The Reluctant Earl (21 page)

“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 knowledge 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

T
he 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.”

The orderly rolled her eyes but obligingly left to retrieve the requested items.

“Quickly! Men are on the floor above, the women here. But the matron has a fondness for laudanum to keep the patients compliant, so your sister may be unconscious.”

“I think I should prefer that to finding Caro constrained.” A shudder vibrated along his shoulders. “A pity the matron wouldn’t answer your question.”

“She probably believes she is protecting a wealthy family that wants to keep their shame a secret.” Leah tapped on the door across the hallway. “Lady Caroline?”

An unearthly keening responded, the eerie wail wafting from below the door.

Leah backed away and shifted to the next door while Chambelston did likewise to the rooms on his side of the building. She had reached the fourth chamber when a soft whimper answered her inquiry.

“Lady Caroline?” Leah repeated.

“M-Miss Vance?”

“I found her!” Leah motioned to Chambelston.

He joined her in a couple long quick strides, then knelt and whispered through the crack beneath the door. “Caro?”

“Jules!” The knob rattled as she tried to open the door. “I can’t...”

“We’ll get you out.”

The tap of Alice’s feet against the steps signaled the end of their parley. The orderly’s head rose over the top step, her arms encumbered by a tin basin. Her lips drooped into a frown as her gaze traveled from Phoebe’s room to the two people gathered in front of another door. “Miss Vance?”

“Come here, Alice.” Chambelston’s harsh tones echoed off the bare walls. “Open this door.”

“This one?” Alice’s eyes flickered toward the steps. “But Miss Vance’s sister is over there.”

“But my sister is here. Unlock the door.” He folded his arms over his chest.

Alice’s throat bobbed as her gaze focused on the stretch of fabric over his muscled arms.

“Y-yes, sir.” The orderly’s fingers trembled as she deposited the bowl on a table and fitted the key into the lock. “M-miss won’t like this.”

“I’ll take responsibility for her displeasure—once I have my sister freed from this prison.”

Alice pushed open the door, then Lady Caroline barreled over the threshold and into her brother’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek against her limp hair while whispering soothing words of comfort in her ear.

The ice around Leah’s heart cracked and warmth—and realization—flooded in. She’d unfairly assigned another man’s faults to Chambelston and assumed he would scorn her because of Phoebe. And yet, he expressed no shame or resentment at being burdened with the likes of Lady Caroline. Only love.

And rage at finding his poor sister in such straits. He drew back a step, tension radiating from the tightly held anger and anguish that darkened his eyes to midnight. “Caro, how did you get here? Who brought you?”

“Lady with gold.”

“Lady? Alice, do you know this woman’s identity?”

Alice shook her head, causing the tarnished trim of her cap to flutter. “N-no, sir. Only that sh-she paid with a piece of gold jewelry. I saw her give it to the matron when she arrived.”

Chambelston met Leah’s glance over his sister’s head. “A woman who paid gold to keep Caro hidden away. A week ago I would have suspected Elizabeth.”

“Lady Sotherton seemed genuinely distressed by what happened. Lady Caroline,” Leah spoke as gently as possible. “Where was the lady’s gold?”

Caroline touched a hand to the bosom of her wrinkled gown. “Here.”

“A gold brooch. We need to see this bauble.” Chambelston guided his sister toward the stairs.

The four of them stomped down the steps, the sound of their heels echoing through the cold, empty space. A few plaster friezes yet adorned the ceilings, but the whitewashed walls had long since been scrubbed of any ornamentation.

“Miss Vance, returning so soon...” The matron’s voice trailed off as her gaze locked on Lady Caroline. She rounded on Alice. “What have you done?”

“My bidding.” Chambelston moved in front of his sister to shield her from the looming confrontation.

“I will not allow you to abduct a patient in my care!”

“I’m not abducting her—I’m taking her home. I am the Earl of Chambelston.”

* * *

Julian paused as realization sank in. For the first time since his father’s death, he had claimed the Chambelston title and not recoiled. “Let me explain. I am Lady Sotherton’s brother. And this is our youngest sister, Lady Caroline DeChambelle, who disappeared from Rowan Abbey two days ago.”

“Lady Sotherton’s sister! She never said... That is, I didn’t know...” The resolve leached from the matron’s face—along with a great quantity of blood, leaving her mouth but a faded gray line against her ashen cheeks.

“I thought you might understand once I explained the mistake. I would be so grateful if you would identify the woman who confined my sister here.”

“She gave her name as Mrs. Keen.”

“Mrs. Keen?” Leah shook her head. “There is no one at Rowan Abbey with that name.”

“Undoubtedly our nemesis sought to disguise her identity.” Julian focused his stare on the matron again. “We understand this woman financed my sister’s interment with a gold brooch. We should like to see it.”

“Wait here.” The matron ground out the words without even moving her jaw. Her feet tapped a tattoo as she left, then returned seconds later with her fist clenched around a dangling gold chain and a swath of dark fabric draped over her arm. She shoved the jewelry into his hand. “Here.”

His stomach clenched as he gazed at a familiar gold locket nestled in his palm. Not a brooch but a necklace. “Miss Vance, do you recognize this?”

“Yes, that belongs to the dowager’s companion, Miss Godwin.”

Julian stared at the object in his hand as his mind tried to draw Miss Godwin’s features. Middle years, dark hair...her features once more retreated to the depths of his mind as the locket’s details sharpened under his focus. The locket.

“Julian?” Leah’s voice intruded on his recollections “If this is Miss Godwin’s locket, then—”

He stopped Leah’s comment with a squeeze to her wrist and glanced once more at the matron. “Thank you for all your assistance. Please fetch Lady Caroline’s cloak.”

“I have it here already, sir.” She passed him the length of dark wool.

“Excellent. Thank you.” He took the garment and wrapped it around Caro’s shoulders, his heart brimming with confusion. And...hope? Had Leah even noticed how her intimate use of his given name had slipped out again, seemingly unawares? He led both women to the waiting horses. “Miss Vance, let’s get you mounted first. Then you can hold the bay’s bridle while I get Caro situated.”

Once he had his sister on the horse, he swung up behind and wrapped his arms around her. Riding two abreast on a single saddle was going to be deucedly uncomfortable—and quickly at that. “There. Ready to go, Caro?”

“Scared.”

Of the horse, or of the past two days’ ordeal? He nudged the bay into a walk. “I’ve got you now. I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll return to Elizabeth’s house for today, and then we will leave for Somerset.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Soon.” As soon as he could arrange his future...whatever that might be.

The gatekeeper met them with a key. “You found her, then.”

“It was a misunderstanding.” Julian guided the horse outside the stone fence. Still, he didn’t breathe easily until the gate locked behind him and they had steered their horses westward toward Rowan Abbey. “Miss Vance, I admire your fortitude in breaching these walls every week. To judge by the undisturbed nature of the snow, I gather not many call on the patients here.”

“No, few of them receive regular visitors, no matter how exalted their station or well-heeled their relatives.” Only Leah had demonstrated such uncompromising loyalty.

“Are you certain the locket belongs to Miss Godwin?”

“Oh, yes. I’ve seen her wear it.”

“Can you remember the last time you saw it in her possession?”

“Miss Godwin and I never spent much time together, but I noticed her wearing it at that horrible dinner the night your sister demanded my presence.”

“Ah, the day Fleming and Killiane and their wordless friend arrived.”
Before
he had brought Caro to Rowan Abbey.

“You recognized the locket, too, didn’t you?”

“Not from dinner. The day of my return to Rowan Abbey with Caro, you had gone to visit your sister. While I conversed with Sotherton, Caro’s nurse carelessly let her slip away.”

“Ah, when she went to look for you.”

“Yes. When I at last found her, she had the locket.”

“Do you know how she obtained it?”

“She found it in Fleming’s bedchamber.”

Leah started. Her grip jerked the mare’s reins, causing the horse to shy. She struggled to regain control of her mount. “Yes, I remember. You thought perhaps Fleming collected trinkets from his victims. Like my comb.”

“Caro found this locket with other items. I didn’t know who occupied the chamber until Fleming’s death two days later. During our searching of his belongings, I noticed someone had removed the necklace. I presumed for its monetary value. I had intended to pursue that line of inquiry—before we rushed headlong to London to save the Regent.”

“Such a trifling matter.”