'Yes, in part that was it.' She met his eye.
'But still you waited, you said.' He reached for her hand, and his thumb rested lightly on her gloved wrist. He kept talking, but low, gentling her. 'Those amusements you spoke of existed in the past. But you forget that when we met you were but a child and I a full-grown man. It was natural that I did as other men did. But as soon as you realised, as soon as you were a woman grown, I stopped all such diversions. My heart was only for you, Ianthe.' He gave a little secretive smile, as he held her wrist, feeling the tumultuous pulse. But when he looked up it was to see that she had raised one eyebrow, dubious.
'You did not come for me,' she said again.
'When Joseph died, I did.'
'It was too late. When you offered for me, even as you offered for me, I wanted to claim your arms as my protection against the pain, but I could not.'
'Why not? Do you even know yourself?'
'Not clearly, no. Perhaps a heart that yearned as long as mine lost faith. Bit by bit and without knowing it. If Papa had been there, I might have trusted his feelings for you. If his friendship for you had reassured me … but he was gone, Cherie was shattered, and I could only trust myself.'
'You are so lovely, Ianthe…,' and his hand stroked her face. She stayed still. '…the love of my life.'
She closed her eyes at this, as though in pain.
'I'm going to drive off with you and make you believe me.'
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Search
Sally, on one arm of Mr Steadman while her mother was on the other, said teasingly, 'I feel very much de trop. Where on earth are Fox and Ianthe?'
'Have you posted the banns already?' said her mother worriedly to Mr Steadman. 'I shall have to tell Lady Fox before church on Sunday. Only imagine if she should hear them read before I inform her.'
'I would love to see her face,' imagined Sally, 'but I suppose it would be insufferably rude.'
'I wish to have you two gone from this house at the earliest opportunity,' said Steadman. 'I have seen enough of Lady Fox to imagine what you might suffer.'
'No, I assure you, since Ianthe came, we are a much merrier household.'
'Do you make a trip after the wedding, sir?' asked Sally. 'I can stay here with Ianthe if you mean to do so.'
'And that also worries me,' Emma Richards said. 'Ianthe shall be all alone when we leave. How dreadful for her.'
'Do you wish her to live with us also?' enquired Steadman.
'Oh, you do not mean it?' said Her Ladyship hopefully.
'Anything to stop you frowning, my love.'
Emma Richards blushed. 'But I do not suppose she will come.'
Sally was amused and a bit embarrassed at her mother being so called. 'Well, I wish she would come now. Any more declarations of affection will make me feel my spinster state.'
Steadman smiled his rare smile at this, but suddenly stopped. 'Yes, why does she not come?'
'Well, she is probably off somewhere in the gardens fighting with Edward. They seem to enjoy it,' said Emma comfortably.
'The colour of the coat…' Steadman mused. 'My love, Miss Richards, please continue on. I must just check on something. I will find you again.' To the ladies' amazement, he dropped their arms and began to walk briskly, then run, in the direction of the house.
When he got there, it was to find a carriage being driven off in the direction of the stables. Steadman brushed past Jenkins, saying briefly, 'Is Lord Fox here?'
'Yes sir, he is with a guest in the study, sir.'
'Dammit — he's here!' said Steadman to himself. Then he looked at the butler. 'In the study?' he said, and surged forward in the direction.
'I will annou—' the butler began, but the study door was already open. The butler sighed.
It was only five minutes past when another gentleman had tossed his hat and coat in the butler's general direction and said 'Fox?' moving forward when the butler pointed to the study door.
Steadman opened the door, saw Fenton perched on Fox's desk, the two men in intimate conversation. They looked up, and Steadman said to Fox without preamble, 'Have you been in the gardens?'
'Why—?'
'You haven't. I thought I remembered the colour of that—' he stopped. 'Miss Eames hasn't joined us. I think that fellow d'Emillion is with her.'
Fox stood, and Fenton said, 'Damn!'
'How long?' rasped Fox.
'It may be nothing, but his coat is green and … I only saw an arm pull Miss Eames aside. I thought it was you. It was perhaps fifteen minutes ago.'
'You only tell us—' Fox began.
'Let us look for her. Get the servants to make a search of the grounds,' said Fenton.
'That may cause talk,' Steadman warned.
'We will still their mouths later. He may be dangerous,' said Fenton. 'I'll go to the inn.'
'Let me. I know who to ask,' said Steadman.
'Very well.' Fox had been reeling, trying to catch scattered fears and thoughts, but now he focused. 'Go now.'
'It may be better for you to go, Steadman.' But Fenton grasped Steadman's arm as he began to leave. 'But if you find him there, do not tell the comte I am here.'
'Now,' Fox urged Steadman, who left instantly. He called in the butler. 'Jenkins, have a group of men search the grounds. Miss Eames is missing.'
Fox ran out of the house, and Fenton followed behind. Fox gestured him to the east, while he took west. 'Ianthe,' Fenton heard him intone.
As he ran heedlessly through the grounds he tried to think. If it was the comte, if she was with him, he did not know what— "No! Think!" he chided himself, still running and looking around. If the comte had come, he would have had to ride or drive, probably. Fox circled around to the stables, but no groom had seen strange horses, apart for the afternoon visitors and Mr Fenton's. Fox dispatched two grooms to add to the search, telling them they were looking for Miss Eames who was missing. He surprised a look on his head groom's face, and turned to him viciously, gripping a bunch of his malodorous waistcoat. 'If Lady Fox hears of this, Hawkins, I will turn you off and make sure you never work again. Do you understand me?' The man's sharp face recoiled, and he nodded before being thrown back against a stable door.
Fox ran out once more, and as he moved around the corner to the house, he spotted Sally and her mother emerging from the shrubbery.
'Have you seen her?' he said, going towards them.
'What is this, Edward? Is it Ianthe? We saw James searching… I do not understand. Where is Mr Steadman?'
'Gone to the village,' said Fox shortly. 'Ianthe is missing.'
A light step, running towards them alerted him, 'Oh, Edward, are you to join us on our walk?' Ianthe's voice said.
He turned, halted for a second, then bridged the gap in two strides. 'Where were you, you wretched, wretched girl,' he said, grasping her shoulders and shaking her soundly. 'The whole house is looking for—'
'Edward dear,' Lady Richards pulled gently at one arm, 'You are hurting her.'
He looked down then and stopped shaking her. She was dry-eyed, looking up at him openly, but he could see that she had been crying lately. The thought disgusted him, and he threw her from him, so that she had to take two paces to regain her balance.
'Edward!' reproved Lady Richards, shocked.
'You deal with her. I cannot!' he said and strode off. James the footman was standing near and Fox ordered, 'Look for Mr Fenton in that direction. Then call off the search. Miss Eames is found.'
Lady Richards and Sally were at Ianthe's side as all three watched his back. 'Whatever—?' began Lady Richards.
'Cousin Emma,' sighed Ianthe brightly, but her voice was trembling, 'I fear I am in a scrape this time.'
***
Mr Steadman made short work of the ride to the village. He asked for the comte at the inn, but was not surprised that the man was not there. When he afterwards asked at the stables, a groom thought he had been out this way, but had returned from a drive then gone out
for a walk.
The landlord appeared and slapped the groom's head. Gossiping about guests was not allowed. Steadman was just about to remount his horse when a small figure appeared before him.
'Nancy!' Steadman said to the tiny woman. 'How do you and Bill fare in the village?'
'Oh, very good sir, all thanks to you, Mr Steadman. We live right in the village now. In the last house sir.'
'Isn't that Granny Chester's house?'
'Oh yes sir, but she is abed the whole time now sir, and she has me to help her and we have the lodging to boot.'
'That is good news, Nancy.'
'Yes sir. Only, you was asking about the Frenchman, sir?' The girl looked around.
'Yes,' said Steadman, 'but I hear he is gone for a walk.’
'That's as may be, sir. But I don't think he meant to come back earlier.'
'What do you mean?' Seeing a groom give them an enquiring look he pulled her into a more sheltered spot.
'Well sir. When I straightened up this morning, the room was empty. Neither his bag nor the box was there.'
'You mean the rosewood box?'
'Yes sir. There were a few things discarded sir, as though…'
'He made room in the bag for a rosewood box,' said Steadman.
'Yes sir,' said the intelligent Nancy who was once a maid in his house, until she had married a farrier and come to work at the inn. 'I checked if he paid his shot sir, there being so many who try not to do so—'
'Yes, and—'
'He had sir, but paid for one more night.'
'Just in case,' reflected Steadman.
'The bag is back in the room, sir. He left word not to unpack it.'
'Thank you, Nancy!' said Steadman. 'I must go—'
A small detaining hand came to his arm. 'Then there was the carriage, sir.'
He looked down at her intelligent eyes. 'Carriage?'
'This not being a post road the landlord just has the two gigs for rent sir. The Frenchman had to go to Faversham to rent a landau. It is in the stables now, sir.'
'Is that everything, Nancy?'
'No sir. It has all been bothering me sir. I had to pack some items in a smaller bag. A toothbrush, a ladies comb and pins, some night things and a plain woollen cape.' Steadman's blood ran cold. 'It seemed to me, sir, that even a lady eloping with a gentleman could bring that much sir, so when he drove off this morning I was concerned. It is not my business to enquire into what a gentleman might do—'
'It is very natural that you think of it. You were ever a perceptive girl.'
'Does that mean noticing? My Bill says I'm much too noticing. But the gentleman came back. So, no harm done.'
'Yes,' said Steadman distractedly.
'That's alright then. Only—'
Finally, he was amused. 'There is more?'
'He ordered the small bag to remain in the carriage, sir.'
Steadman placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and reached for his purse. But the girl waved a hand. 'No, no, sir!' she said. 'Bill and me know what you done for us already sir.'
'Then I shall send a basket from my hothouse to you both, Nancy.'
'I'd accept that with pleasure, sir.'
Steadman rode back to Studham. So, Ianthe was not with the comte. Had they found her yet? And if they had, was she still in danger?
***
Ianthe had run into the house, ignoring the questions of her friends, and only just registering the unhurried walk of Mr Wilbert Fenton coming towards her. She touched his arm in passing, but said. 'So happy! But Fox—' She ran into the house and straight to the study, but Jenkins stood before the door. 'Just let me—'
'I was given orders miss,' Jenkins said, stepping in her way as she tried to get around him.
'No one to be admitted, I know, but I—' said Ianthe, stepping quickly to the other side.
'Not no one ma'am.'
Ianthe stopped and paused, looking at Jenkins in the eye for the first time. 'Just me?'
'Miss.' The butler was short.
Ianthe sighed. 'Edward!' she called. 'Fox!'
There was no reply, but a penetrating voice rent the hall. 'Miss Eames! What is the meaning of this?'
'Oh,' said Ianthe in a voice that carried further than she intended, 'Not now!'
Steadman, Lady Richards and Sally bustled into the hall, with Mr Fenton at a leisurely pace bringing up the rear. 'Oh dearest, what has occurred?' began Lady Richards, moving to Ianthe's side.
'Why is Edward so angry, Ianthe?' asked Sally, more interested than concerned.
But Ianthe was looking upward, over Lady Richards’ shoulder, and Emma Richards shuddered her understanding. Lady Fox was behind her. Emma sunk to the floor, holding a hand to her head affectingly. Sally knelt beside her in a trice, Ianthe was stunned. Lady Richards opened one eye, however, and Ianthe giggled before the swooning lady managed to say, 'Sally, Ianthe, could you aid me to get to my room?' The girls lifted her arms tenderly, waving off a hovering footman. The afflicted lady got to her feet and held on to both girls, her demeanour rivalling the tottering of Lady Fox when she was being supported by her beloved son.
Lady Fox had come to the bottom of the stairs. Fenton stood to one side of the staircase, where Lady Fox had arrived, frowning terribly. 'Miss Eames, I demand an explanation!'
'You may not have noticed, but your guest is ill,' said Mr Fenton helpfully.
Lady Fox looked at him with dislike as the girls approached, supporting Lady Richards in their arms.
'What is this?' said Lady Fox.
'Mama is ill,' said Sally, knowing it was not she whom Her Ladyship was addressing.
Lady Fox was focused on Ianthe. 'You will remain—'
Sally intervened. 'If Mr Steadman arrives, your ladyship, do tell him to come up.'
Lady Fox took her fulminating eye from Ianthe. 'Come up?'
'I can see you are disapproving,' smiled Sally apologetically. 'But it is quite alright — he is to wed Mama, you know.'
Lady Richards turned her head in her daughter's direction with surprising vigour for an invalid, but Sally and Ianthe nudged her on.
The resulting shock caused Lady Fox to lean her back on the banister, but it allowed the escape of the Richards and Ianthe. Sally turned back to look, and encountered Mr Fenton's eye. He nodded up at her and his ironic smile said, "Well done!"
Evans appeared magically and bore her mistress to the salon, and Fenton moved past Jenkins into the study.
'I think Ianthe is about to tell us what occurred this afternoon.'
'I do not wish to hear it.'
Fox's cold voice might have daunted another, but Fenton merely nodded. 'I thought that was all you wanted to know but fifteen minutes ago,' he remarked, serving himself a glass of port.
'Well, now I do not.' Fox now sounded merely sulky.
Fenton sat and drank before he continued, 'Lady Richards has just fainted.'
Fox stood. 'Cousin Emma! Where is she now?'
'In her room,' said Fenton unconcernedly.
Fox, already high on anger, moved at lightning speed to the bottom of the stairs and mounted them two at a time while Fenton followed at his own pace.
Lady Richards' chamber door was ajar, and Fox was just about to open the door when he heard Ianthe say, 'Do you always jump on the bed when you are so happy, cousin?'
Fox paused, perplexed. He heard the surprisingly strong voice of Cousin Emma say, 'Oh, but it was so clever of Sally to rescue Ianthe. Now all I have to do is be fevered all day and have you both accompany me. We won't have to see Her Ladyship until dinner.'
'On top of that, Lady Fox will be getting over the shock of knowing about your marriage. She will be almost used to the notion by dinner. And you did not have to tell her at all, Cousin Emma.'
Lady Richards sighed happily. 'She may hardly be rude to me at all.'
'You underestimate her,' said Sally's voice.
'I wonder where Mr Steadman went?' sighed Lady Richards.
'Yes, I do hope he will
come back for dinner,' said Ianthe. 'Lady Fox could hardly be foul to us if he were here.'
'Do you think so?' asked Sally.
'Well, we shall have Mr Fenton and Edward to defend us too,' said Her Ladyship comfortably.
'I do not think,' said Ianthe, 'that Fox is likely to defend me in his present humour.'
'You know his temper dear,' Lady Richards soothed. 'You will be friends again soon.'
'Mmm,' Ianthe mouthed, uncommitted.
'But Ianthe,' said Sally's voice. 'You still have not told us what happened.'
'I wish to tell Fox first,' said Ianthe in a small voice that froze her auditor in the corridor. Guilty, he thought wrathfully. She added, 'He has that right.'
'He was frantic with worry,' Lady Richards offered in appeasement.
'I know. My shoulders will bear the bruises of his worry tomorrow.'
Fox, in the corridor, looked down at his hands.
'He did not mean to hurt you, I'm sure—' said Sally. 'What did happen, Ianthe?'
'Please,' sighed Ianthe. 'Let me talk to him … and then—'
'He seems determined not to speak to you,' sighed Lady Richards sadly.
'He must be there at least, before I speak.'
Fox stepped back and realised Fenton was behind him. The older man gestured to the door with his head, but Fox shook his. He turned and walked back down the stairs, Fenton following once more.
'It was amusing histrionics earlier,' the elder remarked.
'You knew that the faint was false?'
'So would you, if you had seen the display. Lady Richards should never tread the boards.'
A side smile crossed Fox's face. 'Why did you worry me then?'
'I thought you needed to speak to Ianthe.'
'The last person I want to talk to today is Ianthe Eames,' said Fox, venomously.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Aftermath
The servants of Studham had been warned, via the conduit of the butler, that anyone who mentioned that day's search to Her Ladyship or her maid would be dismissed instantly, and so Lady Fox was still in the dark about Ianthe's behaviour of this afternoon and determined to get to the bottom of it.
Ianthe and the Fighting Foxes: The Fentons Book 4 Page 20