“The gardens are vast and you are just…” Winston started.
Miss Bawden spoke over him. “A woman?”
Undeterred, Winston met her gaze. “Yes, it would be difficult for anyone to do a thorough search in a ballgown.”
Placing a hand on her hip, Miss Bawden said, “I went down several paths and I did not see Edwina. Although, I did stumble upon a couple engaged in a passionate embrace in the rear of the gardens.”
Miles had heard enough. Edwina had to be out in the gardens and he would find her. He needed to tell her that he was wrong and he did love her.
“I will go look for her,” Miles stated before he started to walk outside.
He stepped onto the veranda and saw a few couples enjoying the night air. But Edwina was not here- just as Miss Bawden had said.
As he went to step onto a path, Winston came to stand next to him. “We will find her. Edwina must be out here somewhere.”
Miles had an uneasy feeling about this, but he didn’t dareexpress his thoughts. Not yet. He just needed to find Edwina, and quickly.
Taking one of the paths, Miles hurried down it, looking for any sign of Edwina. But when he couldn’t find her, he headed towards another path. And then another. It felt like hours, but was probably only a short time, before he arrived back on the veranda.
Winston approached him with a worried look on his face. “Any sign of her?”
“No,” Miles replied. “Where could she have gone?”
Miss Bawden spoke up from behind them. “I just spoke to a maid and Edwina is not in her bedchamber.”
Miles was hesitant to ask his next question, but he had to ask it. “Do you think Edwina has been abducted?”
Winston’s brow shot up. “By whom? Edwina is loved by the villagers.”
“But your father isn’t,” Miles pointed out.
His friend frowned. “Why wouldn’t the villagers love my father?”
Miss Bawden leaned closer and shared, “Because he isn’t taking care of the village as he promised.”
“Meaning?” Winston asked.
“My father is thinking of leaving this parish because your father isn’t contributing as much as your uncle did,” Miss Bawden replied. “The church has fallen into disrepair and there are no funds to fix it.”
“Has your father spoken to mine about this?” Winston inquired.
With a shake of her head, Miss Bawden replied, “No, but he has spoken in length to Mr. Stanley about this.”
“What does Mr. Stanley say about it?” Winston pressed.
Miss Bawden clasped her hands in front of her. “Mr. Stanley always listens but claims there are no additional funds available to help.”
Winston reared back. “No funds? That is impossible.”
Miles bobbed his head. “It is true. If the rumors are to be believed from the villagers, your father is bankrupting his estate.”
“No, that cannot be,” Winston asserted. “You are wrong.”
“Regardless, one of the villagers might have abducted her to make a point,” Miles suggested.
Winston’s expression held skepticism. “I cannot believe that to be true.”
Turning towards Miles, Miss Bawden asked, “What would you like me to do?”
