Twenty-seven

When Jane Taunton left the inn, she drove very rapidly back along the now muddy lane. The roof of the fly didn’t provide much shelter from the rain, but she’d pulled a heavy hooded cloak from the leather case she carried, and was thus able to keep fairly dry. She drove past the place where the footpath from Willowmere intersected the lane, turning right onto a road about half a mile beyond it. This thoroughfare curved gradually back toward the estate, at its closest point coming within a hundred yards of the house. Here a small wicket gate led into the park, and here Jane pulled up.

Quickly she turned the vehicle around. Then, pulling her case from behind the seat, she climbed down, carefully holding her skirts up out of the mud. She slapped the horse’s rump once, starting him moving; the docile beast was trained to return home when given his head. Jane watched until the fly was out of sight, then she turned and slipped through the gate and back to the house.

Once inside, she was able to reach her room without encountering anyone. It was a quarter past eleven, and most of the staff was busy belowstairs. When she had put away her cloak and sketching case, she started downstairs. On the landing, she paused, hearing voices in the hall below.

“Yes, I had an appointment with Miss Elham,” a man’s voice was saying. Jane recognized Derek Wincannon.

“I’m sorry, sir,” answered Ames. “I believe she sent someone with a note to Charendon. Perhaps that explains it.”

“Ah. I drove out to see my land agent this morning; I wasn’t at home to receive a note. Will Miss Elham be gone long?”

“I couldn’t say, sir, not knowing where she has gone. I believe she may be out walking.”

“In this rain?” exclaimed Derek.

“Yes, sir,” answered Ames, his tone reflecting similar disapproval. “One of the undergardeners saw her go through the back garden.”

“Alone?”

Ames hesitated, as if a bit offended by this intense questioning, but he unbent at the concerned look on Wincannon’s face. “I believe so, sir.”

Derek pulled his gloves through his hand uneasily. “She will be soaked; it is pouring rain out there now.”

“I’m sure she must be sheltering somewhere until it passes,” replied Ames. “Indeed, I haven’t looked for her return for just that reason.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Derek paused, frowning. “Still, I think I’ll drive about a bit on the nearby roads. I can take her up if she hasn’t found a haven.”

At this moment, Jane judged it best to continue her descent. She turned the corner from the landing and came into sight in the hall. “Good day,” she said. “I thought it was your voice I heard, Mr. Wincannon. Did you not receive Elisabeth’s note?”

Derek looked up quickly. “No,” he answered. “I was out all morning. Do you know where she has gone?”

Jane raised her eyebrows very slightly. “Why, I believe she was bound for the house of one of the tenants who has requested some aid. I’m not certain. I offered to accompany her, but she said she wished to go alone.” Jane hesitated for an artistic second. “I believe, I am not sure, but I believe Elisabeth may have gotten some bad news yesterday.” She made a deprecating gesture. “I daresay I’m quite wrong, but she has been preoccupied. She appeared to want some time to think.”

“Ah. Still,” Derek said, “I wonder if I shouldn’t go in search of her.”

Jane frowned. “Is something wrong?” she asked, her tone very innocent.

Wincannon shrugged. “This rain,” he said, “she may be caught in it.”

“Oh, I doubt it. I am sure she is in a cottage nearby waiting for it to pass.”

“There is no nearby cottage on the way she took,” replied Derek. “In fact, it is altogether the wrong way to go to visit any of the estate’s tenants. I wonder what she was thinking of?”

Jane shrugged. “Perhaps I misunderstood or she changed her mind. But I don’t understand your anxiety. What do you fear has happened?”

Derek seemed a bit embarrassed. “I did not mean… I know you must be right. I wished only to save Miss Elham a wetting or a muddy walk.”

Jane smiled slightly. “So kind,” she murmured. “But I daresay she may find someone to bring her back if the rain keeps up.”

“You’re right,” answered Wincannon. He began to pull on his gloves.

“But may I not offer you something in Elisabeth’s absence? A cup of tea, perhaps, or a glass of wine?”

“No, thank you.” Derek turned to Ames, who had retreated to the far end of the hall during their conversation. “You’ll tell Miss Elham I called?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ames, coming forward again to open the door.

Derek nodded. “Good day,” he said to Jane.

“Good day.” She watched Derek move toward the door, a small smile lighting her face as he went out. Descending the last few stairs, she turned and entered the library.