‘I am here, Grandmama,’ said Beth softly, kneeling beside the old woman and taking her hand. ‘I have been away, but I am back now, and I will take care of everything.’
‘Where is Simon?’ demanded the old lady querulously. ‘You told me he was dead. Now Sophie says it is not so. If he is alive, I want to see him.’
‘We will bring him back soon, I promise.’ Beth looked at her sister. ‘I do not understand. Why was there no one at the door? Where is Kepwith?’
‘We are all in disarray—the soldiers insisted on searching the whole house. Two of the maids fell into hysterics and one of the footmen objected. He was knocked down and cut open his head. Mrs Robinson is with him even now,’ replied Sophie, wiping her eyes. ‘Kepwith went off to the kitchens with—’
She broke off. Guy’s head snapped up as a soft, familiar voice came from the other side of the room.
‘Here we are. I found all the herbs I needed for my special tisane, Lady Arabella. This will settle your nerves.’
Clarice Cordonnier came into the hall, carefully carrying a saucer and cup from which issued a pale column of fragrant steam.
‘What the devil are you doing here?’
Guy could not restrain the fierce exclamation. A glance at Beth showed him that she was on her feet, staring at the woman.
Clarice merely opened her eyes wide at him. ‘I rode over this afternoon. I hired a horse in Fentonby.’
‘Mrs Cordonnier was here when Simon was taken,’ explained Sophie, wiping her eyes.
‘I have been comforting the family.’ Clarice put the cup and saucer into Lady Arabella’s outstretched hands. ‘There you are, my lady. Sip it slowly and you will soon feel better.’
‘And just how did you get here from London?’ demanded Beth.
‘I caught the night mail and then hired a carriage to Fentonby. I have to say, I did not expect you to be quite so far behind me.’
Her mocking glance made Guy clench his jaw in anger.
‘I’ll wager you are up to no good!’
She gave a soft laugh. ‘How suspicious you are, Darrington. After Mrs Forrester’s kindness to me in London I wanted to be of use to her. From our conversation I thought the family might be in some trouble, so I came north to see if I could help.’ Her smile widened. ‘After all, ma’am, you advised me to use Darrington’s money wisely.’
‘But how did you find the Priory?’ asked Beth.
‘You said your family lived close to Fentonby, and by good fortune Miss Sophie was in the town on the very day I arrived!’
She bent her honeyed smile towards Sophie and Guy wanted to place himself between Clarice and the other women, as if by doing so he could protect them.
‘Then thank you for your help, but we will not take up more of your time,’ said Beth. ‘Kepwith will see you out.’
There was an uneasy silence.
‘I invited Mrs Cordonnier to stay,’ muttered Sophie. She flinched as Guy smothered an oath and gazed anxiously at her sister. ‘She s-said she had met you in London, that she was a close friend of Lord D-Darrington…’
‘Perhaps I stretched the truth a little,’ murmured Clarice, still smiling. ‘But with the family in such disarray I thought I might be able to help…’
Beth drew herself up. ‘Thank you, but I think you should leave us now, madam.’ Her tone was quiet but firm. She nodded towards the butler, who had come silently into the room. ‘Kepwith, you will send a note to the stables, if you please. Mrs Cordonnier’s horse is to be brought to the door immediately.’
‘I quite understand that you will want to be alone with your family,’ purred Clarice. ‘But surely you would not send me off so late at night…’
Her wide-eyed, helpless look had no effect on Guy, who said merely, ‘There is a good moon, you will not lose your way.’
In no way discomposed, Clarice merely gave a soft laugh.
‘I did not think there would be any harm,’ said Sophie, turning a beseeching look upon her sister. ‘She seemed to know so much about you and Lord Darrington and she was so easy to talk to.’ She paused, then said miserably, ‘I was very lonely here, you see, so much anxiety…’
Lady Arabella looked up from sipping her tisane. ‘It was very wrong of you to leave Sophie here alone, Elizabeth,’ she said severely. ‘The poor child has not been herself.’
Beth patted her shoulder. ‘I shall not go away again, Grandmama, I promise.’
‘And why is Darrington with you? I thought you had gone to stay with Maria Crowther in Ripon.’
‘Hush, Grandmama,’ murmured Sophie. ‘I told you there was a change of plans and Beth went to London instead.’
‘I am quite désolée to be leaving you, Miss Sophie, but I can see that you have no need of me, now you have your sister and Lord Darrington to support you.’ Clarice moved across to the settle to pick up her gloves and riding crop. ‘Pray send me word to let me know what happens about your poor brother. Goodbye, Lady Arabella.’
Sophie’s murmured reply was incoherent. Lady Arabella looked up, the tea cup rattling in its saucer. Beth moved swiftly to take it from her as the old lady became agitated.
‘Where is she going? It is very late to be travelling.’ The faded eyes fixed themselves upon Guy. ‘Darrington—is that you? You should escort the lady, my lord.’
‘She will do very well without my company, ma’am.’
‘It appears I will have to do so, at all events,’ remarked Clarice. ‘No, no, Miss Sophie, pray do not apologise. I am not at all offended, I assure you. Your butler is here to tell me my horse is waiting. Pray, do not trouble yourselves to see me out.’ With that she treated them all to another dazzling smile and sailed out of the house.
‘She comes to Malpass and within days Simon is arrested.’ Guy frowned. ‘I’ll wager there is a connection.’
‘If only we had been here sooner,’ muttered Beth. ‘Sophie, how is it you are on such friendly terms with Mrs Cordonnier after such a short time?’
It was Guy who responded, giving a bitter laugh.
‘Do not blame your sister too much, ma’am, the woman is adept at worming her way into people’s affections!’
‘She was so very kind,’ agreed Sophie, ‘and Miles did not think there would be any harm in it—’
‘Miles knows her?’ exclaimed Beth.
‘I introduced them,’ Sophie admitted. ‘Miles rode over to the Priory when Clar—Mrs Cordonnier was taking tea with me. He escorted her back to Fentonby.’ She sighed. ‘I was relieved to see him go. You know how he hovers around here. I was always worried he would discover Simon.’
‘Well, certainly someone did!’ retorted Guy.
‘I do not think it can have been Miles,’ Sophie replied. ‘He has not been here since that day and he sent me word yesterday morning that he was off on one of his buying trips, this time to Scotland, and will not be back until the end of the week.’
Guy frowned at Sophie. ‘Are you quite sure you did not say anything to Mrs Cordonnier about Simon?’
‘Not directly.’ She looked nervous. ‘We talked of so many things… We got on so well, you see…of course I mentioned Simon, but I never told her he was alive, or anything about his being a fugitive! But she did find me coming out of the cellars, once. I told her I had been looking for an old travelling trunk and I think she believed me.’
Beth put up her hand. ‘Never mind that now, tell me about Simon. When was he taken?’
‘The soldiers came late this afternoon. They had orders to search the house—they said they had information that Simon might be here.’
‘It is plain that someone has laid information against your brother,’ Guy stated. ‘If it wasn’t Radworth, then my money is on Clarice Cordonnier.’
‘No, no!’ cried Sophie, distressed. ‘She was as shocked as we were when the soldiers came hammering on the door. She was the one who insisted upon seeing their authority, and she looked after Grandmama while I tried to stop them—’
‘They did n
ot hurt you?’ cried Beth, alarmed.
Sophie shook her head. ‘Not at all, but they insisted upon searching every room, even the wine cellar. They found the door through to the undercroft, but Simon heard them. He is so much better now that he had taken to dressing himself and walking around the undercroft to exercise himself. He…he tried to escape through the door on to the drive.’ She began to cry again. ‘There were more soldiers waiting there for him.’
‘Where did they take him?’ asked Guy.
‘To the lock-up in Thirsk.’
‘Then he will be under Sir John Marton’s jurisdiction,’ said Beth, brightening. ‘If only we had known, we could have called in there on our way home!’ She hugged her sister. ‘Dry your eyes, Sophie, we will have Simon back with us before morning.’
‘But…but how? Why?’ A sudden look of hope filled Sophie’s face. ‘You found the de Beaunes?’
‘Yes! We have a deposition from Madame de Beaune, confirming Simon is innocent.’ Beth scrambled to her feet. ‘We will take it to Sir John tonight. I cannot bear the thought of poor Simon being locked up for any longer than necessary…’
Her words trailed away. She was hunting in her reticule, her search becoming increasingly more frantic. A cold hand clutched at Guy’s heart when she turned to look at him, her face deathly pale.
‘I…I don’t understand. It’s gone.’
‘Clarice!’
Guy dashed across the room, almost colliding with Kepwith, who was coming back into the great hall. Guy pushed past him and wrenched open the front door. He flew down the steps and stopped, staring at the now empty drive. He did not turn when he heard hasty footsteps approaching, nor when Beth’s hand clutched at his arm.
‘She has stolen the letter?’
‘I fear so.’
‘But…why? She cannot know what was in it.’
His hand came up to cover her fingers. ‘She saw an opportunity to make mischief.’
‘Can we go after her?’ Beth said urgently. ‘Can we catch her?’
‘With a couple of fast horses, perhaps…’
‘Then let us try!’ She pulled away from him and he followed her back into the house, listening as she gave her orders. When she turned back to him there was a fiery glow in her eyes. ‘Give me a moment to change into my riding habit while the horses are saddled.’
‘Beth, are you sure you want to do this? We have been travelling for days.’
Her head went up at that. ‘Simon is my brother. Who else should do it?’
‘Let me go alone—’
‘No. We do this together, Guy.’
Fifteen minutes later they were galloping away from the Priory. A blustery wind had blown up and clouds scudded across the sky, occasionally covering the moon and plunging the road into darkness, but neither Beth nor Guy curbed their headlong flight. Beth’s nerves were taut as a wire, knowing that every moment was precious. It was doubtful that Clarice would ride back to Fentonby at quite such breakneck speed, for she was on a hired horse and an unfamiliar road. Beth had the advantage of knowing every curve and dip of the highway. If they could only catch Clarice before she had time to hide the deposition.
When the road disappeared into a small wood Beth slowed the pace.
‘It would not be sensible to gallop through total darkness,’ she told Guy as he drew rein beside her. ‘Also, my horse is blown—this will give her a chance to recover.’ She paused. ‘Clarice might think this a way to be revenged upon you. Would she…will she destroy the deposition, do you think?’
‘I doubt it.’
‘But that would be the most terrible vengeance I could conceive, to take away Simon’s chance of freedom.’
‘But Clarice is nothing like you, my dear. I have no doubt her revenge will follow a more…mercenary line.’
‘You think she will sell the deposition back to me?’
‘At an extortionate price, yes. It would go against the grain to pay.’
‘But what choice do we have?’ Beth sighed. ‘Madame de Beaune was going off to America with her brother—it could take months to find her again!’
‘Beth—’
‘No, my mind is made up. I must retrieve the letter—I cannot bear to think of Simon being locked up for even a day!’
They were emerging from the wood and the path shone before them like a silver ribbon in the moonlight.
‘Very well, then.’ Guy’s horse leapt ahead. ‘Let us be on our way!’
Fentonby was silent, the houses in darkness as they rode into the high street. They made for the Swan, where Sophie had told them Clarice had taken rooms. It was very late and there was no one to be seen through the taproom window, but the door stood open and lamps still flared outside the inn. A sleepy ostler ran forwards to take their horses and Guy ushered Beth inside, where they found a waiter clearing the tables. He shook his head when Guy enquired after Mrs Cordonnier.
‘Went out earlier today, she did, and ain’t come back yet.’
‘Did she speak of having friends in the area?’ asked Guy. He slipped a coin into the man’s hand. ‘Has she had any visitors while she has been staying here?’
The man looked at the coin winking in his hand, then slowly shook his head.
‘No, sir. Kept very much to ’erself, she did.’
‘Could we have missed her?’ Beth looked up anxiously at Guy as the servant turned away and continued collecting up the dishes. ‘There is only the one road from the Priory. We were travelling fast, perhaps she took a fall…’
‘Unlikely,’ said Guy slowly. ‘She was always an excellent horsewoman. I think it more likely that she is in hiding. She would know that I would come after her.’
‘Then what should we do now?’
‘There is nothing we can do but go home and wait.’
‘We could call upon Sir John and explain—’
‘Without proof he will not be in a position to release your brother. And before you say we should attempt it, unless the man is a saint he will not take kindly to being woken up at this time of night.’
Beth opened her mouth to argue, but one look at Guy’s face told her it would be useless. She sighed, suddenly exhausted. Without another word she allowed Guy to escort her back to the horses and soon they were riding back to Malpass.
They accomplished the return journey at a much slower pace and Beth rode silently beside the earl, doing her best to hide her frustration, but after a while Guy said quietly, ‘My dear, I am so sorry you had to meet that woman.’
‘It is not your fault, Guy.’
‘I should never have allowed her into the house!’
‘I believed it was your Christian duty to do so.’
‘Duty be damned—’
She shook her head, smiling a little at his vehemence. ‘It is as much my fault as yours. I thought you were too harsh.’
‘Your own goodness makes it difficult for you to see the evil in others.’
‘My goodness!’ Beth gave a long sigh. ‘I sometimes think I brought this on myself, that I am being punished for breaking my betrothal vows…’
‘That is nonsense and you know it!’
‘I know I am being foolish, but I cannot help wondering—’ She broke off, giving her head a little shake. ‘I beg your pardon. I think I must be tired.’
‘It has been a trying day.’ Guy reached across for her hand. ‘Come, Beth, do not look so downhearted. We will go back to the Priory and wait to hear from Clarice. All is not yet lost.’
Sophie was waiting up for them when they returned to Malpass. She was disappointed that they had not recovered Madame de Beaune’s deposition, but was content to accept the argument that Clarice would want to sell it back to them. What was harder for her to accept was Beth’s garbled explanation of why she was travelling with the earl.
‘Mrs Cordonnier told me she had seen you together in London,’ said Sophie, leading them into the small parlour. ‘It made it very difficult when Miles turned up here, I can tell you! I was obliged to t
ell her that you were on secret business and to ask her not to mention anything about it to Miles.’
‘You may be sure that will have aroused Clarice’s interest,’ muttered Guy, frowning.
‘If I had known she was such a wicked woman, I would not have invited her to the house!’ retorted Sophie, colours flying in her cheeks.
‘Of course you were not to know,’ said Beth quickly. She glanced at Guy. ‘She has taken us all in at some time. But it is very late and we will need our wits about us tomorrow.’
‘Of course,’ said Sophie. ‘The red room was prepared for Mrs Cordonnier, so you may use that, my lord. I told the servants to go on to bed—do you want me to show you the way?’
‘I will do that,’ said Beth quickly. She kissed her sister’s cheek. ‘Goodnight, my dear.’
She watched her sister close the door behind her, then turned to look at the earl. He was watching her, a faint smile glinting in his eyes.
‘Well, madam, will you share my bed tonight?’
‘Will you be angry if I said no? Now we are back at Malpass I feel the weight of my betrothal very strongly.’
‘I thought as much.’
He held out his arms to her and she walked into them, drawing comfort and strength from him as he held her close.
‘Forgive me,’ she said, her words muffled against his chest. ‘Once I have seen Miles…’
‘You do not need to explain it to me,’ he murmured, kissing her hair. ‘Come—walk me to my room and I will content myself with a chaste goodnight kiss!’
Chapter Nineteen
Beth spent a miserable night, her mind racing between anxiety for Simon, apprehension at seeing Miles again and bitter regret that she had ever let Madame de Beaune’s deposition out of her hands. She was relieved when at last the chill autumn day dawned and she could dress herself and go downstairs. An hour spent with her housekeeper discussing menus and household matters did much to calm her mind, but it was the sight of Guy at the breakfast table that gave her the most comfort. He rose as she entered the room and smiled at her, looking so devastatingly handsome and strong that it was easy to believe everything would be well, if he was there to help her.
The Dangerous Lord Darrington Page 21