Her eyes grew wide. “Gretna Green?” She glowered at Christopher. “You would have taken our Lady Rowena to Gretna Green? My, our dear lady surely has changed.” Suddenly her face lightened, and a small smile appeared. She looked up at Christopher. “Your brother is right. It was a rather sudden decision of hers to run away as she did, and quite unlike her. It would have been very hard to arrange in advance. I did not think of that.”
“So, at his house then?” Christopher said. “That is where she must be, where he’s taken her. I must find out where his house his, for I do not know my way around the–”
Mrs. Wooster cleared her throat and raised a finger.“It is Easton House. It is in Westminster, not far from here. On Thirleby Road. You can see the cathedral from there.”
Christopher nodded, “Very well. I shall find it.”
Henry clasped his arm in alarm. “You cannot propose to go there, not now. Not without letting anyone know or making arrangements.”
“Of course,” Christopher protested. “I cannot lose a moment’s time. I do not know her condition, and I fear to think of how she is being treated.”
“Let us not act in haste, Topher. At least wait until the Earl and Uncle Nestor return. Perhaps we can confront Thornmouth and–”
“No,” Christopher exclaimed. “We cannot wait and we most certainly cannot speak confront the Duke. He will deny all and in the meantime have Rowena moved elsewhere. I am going now.”
“I shall come with you,” Henry declared.
Christopher shook his head. “No, I will go on my own. You are right, the Earl must be alerted, and it is better for you to remain here and speak to him once he returns. Then follow me to the Duke’s. In any case, we know he is out with Charles, pretended to search for the woman he holds captive. He will not be at his house.”
“Christopher, surely Mrs. Wooster can–”
Christopher noticed how the woman’s expression changed at his brother’s suggestion. While she appeared comfortable enough to spread her mind in their presence, it was quite another matter to bring her concerns, and the events that were currently unraveling, to her employers.
He placed his hand on Henry’s arm. “I shall go. Do not fret. Alert Lady Hazelshire and then the Earl. Follow me when you can. There is no need to worry.”
He did not allow his brother the chance to protest further as he turned on his heels and rushed toward his carriage.
* * *
He raced toward the carriage, catching Mr. Thorpe, the coachman, quite by surprise. The man had been sitting on the curb beside the carriage, enjoying a moment in the rays of the warming sun when Christopher approached.
“Thorpe! We must go at once.”
The man jumped up and straightened his jacket. “Of course, Your Grace.”
“Easton House, Westminster. We must hurry, Lady Rowena’s life depends upon it.”
Thorpe frowned for one moment and then nodded. “The home of the Duke of Thornmouth?”
“You know it then?”
“I do. Her Grace, the late Duchess of Westmond, used to play whist with the Duchess of Thornmouth. This was some years ago, but I still remember the way. ‘Tis not far, Your Grace.”
Christopher climbed into the back and a moment later felt the horses begin to gallop down the cobbled road. The sudden mention of his mother had thrown him. To think his mother had been a friend to the mother of his sworn enemy was rather peculiar, and another layer to this ever more intricate quandary he found himself in.
He looked out of the window and saw the houses of Mayfair flash past as the carriage raced toward its destination.
Westminster Cathedral came into view and beyond that lay the house of Thornmouth.
Rowena, please stay strong. I will be there in a moment. I will stay true to my word and keep you safe.
Within a few minutes, the carriage came to a stop and Christopher jumped out. The townhouse that belonged to Thornmouth loomed large before him. It was larger still than the house of Lord Hazelshire, almost as big as Havisham House, though not quite. He noted the bricked-up windows on the outside façade.
It is just like Thornmouth to brick up the windows so he can save a few precious guineas as his servants sit in darkness.
He knocked on the front door and a moment later, the butler appeared before them. He was a tall, older-looking man who glowered at him. It occurred to Christopher that up until this moment, he’d not thought of what to say or do once he’d arrived.
I wish I’d taken Henry along with me after all, he always knows what to say.
