Try as she might to remain calm, Eleanor grew frantic as the day passed.She couldn’t eat, could hardly sit still.Her child was moving inside her now, and it too seemed to be affected, causing almost constant flutters and bumps.Each ring of the bell or footstep in the hall had her on her feet ready for news or the hoped-for appearance of Nicholas.
Close to dinner, Francis called again.At the sight of his questioning, fearful face she burst into tears in his arms.
“Surely he should be here by now, Francis.What if he’s dead!”
He patted her back.“There, there.Come now, Eleanor.Nicholas leads a charmed life.He’ll be fine.”
“Luck can run out,” she said, pulling away and wiping the tears away with her handkerchief.
“No reason for it,” he said with forced cheerfulness.“He’s just been delayed.”
Where?By whom?Eleanor took control of herself and sat down.“Has anyone visited that woman’s house?”
“Yes.Con and Miles went over.Madame Bellaire and her entourage left suddenly in the night.The place is in an uproar.She neglected to pay the wages.”
“And Nicholas?”
“They believe he left with the French-woman.”
“But that is to be expected,” said Eleanor.“That was the plan.”
He hesitated and then explained.“He wasn’t seen leaving.Con and Miles bullied their way in and searched the place.They didn’t find him, at least.”
Eleanor felt an icy chill.He was talking of Nicholas’s body.
“What more can be done?”she asked, her voice husky.
“Nick’s plan was to put Madame on a ship in Bristol,” he said with forced briskness.“We didn’t think he’d escort her there after all this, but Stephen and one of Nicholas’s men have gone there to make enquiries.We have people checking the London docks.We’re also making enquiries on all the toll roads out of London.It’s doubtless just a delay.We should know something soon.”
He stayed for dinner and bullied her into eating a little.Eleanor told herself that a day’s delay was nothing, particularly if Nicholas had gone to Bristol.And he doubtless had no opportunity to send a message.
She did not sleep well for expecting him to return in the night hours.
Early the next morning Lucien came round to tell her that Madame Bellaire’s party appeared to have gone toward Bristol as planned, and that they could surely expect Nicholas to return late in the day, or the next at the latest.Francis had gone to check with a certain government official who was connected to the business, for he had his own people observing matters and might have more details.
“So there’s no point in sitting here waiting, Eleanor,” he said cheerfully.“I insist you come out with me for a drive.I’ve even brought around my mother’s staid barouche.After such a sacrifice, you can’t deny me.”
It drew a smile from her.“But what if…?”
“What if Nicholas turns up?My man’s here and will soon find us, for we’ll just take a turn around the park.And besides, would it not serve him right to have to kick his heels?”
Eleanor gasped, then bit her lip at the immediate assent she felt.If he was safe, and he was surely safe, he had some penance to do.“I will just ring for my bonnet and shawl.”
“Good girl.”
Lord Middlethorpe was showninto Lord Melcham’s office.“I hope the lists were all you hoped, sir.”
“Indeed, yes,” said the older man, rubbing his hands.“A fine job of work!I have already sent details to the other governments concerned.The whole dastardly plan is crushed.I would like to thank Mr.Delaney in person for his change of heart.I understand his wife’s disappearance was not in fact concerned with this and that she is now safe?”
“That is the story given out, sir,” said Francis.“It is not true.Nicholas had no change of heart.He made sure his wife and my sister were safe, and I have no idea how he also obtained the lists.We assume the abductions were a freakish start by a jealous woman.”
Lord Melcham shook his head.“A lesson to him to keep away from such,” he said disapprovingly, apparently forgetting the reason for Nicholas’s behavior.
Lord Middlethorpe suppressed a desire to land the man a crushing facer.“Nicholas has disappeared, sir,” he said tightly.“His friends are most concerned.”
“Disappeared?”queried Lord Melcham blankly.“Do you fear something has gone amiss?But I have just received information that Madame Bellaire made all speed for Bristol and took ship last evening for Virginia, as planned.”
“Was Nicholas with her?”
