8
Sofia almost bundled Annabel out of the room. The earl was dangerous – not at all in the way that Mr Sinclair was but he was still to be avoided. Although she'd no experience of gentlemen, she'd plenty of knowledge about ordinary men and women and what motivated them. She'd seen that particular look in a workman's eyes when he was interested in one of the dairy maids.
'Why are we rushing off, Sofia? It's barely nine o'clock and still light.'
'I'm sorry, let's go to your room and I'll tell you everything that happened today and you can tell me why Mary didn't come to me as arranged.'
'Did I not tell you? She helped this afternoon and then I sent her down to find herself some lunch before going to you. Then half an hour later a footman came with a message that she'd left, had decided she wasn't happy so far from her family and was returning to Bath.'
'On foot? I don't believe that.'
Annabel shook her head. 'Of course not, you goose, there was a carter returning to the city and she got a lift with him.'
'That makes more sense. A shame as I thought she'd the makings of an excellent dresser. I wonder if in fact she was in the pay of your father, only accompanied us so she could report back to him.'
'That's not possible, dearest, as my father was absent from the house and I scarcely had time to talk to my mother before we left.'
'You're right, that was a silly suggestion. You don't know this, but the earl dismissed the housekeeper this afternoon.'
Then something obvious occurred to Sofia. 'She must have returned for her belongings. As she was to sleep in the box room next to my chamber she'll have collected them before leaving. Wait, I'll check that they've gone.'
She hurried to the room which had space for a truckle bed, a washstand, small table and chair, a knotted rug next to the bed and a few hooks on the wall for clothes. Not much but adequate. Mary's things were still there. Her heart plummeted. Mary would never have left without them.
She ran back to Annabel and explained what she'd seen. 'It's very worrying. I must go down at once and tell the earl that despite what we were told we think she's missing.'
'We mustn't panic yet. Maybe there wasn't time to leave with the carter if she returned to her room. She only has a few items, nothing that can't be replaced.'
Annabel spoke as a young lady from a wealthy home. Those like Mary owned so little that all of it was precious. Mary must have really hated being here to abandon her clothes so easily. Annabel was unaware of Sofia's concerns and spoke on a different topic altogether.
'I notice that you too find it hard to address our benefactor by his given name. I never in my life expected to be asked to speak to an actual earl in such a manner. I know that many married people still call each other by their titles.'
'I think I only bridled at the idea because he was so insistent. I'm sure my sisters will find it equally difficult.'
Annabel wrung her hands. 'We've only been here a few hours and already so much has happened,' she said and her eyes brimmed.
'Please, dearest Annabel, don't be sad. This is a start for a wonderful new life for you. I'm sure we'll all be very happy here once we've settled in and know our way around. I'm still of the opinion that Mary didn't leave but is still on the premises somewhere. Before I go to speak to him, I'll quickly tell you everything else that has happened.'
Sofia deliberately omitted the part about the earl being in his birthday suit as that would immediately lead to false speculations. Also, Lucille would be shocked rigid if she heard about it. She also failed to mention that she'd pushed him over – there was no need to share absolutely everything with her new friend.
'I wish I was as brave as you, Sofia, but I know I could never do anything like that. Firstly, because I'm not a confident horsewoman and secondly because I'd never risk enraging the earl.'
'I told you that we're safe here, he'll not harm any of us however much we provoke him. However, I shudder to think what punishments he might inflict instead. Imagine if I wasn't allowed to play the piano, ride a horse or read a book. I'd be beside myself.'
'Then you must try not to upset him again. Do you wish me to come with you when you tell him our suspicions about Mary leaving so suddenly?'
'No, there's no need for both of us to go. I won't be long – it's hardly a complicated message. When I return, we'll start looking ourselves just to be sure. I hope she's not suffered an accident and is lying somewhere unable to call for help.'
This was hardly an encouraging thing to say and when she left Annabel was dabbing her eyes and looking quite wretched.
Sofia half-expected to hear the piano being played but it was silent. The footmen that had briefly been standing by the drawing-room door had also gone – there was something strange going on at Avon Court and a flicker of unease ran through her. She now thought that Mary's disappearance could be part of it.
She was dithering outside the drawing room when he spoke from right behind her making her squeak and she was certain her feet actually left the floor.
'Are you looking for me, Sofia?'
'I wish you wouldn't creep up on a person like that, James, I nearly had a fit of the vapours.'
He chuckled. 'If you ever faint from shock I'll eat my best waistcoat.'
