Release? Perversely, Raoul’s conscience kicked in. “I shall do no such thing.”
“Why not, when you are wishing me at Jericho?”
The resumption of her earlier manner had the effect of driving off his irritation. “I am, of course, but I have more civility than to acknowledge it.” Her face broke into laughter and a tiny crack opened in Raoul’s defences. Aware of it, he summoned them back. “A better plan, I believe, will be to inform Angelica of your difficulty.”
“Your cousin?”
“She’s a resourceful creature, I’ll give her that. She is bound to think of some scheme to succour you.”
The girl’s eyes dimmed. “I thank you, but I have no need of any scheme. Mrs Jeavons will take me back.”
He frowned in an effort of memory. “I thought you said she was Mrs Sprake. And since she is nowhere to be found —”
“I don’t mean that creature. Mrs Jeavons is the headmistress at the academy. My only difficulty is finding means to travel back to Bath, but I think I can manage to pay my way on the stage.”
An unwelcome image entered his head, of Miss Temple, squashed in a corner of one of these rumbling stagecoaches for hours as she returned to a life of drudgery. Raoul dismissed it. “That would be quite ineligible. Let us go in search of my cousin.”
Angelica was discovered, after some scouting about the main rooms, deep in discussion with the clerkly fellow in the deserted ballroom.
“Then you will send to the gentlemen who have not made good on their pledges, Gawcott.” She looked up at Raoul’s approach. “Ah, here is my cousin. I don’t suppose you carry any money on you, Raoul? No, I thought not. Gawcott will send to your secretary. How are you faring, Miss — Temple, was it?”
“Yes, it was,” said Raoul, seizing her by the elbow and drawing her away from the clerk, “and she is faring ill.”
Angelica’s blue orbs exhibited instant sympathy as they turned on the girl. “Dear me, are you feeling unwell, my dear? I am so sorry. Do you wish to go home? Raoul, why have you not called for Miss Temple’s carriage?”
“She does not have one,” he said, exasperated. “For heaven’s sake, hold that rattling tongue of yours for a moment, Angie!”
“Well, really, Raoul, there is no necessity to be —”
“There is every necessity. Miss Temple is not sick, but she does need your help.”
To his chagrin, the girl cut in. “I did ask him to arrange a hackney, ma’am. I have no wish to trouble you with my difficulties. I need no assistance.”
“Yes, you do. I won’t have you gallivanting off on a stagecoach,” Raoul snapped.
“It is hardly gallivanting, and it’s none of your affair!”
“I am making it my affair. Be quiet!” He became aware of his cousin’s open-mouthed astonishment and checked himself. “She’s lost both her guardian and her chaperon and she does not know anyone. I have no notion why, but evidently Miss Temple has left her post at some academy in Bath at the behest of Maskery, and she is now at a loss. I told her you would think of something.”
Angelica, looking both bewildered and entertained, if he was any judge, fastened on the last point. “Of course I will think of something. I always do. But Maskery, did you say?” She turned to the girl. “Do you tell me that awful man is your guardian? How dreadful for you!”
“Angelica!”
But Miss Temple’s freckles were shifting as she laughed. “You and Lord Lynchmere are much alike, I perceive, ma’am.”
Angelica threw up hands of mock horror. “Do not say so! He is quite a boor while I am perfectly amiable. I utterly reject any comparison at all.”
“Ditto.” Raoul eyed Miss Temple. “I shall not ask in what capacity you descry a resemblance, but instead request you both to stick to the res. What are we going to do with you?”
Miss Temple sighed. “Really, sir, there is nothing you can do. As I said before, the best plan will be for me to return to the inn. At least I may discover some news of Lord Maskery. Besides, everything I own is in my room there.”
The last held a note of anguish, and Raoul was again plagued by an unwanted stir of compassion. Before he could say anything, Angelica butted in again.
“My poor dear girl, whatever do you mean? Have you no home to go to? Why in the world are you staying at an inn with Maskery? It is not at all the thing, you know.”
“She wasn’t alone with Maskery, but this Sprake woman has also disappeared.” Raoul made up his mind. “I had best take you to this inn of yours, Miss Temple.”
She appeared at once relieved. “Oh, would you indeed?”
