Page 46 of The Gentlewoman Author

Chapter Nineteen

After several days on the road, Mary and Daniel fell into a routine. At each stop for refreshment, to change horses, or to sleep for the night, Mary asked after Louisa. If there were additional posting houses or inns in the area, Daniel rode out in search of news. They did not get to every inn, but to most. It was the best they could do.

The absence of news constricted Mary’s stomach until she could barely eat. She noticed Daniel did his best to distract her, but it did little good. The only solace Mary found was putting words on the page at the end of each day.

In yet another inn, Mary waited for Daniel to return from making his rounds at nearby lodging houses. There was no expectation of news, and her spirit sagged. Though she’d attempted the task multiple times, she had yet to complete a letter to her brother explaining Louisa’s whereabouts. Words for her fictional romance overflowed, but she could not pen an explanation to Stephen. If Louisa were discovered, no one could ever know what happened. She would do everything in her power to keep the secret. But was it fair to keep it from the girl’s father?

“Nothing.” Daniel sat across from her. “We will be at the hunting lodge tomorrow afternoon, so long as the weather holds.”

“That is a good thought.” But she could only consider the enormity of her failure. Mary’s intention to help Louisa into a love match led the girl to run off with this blackguard, a decision that would rob her of future happiness. How had she been so blind to what was brewing between Savage and her niece? “Stupid child. What will I do when I find her?”

“They will have to marry, regrettable as it is.”

“Of course, you are right. And if they are not there?”

“You could stay at the castle and send servants to the country, or you continue to Scotland. What do you wish?”

Nothing was more important than finding the girl and consoling her. Louisa had ruined herself and there was no undoing that, but Mary wanted to assure Louisa of the love she still felt for her niece. Men on horseback would cover more ground than she could in a carriage. Waiting at the castle for news meant spending more time with Daniel, more time pretending.

“It is wise to send a search party. Can we ask the servants to bring them to your castle when they are found? We could arrange for their marriage from there and make everything seem above board?”

“That is a sound plan.”

“Who can we trust to do the job of finding them while not revealing the situation?”

“Don’t worry on that account. My valet and groom know how to keep a secret.”

Mary nodded. It was all she could do. Stew and bread arrived at the table, but she set the food aside after taking a small bite.

Daniel pushed the bowl back at her. “You will need your strength when you encounter Mr. Savage tomorrow. He deserves a broken nose at the very least, and I know just the woman to serve it.”

Mary laughed, her shoulders relaxing as she watched Daniel smile with her. A rare grin covered his face, revealing a tiny dimple in his left cheek and his beautiful white teeth. She could watch him all day. If only Louisa hadn’t been a ninny, he might have been hers. The notion felt cold.

Daniel pulled out a pair of dice. “I have a surprise for you, but you cannot know what it is, unless you win the game.”

“What will it be today?” she asked.

“We both call a number. If my number is closer, you take three bites. When your number wins three times, even if not in a row, I will play a song on that dusty pianoforte in the corner.” The candlelight caught on the sparkle in Daniel’s eyes.

“A fresh take on the game. All right. Eight.”

Mary consumed the requisite quantity of stew, each mouthful easier to swallow.

When she won three times, she tapped her bowl with the spoon. “Your turn to perform, Daniel. What will you play?”

“Whatever you like.”

“Anything but a ballad about senseless youths running off in the name of love.”

“I could not agree more. A surprise, then?”

“I love a surprise. And that will make two, for I have not forgotten you have something in your pocket for me.”

He winked at her, and despite herself, she blushed.

Daniel stretched his hands and fingers over the pianoforte in big showy gestures, gathering the attention of the room. He was a quiet man, sometimes to the point of awkwardness, so his playful showmanship surprised and delighted her. His fingers trilled up the keys before he began playing “Blow, Ye Winds, Blow,” which was a trick because half the song was meant for a woman—did he intend Mary to join him? At least it was a benign song about a shirt. No words of love to set Mary trembling. Though the pianoforte was dusty and out of tune, Daniel’s baritone made up for what the instrument lacked.

After swallowing the last of her dinner, she stood to join him. Before his part finished, several men joined in, and to Mary’s relief, when the female part began, she was joined by the few women in the room.