to say what he is.”

“You’re right, I suppose.”

Jane smiled. “It will hurt no one to continue our researches, Elisabeth. You cannot wish to abandon such a fascinating character just as we are discovering things at last?”

Elisabeth shrugged. “If you wish it. But it seems we shall find no romance after all. Only a family squabbling over money.”

The other girl laughed. “Much too realistic. We’ll have to rely on poetry to supply our adventures, I suppose. They refuse to intrude on our ordered lives.”

Elisabeth’s smile faded. “If only they did,” she replied, her thoughts turning back to Tony.

Seeing her expression, Jane said quickly, “Did you like the book I lent you?”

Elisabeth looked up again. “Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you. It’s delightful.”

“I have another, if you like.”

“I should like it above all things. I don’t know when I have enjoyed a book so much. But I haven’t yet finished. I’ve had so little time.”

Ames entered the drawing room. “A note has been delivered, Miss Elisabeth,” he said. “It is from Mr. Wincannon, and I thought you would wish to have it immediately.”

Elisabeth jumped up and took the paper from his hand. “Oh, yes,” she said. She tore it open quickly and scanned the contents. Looking up again, she sighed. “He says nothing of import. He believes he may have found the trainer Tony was seen with. There will be no answer, Ames.” The butler bowed and left the room. “He says I shouldn’t worry,” continued Elisabeth wryly.

“It sounds as if he is making progress.”

Elisabeth shrugged. “Perhaps. But we have no assurance that this trainer knows anything of Tony. We simply know nothing.” She crumpled the paper in her hand.

“Soon you will hear. I’m sure of it.”

Elisabeth turned back to her with a wan smile. “Thank you. I hope you are right.”

Jane fidgeted. “I’m afraid I must go,” she said. “But I hate to leave you so distraught.”

Elisabeth shook her head. “I’m perfectly all right. I can’t help worrying, but I’ll be fine. I promise you.” She added, to herself, the wish that she could be as sure of Tony’s well-being.