Chapter 19
Aaron rubbed at his cheeks, trying to remove the ache that came with forcing a smile for the whole of the evening. The only thing keeping him from retiring for the evening was knowing he was to meet Gabby in the library. He wondered if she was there, even now, waiting for him.
He grinned. When he had dressed for this evening, he had no intention of asking for her hand tonight, but after kissing her so thoroughly under the kissing ball, he could think of nothing else. What would it be like to kiss her whenever he desired it?
“Hold on there,” he mumbled to himself, pulling on the front of his waistcoat. She had not accepted his offer. Before the kiss, he might have wondered at what her answer would be, but after—he felt quite confident she would accept him.
He shook his head. He would never have believed it possible when she showed up at his home nearly a fortnight ago, that she would be the woman he wished to spend the rest of his life with. Love worked in mysterious ways.
Someone clapped him on the shoulder, and he turned to see Lord and Lady Kirtley at his side.
“Thank you for your generous hospitality, my lord. It was a lovely ball.” Lady Kirtley smiled up at him. “I am sure Miss Babineaux had a wonderful time as well.” She looked around the empty entryway, her brow creased. “She must not have been feeling well and retired early.” The lady glanced over to Rebekah. “Did she speak with you before she left, Lady Brinton?”
Rebekah shook her head. “No, she said she needed some air, but she did not return. She looked rather piqued, so I assumed the same as you—that she retired early.”
Aaron tried not to look smug. He should tell them where she was, so they would not worry. But he had already seen Lady Kirtley’s reaction to the kissing ball. She would surely not agree to him meeting Gabby alone in the library. Even if it was to ask for Gabby’s hand.
“Yes, I would guess it was just a small headache. Nothing a good rest won’t remedy.” Rest and another sound kiss. That would set Gabby up right. A quiet hum pushed from his lips. He was nearly bursting, yet no one seemed to notice.
“I should bid you all good night. I dare say we are all in need of some sleep.” He dipped his head to both Kirtley and his wife, before turning and heading up the stairs. He turned at the top of the first floor toward his study. If someone questioned him, he could make the excuse that he needed to look over some papers before bed. Then he could slip into the library and see Gabby, with Lady Kirtley none the wiser.
He pushed into his study without a word and sat in the chair behind his desk. How long, exactly, did one wait before attending a clandestine meeting? How long would it take until all his house guests were back in their chambers? He beat his thumb on the desktop.
His mother, too taxed to return to the dower house, had retired before the last of the guests had departed. Rebekah had no reason to linger any longer. It had been a long night for everyone. Surely she was halfway to sleep by now.
He ran his hands up and down his thighs, a nervous energy making his leg jump. The exhaustion he had felt as he bid the last person goodbye had fled. Martin was certainly, even now, wondering where Aaron was. Perhaps he should go to his rooms and release his valet to bed and then go to the library. But even as he thought it, Aaron discarded it.
Gabby had likely been waiting for half of an hour or more. There was no need to keep her waiting any longer.
Aaron moved to the door and pressed his ear to it, listening for any sounds. He felt rather like a spy in his own house, sneaking about and meeting secretly. Gabby would surely find the humor in it.
The house was still. He opened the door a crack and peeked out before stepping into the corridor. He straightened, tugging at his waistcoat. What was he doing, skulking about his own house? He owed no one an explanation, except, perhaps, Gabby.
Taking long strides, no longer caring if someone heard him, Aaron walked to the library and pushed the door open. His mouth turned up in a smile at the anticipation of seeing Gabby.
His eyes went immediately to the settee positioned next to the fireplace; the fire burned low in the grate. But Gabby was not there. He shrugged and scanned the room. When he did not see her below, he knew she must be above, perhaps choosing a new book to read. “Gabby, are you upstairs? I half expected you to be asleep on the couch after waiting so long for me to come.” He moved to the middle of the room, where he could see the upper floor, but it, too, was empty.
She was not here? Had she tired of waiting and gone to bed? His brow furrowed. He had asked her to wait for him. Why would she have agreed and then not waited?
The clock on the mantel chimed five times. Aaron dropped his head into his palm. It was five in the morning? It was no wonder Gabby had given up on him and gone to bed. Especially if she had been suffering with a headache. How could he have been so thoughtless as to even ask her to wait up?
His shoulders slumped. He supposed he could wait until tomorrow to speak with her. After all, what were a few more hours when they would have the rest of their lives together?
He ran a hand through his hair, his earlier fatigue setting in. He was exhausted. Perhaps it was best this way. He would be much more eloquent and convincing—although he hoped she would need little of that—after a good night’s sleep.
Striding to the other side of the room, he trudged up the narrow circular steps. Stepping onto the upper level, he gave one last look, just to make sure she was not asleep in any of the chairs up here, before pushing through the door and heading to his own bedchamber.
Martin was dozing in a chair by the fireplace, his elbow resting on the arm and his chin sitting on his palm.
Aaron quietly closed the door behind him, but the click of the lock brought his valet bolt upright. “My lord.” His voice was groggy, and he squinted even though the light was low. “Did you have a pleasant evening, sir?”
“Yes. I did. Although, it did not end as I expected.” He grunted as Martin pulled off his tailcoat and lay it aside. “But I intend to remedy that tomorrow.”
“Anything I can do to help, sir?”
Aaron removed his waistcoat and handed it to the man and then set to work on his cravat. The hazard of having a finely tied knot was that it usually took a great deal of effort to untie it. Aaron shook his head. “No. It is nothing I cannot handle myself.”
A quiet knock sounded at the door. Aaron’s brow creased. Who would bother him at this time of night? His mind flashed to Gabby. Maybe she had fallen asleep in her room while she waited and had only now awakened. He grabbed his waistcoat and buttoned it over his partially untied cravat, as he hurried over to the door, eager to see her.
Pulling the door open, Aaron took a step back. A small servant he did not recognize stood at his door. “I am sorry to bother you, my lord. But it is Miss Babineaux. She has not returned from zee ball. I have searched zee library and all the rooms I sought she may visit. But she is not zere.” This was Gabby’s abigail.
What did she mean Gabby had not returned from the ball? He shook his head. “No. You must be mistaken. I was told she left early to get some air and then returned to her room with a headache.” Aaron rubbed at his temples with two fingers. No, that was not true. It was all an assumption. But if she had not gone to her room, where was she?
Aaron stepped out into the corridor. “Where have you not looked?”
The maid shook her head. “I have looked everywhere I can sink of.”
Collins stepped up onto the landing and cleared his throat. Aaron glanced over at him. Was the entire house awake? “Yes, Collins? What is it?”
“A Mrs. Perkins is at the kitchen door. She insists she needs to speak with you.”
Aaron frowned. Mrs. Perkins? What could she want? “Collins, have you seen Miss Babineaux since supper?”
The butler shook his head. “I have not, my lord.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “What shall I do about Mrs. Perkins?”
Aaron sighed. He did not have time for her right now. “Tell her to
come back in the morning.”
Collins cleared his throat. “She says it cannot wait, sir. And judging by the time, I am inclined to believe her.”
Aaron shrugged. It was freezing and very early in the morning for a social call. Perhaps Perkins was ill. “Very well, show her to my study please, Collins. And then please come and help Miss Babineaux’s maid search the house. She must be here somewhere. If need be, wake up the staff and have them search, as well.”
The maid shook her head. “No, please do not go to so much trouble. I am certain I have just not thought of the one place she fell asleep.”
Collins nodded. “I will meet you in the west parlor, Aline.” He then turned and moved toward the back staircase.
Aaron stepped back into his chambers and grabbed his tailcoat. Sliding it on, he buttoned it as he hopped down the stairs two at a time. He pushed the door to his study open and moved to stir the fire, adding several logs to the grate. The small flames smoked for a moment before flaming to life and slowly licking up the sides of the logs.
A knock sounded and Collins entered with Mrs. Perkins close behind.
The woman looked exhausted, her swollen belly seeming to pull her forward. Dark circles shadowed under large eyes. She looked years older than she had just the other day when he had seen her on St. Stephen’s Day.
“Mrs. Perkins, what brings you out on this cold night—” He glanced at the clock. “Or shall I say morning?”
She clutched a handkerchief in her hand, twisting it tightly, then letting it go slack again. “I’m sorry to bother you, my lord. But I fear my husband has made a rash decision.”
What was she talking about and why could this not wait until morning? He needed to be looking for Gabby. He ran a hand over his face. “And how can I help?”
She swallowed. “Ever since he returned from the war, he has been different. He is still a good man, my lord, but there are things that vex him real good.”
Aaron scrubbed at the back of his neck. He was very aware of what Mr. Perkins’s problems were, but they were problems that could wait.
“The French girl you have staying with you, she has him all on edge.”
Aaron dropped his hands to his desk and leaned forward. What did Gabby have to do with Perkins’s issues? He shook his head, but a thought took hold and a cold chill ran up his back.
“I believe he may have done something to her. He’s been muttering about a Frog spy for days and then went to visit Mr. Millard this evening and he never came home.”
Aaron stood quickly, his chair clattering to the floor behind him. “What do you think he has done, Mrs. Perkins?”
Her lip quivered and she shook her head. “I don’t know, my lord. I just know he isn’t thinking straight.”
“Please, go home. You look like you could use the rest. I will find your husband.”
A sob wracked her body. “Please, don’t hurt him, my lord. He isn’t a bad man. He just gets confused sometimes.”
Aaron clenched his fists. If Perkins had done something to Gabby, Aaron was not sure he could control himself. He took in a calming breath. “I will do my best.”
She nodded and stood up.
Aaron escorted her to the entry. “Wait here. I will have the sledge hitched to take you back to your cottage.”
“No need, my lord. I can walk.”
Aaron held out a hand, his eye flicking to her belly. “Please, wait.”
He headed toward the nearest room and pulled on the cord in the corner. It would likely wake the entire staff, but it was nearing five in the morning. They would all be up soon enough, anyway. And he needed the extra bodies to help look for Gabby, now.
He paced the perimeter of the entry, terrible images of Gabby and where she may be flashing in his mind. What was he going to do? What if they could not find her before his men did something they would all regret?
Chapter 20
Even covered in hay, Gabby could not stop her body from shaking. The cold, combined with the fear of what morning would bring, shook her body fiercely.
Her eyes burned when she opened them, both from a lack of sleep and from the dirt that dropped from her lashes every time she blinked.
It felt as if she had been here for days, though she knew it had likely only been hours. She was still alive, after all. The clanking of metal had been her constant companion since her arrival in the dusty, frigid barn. How did they have weapons? While she had never actually heard someone cleaning a gun, she had convinced herself that is what Mr. Perkins and his friend were doing. Readying themselves for their morning task.
It was almost certain Aaron would hear the shot—she guessed that is how they planned to execute her—but she could not imagine it would draw him out to investigate. Not unless he had realized she was gone. Had Aline told him?
Aaron. Her chest constricted and her throat tightened painfully. She would never see him again. It seemed almost cruel that they had overcome their dislike of each other—possibly come to love each other—only to have it end like this. She would never dance with him at Almack’s or attend the theatre. There would be no walks along the Serpentine in Hyde Park or even around the gardens here at Ivydale.
Her breath hitched as another bout of tears threatened. She had been pushing them off since the dratted bag had been thrown over her head.
She turned her thoughts back to Aaron. As sad as it made her to know their time was over, thinking on him still brought a measure of peace and joy to her heart. Would he think of her when he went into the library? She hoped so—though she hoped they would be happy thoughts.
A knock sounded on wood somewhere close by and Gabby straightened, turning an ear toward the sound.
“Who’s there?” Mr. Perkins’s gruff voice asked and he thump-stepped away from her.
“It’s Major Campbell, Perkins. I need to speak to you.”
Gabby squeaked. It was Aaron. He had found her.
“He knows, Nathan,” the other man whispered fiercely. “We’re going to be sent to Newgate, for sure.”
“Keep your mouth shut, Millard.” There was a small scuffle before Mr. Perkins answered. “It’s a bit early, Major, sir. Perhaps you can come back later?”
Even Gabby could hear the guilt in the man’s voice.
“No. Open the door, Ensign. I have not yet sent for the Constable, but I will if I must.”
Gabby heard the scratching of wood. Was Mr. Perkins opening the door?
The shakes wracking her body intensified with the anticipation not just of being saved, but of seeing Aaron again.
The door groaned as it opened, and footsteps sounded.
“Where is she?” Never had she welcomed the gravelly tone as she did now, even if it was near frantic. It was closer now, but still, Gabby could tell Aaron was on the other side of the barn.
She squirmed and squeaked, trying to get him to come in her direction.
“Who, Major?”
“You know who I mean. Miss Babineaux. What have you done with her?” His voice got louder, but she did not know if it was because he drew closer or had simply started yelling.
“I don’t rightly know, sir.” Perkins sounded as though he were moving quickly, his foot and peg scratching on the ground as if he were trying to keep in front of Aaron. “We only wanted to scare her back to France, sir.”
Gabby screamed as loud as she could—which was weak at best due to the gag in her mouth—but she did not know if it could be heard over the nickering horses.
“Thunder and turf, man.” Aaron was close; she could almost feel his warmth. “What have you done?” Gentle hands lifted her from the hay. “Gabby?”
“Major, you are making a mistake…again. She is a spy.”
“Kirtley. Please help Paul and Marcus escort these two men to the house. I will deal with them once Gabby is safe.”
“Are you certain you don’t need me here?” It was only now Gabby heard Lord Kirtley’s voice. Who else was there with them?
One of Aaron�
�s hands dropped from her arm but was quickly replaced again. “Yes. I would prefer you aid in securing the men who did this to her.”
“But there will be no one here with you. Eleanor…” Kirtley trailed off. “Very well. I will meet you back at the house.”
“I am going to untie the cloth from your mouth. Hold still.” Aaron’s breath shook as her head jerked to one side and then the other with each tug he gave on the band.
It fell away, and Gabby closed her mouth, working her jaw without taking in more dust and dirt.
The bag came off and Gabby squinted.
Aaron’s shining eyes and creased brow peered down at her. There were many times she had thought him more handsome than anyone of her acquaintance, but those times paled compared to now. Never had she been so happy to see anyone, but especially him. And from the way he looked down at her now, she had no doubt he loved her.
“Aaron.” Her voice rasped.
He shifted on his knees, and she could tell he was biting his cheek. He lifted a shaking hand to her face and using his thumb, wiped away the dirt under her eye. “Look at you.”
“I must look a fright.”
He shook his head. “You are the loveliest sight I’ve ever seen.”
“I thought the same of you.” After keeping them in for hours, tears spilled over, wetting his fingers and her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Gabby.” He held her face in both hands. His tenderness making her sob. “How did I not see this would happen?”
She shook her head. “No.” Her throat burned from dryness. “The fault is mine. I should never have come to visit Mrs. Perkins. Not after St. Stephen’s Day. I knew…” A sob choked out again.
“You went…” He shook his head. “We can discuss that later.” He looked down, likely wondering why she had not embraced him, and his eyes widened. Swatting hay out of his way, he moved behind her.
Aaron swore. “Oh, Gabby. I don’t think I can untie these without causing you pain.”
“It cannot hurt more than it does now. Please, release them.”
Thawing the Viscount's Heart: A Christmas Regency Romance (Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair Book 3) Page 17