Two men came back into the hall. “Someone’s up there,” one said gruffly. They stared up at the landing, but couldn’t see where she crouched in the shadows behind a wooden pillar.
“It’s an old house. It creaks. I’ll check on my niece.” Her uncle went to fetch a lantern, which gave Maddie time to run back to her bedchamber and slip into bed. She blew out the candle and pulled the covers up to her chin to hide her dressing gown.
Moments later, the door opened, and light flooded into the room. “Are you awake, my dear?”
She raised her head. “Is there something wrong, uncle?” She yawned. “Did I fall asleep with the candle still lit?”
“No. Go back to sleep.”
The door closed.
Was he suspicious? Her body stiff as a poker, Maddie steadied her breath as she listened to his noisy descent down the stairs. She must learn more about these men, but the sound of that rough, menacing voice that first spoke left her with no illusions about the danger she would be in should they discover her spying on them.
Chapter Five
During the week,Hart escorted Vivian Spencer to a dinner party held by Baron and Baroness Fortescue. A charming couple whom he had never met, but were good friends of Vivian’s. He enjoyed Vivian’s company. She was engaging and undeniably lovely, mature, and experienced at twenty-six, with no qualms about inviting him into her bed. He was tempted. What man wouldn’t be? But he felt the timing was wrong when he must return so soon to the country, so he made his excuses.
The bank had reopened. Assured of a modest loan to tide him over until they could sell the property in the north, he promised Vivian to return to London by Saturday and escort her to Ascot. Instantly, she forgave him for declining her invitation to her bed. They would mix with royalty and imbibe champagne as the thoroughbreds raced over the flat. Hart left the lady, expressing her earnest desire for him to return quickly. The next day he was on the road at dawn.
As soon as he arrived at Pembury, Hart rode out with his steward to inspect the land. He ordered the work agreed upon with Wakeham to begin.
The following morning, Hart followed the boundary between his and Wakeham’s properties on Blaze, searching for Maddie along the path he’d spotted her on earlier. He found no sign of her. In case she rode later, he went out again in the afternoon, the air crisp and dry with no sign of rain, which spelled problems with the newly planted crops. He wasn’t sure why Maddie’s absence concerned him, but as the freedom riding afforded her was important to her, he doubted much would keep her from it. Might she be ill, or could it be something even more worrying? The cut strap loomed again in his mind. While he couldn’t demand to see her, he could call in and give Wakeham a report on the work set to begin tomorrow.
That evening, he retired early, but ended up reading until late. He hadn’t given a thought to Vivian since he left London, he realized with a grimace. She would expect him back in London to escort her to Ascot. His young neighbor occupied his mind. Had he just missed her out riding? He couldn’t dismiss the possibility she might be in trouble.
With no sign of Maddie in the morning, Hart went to Wakeham’s house. When no servant came to take his horse, he continued around to the stables. The groom worked in the stable yard. He put the broom down, and recognizing Hart, hurried over. “Can I help you, Lord Montford?”
Hart dismounted. “What is your name?”
“Henry, milord.”
“I’m here to see Mr. Wakeham, Henry. Take care of my horse.”
“Yes, milord.” Henry took the reins from him. “He’s a fine animal.”
As Hart pulled off his riding gloves, he glanced over at a horse who’d thrust its head over the stall gate. Maddie’s Pearl. “I didn’t see Lady Madeline out riding this morning. Might I have missed her?”
Henry turned from admiring Blaze. “Lady Madeline has gone away, milord. Left the day before yesterday.”
“To visit a relative?”
“Milady didn’t say. She…went without a word to me.”
“I see the coach is in the coach house. By what means of travel?”
“I can’t say, milord.”
His neck prickled. “I see her horse Pearl is here.”
“Yes. She didn’t ride. She must have walked to the village.”
Hart rubbed his nape. “Why would she go on foot? Do you know if something occurred to upset her?”
Henry frowned and shrugged. “I don’t know, milord. I wasn’t told. But she didn’t go alone. Her lady’s maid, Jane, went with her.”
“Have you seen Wakeham since she left?”
Henry nodded. “He came and questioned the staff. Wanted to know if any of us knew where she’d gone.”
