A thought came to him. “The letter you wrote to Rowena–”
Her face darkened at once. “He all but forced my hand. He told me that I would bring great shame upon Rowena and the entire Burton family if I insisted on leaving. That I had no other option. Then he had me write a reassuring letter.” A smirk appeared on her face. “He was, of course, unaccustomed to the form in which I generally write. So, the letter may have sounded normal to him, but to Rowena, the tone would have been clear.”
“It was. It was indeed,” Christopher said as the carriage stopped in front of his uncle’s residence. “She will be ever too happy to see you. I imagine she will rush out of the drawing room the moment we are announced,” he grinned in anticipation of holding her again. The look on her face when she was reunited with her best friend would be wonderful.
Alas, when they climbed out of the carriage and made their way inside, they were not greeted by Rowena. No. Instead, his Aunt Helene made her way into the parlor, aided by her walking stick.
“Christopher, Henry! Thank goodness you have returned.”
Alarmed, Christopher stepped forward.
“What is wrong Aunt Helene? You are ever so pale.”
The older woman sighed heavily; her face contoured in grief.
“Oh, I do not know how to say it–” She shook, swaying slightly as she stood. Henry was by her side in a moment and together he and Christopher led the old lady back to the drawing room to take a seat.
Once she was in her chair, she appeared to recover her senses somewhat. She took a hold of Christopher’s hand and squeezed it hard.
“My Dear Boy, I am ever so sorry. Lady Rowena has disappeared.”
The words were like a stab right into his heart.
“Disappeared? What do you mean?”
His aunt shook her head.
“We discovered she had not slept in her chamber at all, for when I rose, I saw the door open and the bed not slept in. I woke your Uncle and he questioned the servants. Nobody had seen her since last night, when the three of us took the air together.” She blinked tears away. “Your Uncle has gone to Lord Hazelshire’s house to see if she returned there for any reason, but he sent the coachman back with word that she is not there either. He has remained there to help with a search.”
Christopher felt sick, indeed. He wanted to throw up with dread but forced himself to remain calm.
“We must go home at once,” Betsy said. “Faith, my dear Rowena.” Betsy’s eyes began to water.
“She is right. We must speak to the Earl at once and attempt to find her. Aunt Helene, will you be able to remain here by yourself or–”
The told woman waved him off. “Henry, I can take care of myself. Besides, I have a house full of loyal servants who are here to assist me. I am quite alright. You go and find your brother’s lady.”
With that, the three departed the house and boarded the carriage once more.
* * *
“You have a nerve to show your face here,” Lord Hazelshire hollered. He took several big steps toward Christopher and glared at him. “I cannot believe you would dare set foot into this house after what you–”
They had been at the Earl’s home for less than ten minutes, just enough time for Betsy to recount the events of the past few weeks, and to establish that Rowena had never returned to her father’s home. The Earl had remained enraged the entire time, glaring at Christopher with nothing but disdain. The revelation that they had planned to depart for Gretna Green until Betsy’s call for help arrived had only furthered his anger.
“Now, now, Lord Hazelshire, let us not be hasty,” Uncle Nestor stepped in. “My nephews have taken a great risk in bringing Miss Carmichael home safe, that ought to allow for some goodwill toward them, no matter what else has transpired.”
The Earl shook his head and glanced at his wife and daughter, both of whom were huddled around Betsy. And she, in a halting fashion, convinced them of the truth of her time at Lord Portsmouth’s manor.
“I still do not even understand why it was necessary to recover her. Isaac has been very reassuring in his account of it all and–”
“Augustus,” Lady Hazelshire’s voice sounded out, much louder than Christopher had ever heard. “You ought to leave the two young men alone and be grateful they have done what the Duke of Thornmouth did not. Clearly, Isaac Travers is not the man we thought him to be.”
The Earl shook his head in disbelieve.
“There must be a reason he acted in the manner he did. I will question him thoroughly once he returns.”
Thornmouth, Christopher had been informed, had taken off with Rowena’s brother Charles to search for the missing young woman. In fact, the Earl and been in the process of departing himself, aided by his uncle, to alert the constables. Their appearance, and Betsy’s revelations, had delayed the departure.
