The countess shook her head. "No," she said. "Ernest and I have searched. Ernest has gone to look in the greenhouses and down on the lower lawn and in the orchard. But I have just realized where she must be."
Her two listeners were all attention.
''She must have gone down to the river and the pavilion,'' the countess said. "She likes the pavilion."
"But why would she have wandered so far alone?" Diana asked.
The countess clucked her tongue. "She and Ernest had a silly quarrel," she said, "and the girl is upset. You must go down there, the two of you, and bring her back. I am almost beside myself with worry."
"Should not Mrs. Wickenham or Clarence be told, Mama?" Diana suggested.
"Heaven forbid, my dear," me countess said. "She is such a young and impulsive young lady, and they would be sure to scold her. I would not wish anything to happen to spoil this evening. No, you must go, if you please."
"I shall go alone," the marquess said briskly. "Diana can stay here. I shall be back with Miss Wickenham before you know it."
"No." The countess reached out a hand to stay him. "It would be most improper, Jack, for Angela to be alone with you. Diana must go too. You do not mind, dear? You will do it for me?"
"Of course, Mama," Diana said after only a moment's hesitation.
"Run upstairs for a shawl, then," the countess said, "while Jack fetches a lantern. But don't delay, dears. I shall not know a moment's rest until I see the three of you back here safe and sound again."
She saw them on their way through a side door a few minutes later, and stood for a while watching the lantern sway into the distance. She glanced up to the sky in some anxiety, but she was smiling with satisfaction before turning back into the house. It would not be long before the rain came down.
* * *
"Diana," the Marquess of Kenwood said, "this is hardly the time to play prudish lady, my dear. Cling more firmly to my arm, would you? I would hate to lose you in a rabbit hole."
They both wore warm cloaks. The wind was getting up and the air growing chill.
"What would have possessed Angela to come out here alone?" Diana asked.
Lord Kenwood glanced down at her. ''I don't for a moment believe she did," he said.
She frowned. "You mean you think there is someone with her?"
"You are very obtuse, Diana," he said. "I mean, I think we are being sent on a wild goose chase, my dear."
"A wild . . . ?" Diana hauled back on his arm. "You mean the countess is sending us out here knowing very well that Angela is somewhere else?"
''It would not be so very out of character for the Countess of Rotherham, would if?" he asked. "She has been trying to throw us together for two weeks, Diana. The past two days must have sent her into near despair. It was clearly time for desperate measures."
"But this is outrageous," Diana said indignantly. "You mean she is encouraging something as improper as you and me being at the pavilion together in the middle of the night?''
"Shocking, is it not?" he agreed."Especially when the rain is going to start lashing down at any moment.And I do believe that was lightning I saw in the distance. If we are very quiet and listen very hard, I would wager we will hear the thunder too."
Diana drew altogether to a halt. "I am going back right now," she said. "I will not be manipulated like this, no matter how clever the countess and you think you have been."
"I?" he said. "You think I am a fellow conspirator? You malign me, Diana. Even I do not have a mind so fiendish."
"However it is," she said, "I am going back. Are you coming with me to light my way?"
"No, I am not,'' he said,' 'and neither are you. Do I have to explain to you just how fiendish your mother-in-law has been, Diana? We dare not go back, you see. Perhaps Miss Wickenham really is all alone out there. And the night has darkened since she came out here, and the rain is about to come on.And the rest of the storm.We cannot risk calling the countess's bluff now, can we?"
Diana stood staring at him, lost for words. The wind whipped her cloak about her legs. The marquess held outhis owncloak to protect the flame of the lantern.
"I suggest we move on," he said. "And fast.Cring to my arm, Diana.I am afraid I need both hands to cope with this lantern."
Diana clung. "But we are coming right back as soon as we see that Angela is not there,'' she said just as a giant drop of rain splashed onto her forehead and ran down her nose.
