The Reluctant Earl

by C. J. Chase

  The maid shuffled into the room and sank into a curtsy, her posture half defiant and half defeated. As her wary gaze darted around the room, reluctant sympathy welled in Leah at the eerie similarity to her recent ordeal after Fleming’s murder. “You wanted to see me, my lord?”

  “What I most wish, Anna, is the truth. What happened when Lady Caroline disappeared?”

  “Like I told the others, my lord, Lady Caroline was with Molly.”

  “Lady Caroline was your responsibility, and now her life is endangered. Should we discover anything happened to her—something that could have been prevented had you spoken out in a timely manner—we’ll see you punished as an accessory to murder.”

  Anna’s shoulders wilted. “I got a note from William—one of the footmen. He asked me to meet him. Lady Caroline was playing with a toy, so I didn’t think she’d miss me.”

  “And when you returned?

  “She wasn’t in the room. Truly, my lord, I was only gone a few minutes.”

  Chambelston glanced at Leah as a chill shuddered along her spine. She fought the rising nausea with a brief petition for Caroline’s safety. “Where is this note?”

  “I burned it. I didn’t want no one finding it and learning he’d made a fool of me. When I got to the kitchen, he weren’t there.” A moue of annoyance hardened on Anna’s mouth. “How do you like that? He played me false and now I’ll lose my position and my life.”

  “Anna, did William send you any other notes? Before this one?”

  “No.”

  “So how did you know the note was from him?”

  “He signed his name, of course.”

  “Of course. Thank you for your assistance.” Chambelston paced to the window and looked out into the moonlit night as the maid exited the room. “If we are to believe this iteration of Anna’s story, someone planned to get Caro alone. I think we can safely cease any further investigations of the house. We’ll begin a search of the nearby villages at first light tomorrow. Tonight, we can only rest—and pray.”

  As if sleep would come to any of them while their minds whirled with fear. Leah patted Teresa’s arm and rose to find her room and a few moments of solitude with her father’s Bible.

  “Miss Vance, a word if I might?” The quiet command in Lady Sotherton’s voice halted Leah’s feet with a flinch.

  Chambelston turned his back to the window, a frown dragging down the corners of his mouth. “Elizabeth, this is not the time.”

  “Indeed, I should have said these words days ago. Miss Vance, since Julian seems to fear what I might say in private, I’ll make my apologies in public. I regret my impetuous words and indecorous behavior at our last encounter.”

  Shock dried a response from Leah’s throat. An apology—from Lady Sotherton?

  “I fear my grief for Reggie overcame my gratitude for all you had done, especially the day you rescued my daughter from those hoodlums. I hope you’ll forgive my offense.”

  A week ago Leah would have held her grudge. But then, a week ago, she’d never thought she’d see the proud Lady Sotherton admit to a wrong—any more than she’d thought to see herself return to the faith of her parents.

  Tonight, Leah extended her hand.

  * * *

  The sky had barely faded from gray to pink when Julian marched into the stable. “Wetherel, tell the grooms to get ready to ride.”

  “Already begun, my lord. The bay for you?”

  “I’ll get him myself momentarily. Tell me—you are in the position to best see the comings and goings around the manor house. We have reason to believe Lady Caroline didn’t wander away of her own accord but was abducted. Did you see any unusual activity or unexpected visitors on the day she went missing?”

  The groom scratched his head. “Unusual, no. Farmer Smithy’s son made his weekly delivery for the kitchen, but I can’t recall any other activity.”

  A farmer? Hardly a person in a position to plant a false note to the maid. Julian grabbed the bridle from a hook. “Where have the grooms searched thus far?”

  “The gardens and near the house. We didn’t expect the lady could wander too far, given her condition and all—but we didn’t figure her carried off, either.”

  “In light of the new information, we’re going to expand the search to the nearby villages. The grooms are to ask if anyone saw Lady Caroline or observed suspicious activity two days ago. She is a stranger to these parts and therefore conspicuous. In short, gather all the information you can about everything that happened, especially anything out of the ordinary.” Julian buckled the bridle in place. He wished he’d thought to ask Harrison to return to Northamptonshire with them. They could have used his expertise. And faith. “Oh, and have the grooms arm themselves in case they encounter...difficulties.”

  “Where do you want us to go?”

  He whirled at the sound of the feminine voice, his heart accelerating even before he met Leah’s somber gaze. She stood with his sister and niece, all three of them dressed to ride. “Leah, you are not a competent rider, and you suffered an injury only last week.”

  She tilted her chin. “You won’t keep me here while Lady Caroline is in danger. My discomfort is a small price to pay for her life.”

  He looked to Elizabeth for assistance, but found only an echo of the same grim determination. “Julian, I know I wasn’t welcoming to Caroline when you brought her here, but I never wanted... That is, I would never see her hurt. There are people Teresa and I can question who would never share information with a groom.”

  Julian knew better to engage in battle when he was outgunned and outmanned. Besides, Elizabeth made a valid point about the local gentility’s attitudes. As he settled the saddle on the bay’s back, he nodded his acquiesce at Wetherel. “Very well, but everyone is to travel in armed groups. We want no repeats of the mob attack on Teresa and Fleming.”

  Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Teresa. “We’ll start at the vicarage.”

  As the two women set off to collect their horses, Julian grabbed the bay’s reins and led him out of the stall.

  Leah tapped his arm. “There’s a hamlet in the other direction, near to the asylum where...”

  “You go to the vicarage with my sister and Teresa. I’ll check your hamlet.”

  “No, I’ll go with you.”

  As he exited the stable, a chill gusted against Julian’s cheek. “The last time I agreed to take you with me, I consequently saw you bleeding on the ground. I’m certain a groom and I can find the location.”

  “Julian.” His heart paused for a moment as his mind cherished this first use of his name. “When my parents died, I left more than my old home at the vicarage. I walked away from my faith. But God has welcomed back the prodigal. I prayed about this decision into the night, and I believe this is something I’m supposed to do.”

  He drew in a steadying breath, but his mind still whirled with objections. “Leah—”

  “‘Trust in the Lord, and do good,’” she quoted. “Trust, Julian.”

  A few more silent seconds ticked by before he nodded. “As someone newly come to faith myself, I can’t argue with your convictions.”

  Moments later they set off for the small hamlet near to where Leah had encountered Fleming all those days ago—and near to the asylum she so frequently visited. But for the gravity of their purpose, Julian could have enjoyed the ride shared with a beautiful sunrise and even more lovely companion. The snow clinging to the tree branches reflected the pink of the early morning sky. Birds flitted among the brambles, searching—like everyone else this winter—for food.

  They rode in silence past the spot of the incident with Fleming. The impression of that day’s event still spoke from the trampled snow.

  “Did you ever discover the identity of the person who shot at us?”

  Julian glanced at Leah, noting the tightening around the corners of her mouth. Anger welled in him, but he tempered his emotions. He might yet have need of them. “I asked your cousin, but he denied any k
nowledge of the incident. In fact, he was most displeased you’d never informed him of it.”

  “The assault on Fleming the next day consumed most of my attention. Perhaps Fleming was the culprit?”

  “Possibly. Teresa said he had a pistol when they were attacked. Of course we now know Killiane hadn’t traveled to London with Lord Sotherton as we thought—and he also carried weapons.”

  “At least neither of them will make trouble for us again.” A shudder trembled along her shoulders. “What will happen to Killiane?”

  “Lord Sotherton was working to have him quietly banished so as not to further inflame the people. He’ll keep his life but lose everything else.”

  A meager collection of humble cottages appeared on the horizon. Julian fought the urge to prod the horse into a faster gait for fear Leah would match his speed—to the detriment of her recovery. Once they reached the hamlet, he alighted from the saddle and strode to Leah’s side.

  “Careful. We don’t want you to break open that wound.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and assisted her from the horse. “How do you feel?”

  “Like I haven’t ridden for a week. But other than the usual stiffness, I’m fine.”

  He wound the reins for both their horses around a rail and approached the door of the closest cottage.

  A simply garbed matron answered his summons, her suspicious gaze traveling from his heavy coat to the fine horses snorting at the rail. She applied the same scrutiny to Leah’s modest apparel. “He’s a stranger, but I seen you here before, ain’t I?”

  “Yes, I travel this road every Sunday to visit my sister. We’ve come seeking information about a young woman who disappeared from Rowan Abbey two days past.”

  “Didn’t see anyone walk by.”

  “She was probably taken away by a cart or carriage.”

  “I haven’t seen any strangers in weeks—’cept him.”

  Julian doffed his hat. “Thank you for your assistance all the same. If you do remember anything, please send word to Rowan Abbey. I’ll see your efforts are rewarded.”

  They tried the three other buildings that comprised the entirety of the village, with the same results.

  Discouragement sat heavily on Julian’s shoulders. “Perhaps we should return to the Abbey—the others may have made more useful discoveries.”

  Lines serrated Leah’s forehead. “There’s one other person we might ask. The gatekeeper at my sister’s asylum has always been kind to me. At least we could be assured a truthful answer from him.”

  Julian led her to the impatiently waiting horses. “Is it nearby?”

  “Two, perhaps three miles to our east.”

  He hoisted her onto the back of the mare, then mounted the bay. “Then as long as we have come this far, let’s ask.” Since Leah already had a relationship with the man, she would be more likely to get answers than if Julian returned later without her.

  A scrawny ox eyed them curiously as they steered their horses back onto the path.

  Julian set a measured pace. “Did you believe the villagers?”

  “Not especially. I wonder if they are protecting someone.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone here had the wherewithal to deliver a note to Anna.”

  “Someone from outside Rowan Abbey assisted her abductor. He couldn’t have used a vehicle from the estate without Wetherel knowing.”

  “When we return, we’ll ask him to compile a list of every known cart, dray and wheelbarrow owner in the district.”

  The horses crested a knoll. The road stretched out below them, wending its way past a redbrick manor house. “That’s the place.”

  The building—even the gatehouse—seemed too remote to be of assistance. “How long has your sister been a patient here?”

  “Nearly nine years.”

  “And for the entire time of your employ, you have visited here?”

  “Every Sunday.”

  An explanation, perhaps, for her refusal to accept either of his offers—that of Caro’s teacher and that of his wife? A situation in Somerset would seriously hamper her weekly visits. They reined their horses to a stop outside the high stone fence.

  The gatekeeper lumbered out of his cottage, his brows rising with surprise as he approached. “Miss Vance, I didn’t expect to see you today. We missed you Sunday.” He fitted the key into the lock and swung open the gate.

  “We came to ask a few questions.”

  His gaze paused on Julian for several seconds before returning to Leah. “Of course.”

  “A young woman has gone missing from Rowan Abbey. We believe her to have been snatched away by someone with deplorable motives. We thought you might have observed a conveyance pass this way.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “Two days ago.”

  “Two days!” The gatekeeper stroked the gray waves of his beard. “Odd you should say that. We gained a new patient here two days ago. A young woman.”

  “A woman?” Excitement crackled in Leah’s question. “What did she look like?”

  “Smallish. Brown hair. Unusual eyes.”

  Julian’s pulse pounded audibly in his ears and relief burned in his chest. They had found her! His baby sister—dear, sweet Caro who’d never harmed another in her life—was here. But...who had brought her here? And why?

  Chapter Fifteen

  The breath whooshed from Leah’s chest as a chill shuddered down her arms. She shared a glance with Chambelston. At least Phoebe’s presence provided them the perfect excuse for entering the building to confirm their suspicions. “Did you recognize the person who brought her? Can you describe the carriage?”

  “It weren’t no carriage, Miss Vance. Just a cart like any of the farmers hereabout use to haul their harvests.”

  An open cart would have provided him ample opportunity to observe the occupants. “How was she? Did she seem distressed? Or was she...restrained?”

  The gatekeeper tilted his gray head and pondered her question. “Confused mostly, I’d say. But that weren’t remarkable. Most of the guests here are addlepated in one way or another.”

  “And the driver? You didn’t recognize him?”

  “She had a scarf wrapped around her face and a cloak over her head. But I don’t think I’d seen her here before.”

  Leah’s fingers tightened around the reins. A woman brought Lady Caroline here? “You didn’t see any other vehicles traveling the road that day?”

  “No, there’s been no traffic in this area. We haven’t even seen a delivery cart yet this week other than that one.”

  “Thank you.” Leah prodded the mare onto the property. Chambelston nudged his horse to walk beside her.

  The clank of the gate closing behind them resonated across the wintry air. Chambelston’s gaze snapped to her face. “That sound is more than a little unnerving.”

  “It’s worse when you enter the building. There are more locks.” Leah nodded her head toward the hulking structure ahead. “Notice the bars on the windows.”

  “Will they let us in?”

  “Of course. I owe them money. I’d promised to settle the debt Sunday, but then I was in London instead. The more pressing question is will they let us out.”

  His chuckle relieved some of the tension that normally accompanied her journeys along this drive. “How did you learn of this place?”

  “My mother wrote to a childhood friend of my father who ministers to the insane.”

  “Not a post many men seek, not even the clergymen of my acquaintance.”

  “No.” The power of that response—the care and concern a near stranger evinced for her sister—rushed back to her memory from where it had lain dormant so many years. For too long she had allowed pain to overshadow the glimpses of God’s love in human form. If only more people could see others as God did. Beginning with her. “He offered numerous warnings and listed several options. He suggested this establishment because they keep the men and women, both patients and orderlies, on separate floors.”
>
  “Good to know that if we do find Caroline here, there was less chance for abuse.”

  “Precisely our reason for heeding his advice despite the expense. After my mother’s death he recommended me for the position in Lord Sotherton’s household so I could be nearby.”

  “A true friend.”

  And inspiration.

  As at Leah’s last visit, few tracks marred the snow. Quiet descended on them as they reached the entry. Chambelston swung down from his horse in silence, then assisted her out of the saddle. As they trudged the unshoveled walkway, snow invaded her boot via the slice it had suffered after her last visit—so long ago when she’d encountered Fleming on her return to Rowan Abbey.

  The matron answered their summons, her face frowning as she spied Leah—until her gaze chanced to rest on Chambelston. “Miss Vance. And...”

  “A guest.” The familiar mingling of fear and hopelessness began to pound in Leah’s pulse, and she reminded herself she was no longer an impoverished governess dependent on others’ good fortune but a woman of means with newly rediscovered faith. “I brought the funds I owe.”

  “You’re late.”

  “My apologies. I was...indisposed Sunday.” Leah withdrew the requisite coins. How long would she need to find new living arrangements for her and Phoebe? “I heard you have a new patient.”

  The matron’s severe face hardened. “Miss Vance, you know we don’t disclose information about our patients with any outside their families.”

  A policy for which Leah had been grateful in the past. “My apologies. How is Phoebe?”

  “I’m sorry to report she is much the same as before. We’ve had to keep her sedated for her safety.”

  Leah vowed that once free of this place, Phoebe would never again ingest so much laudanum. “We’d like to see my sister.”

  “Of course.” The matron glanced over her shoulder and gestured to a hovering orderly. “Alice, see Miss Vance and her guest to her sister’s chamber.”

  Leah’s thoughts whirled furiously as the orderly led them up the stairs. How could they search for Caro while locked in Phoebe’s room? As the orderly paused before Phoebe’s door, Leah drew on the experience of her last visit. “Alice, would you procure a rag and a basin of warm water? We’ll wait here until you get back.”