Secret Heiress (21 page)

‘You were angry and tired,' Eliza said. ‘I know one of the doors was unlocked for a while last night, and that was my fault. I went out for a walk. Forgive me, this is
my fault. I should have taken the key with me, but I did not intend to stay long.'

‘Eliza…' Lady Sarah began, but was interrupted by Maisie, who came in looking scared. ‘Lord Manners is here, ma'am. He says he has come to fetch the rubies to save you sending them to him.'

‘My son…' A look of fright entered Lady Sarah's eyes. ‘He will be so angry when he discovers they are lost. You had better ask him to come up, Maisie. I shall receive him in my boudoir.' As the maid left, she reached for Eliza's hand. ‘Do not leave me, dearest. And please, do not say anything about leaving the door undone.'

Eliza followed her into the adjoining room, which was a pretty place with a décor of pink and cream and smelled of perfume and powder. Lady Sarah's possessions made it comfortable and she liked to sit there sometimes of a morning and listen as Eliza read to her from their favourite books.

Lady Sarah was clearly nervous. She pleated the delicate lace of her peignoir and jumped as the door was thrust open without so much as a word. Lord Manners strode into the room, his face like thunder.

‘I have come for the rubies, Mama. I was disturbed that you did not give them into my safe keeping last evening. Lady Manners was distressed because you left early without waiting to take your leave of me.'

‘I am sorry if I distressed your wife,' Lady Sarah said. ‘I was feeling a little tired and forgot I was wearing the rubies. I wish I had given them to you last night, Howard. Forgive me, I seem to have misplaced them…'

‘Misplaced an heirloom of that value? How could you?' His gaze narrowed and flicked towards Eliza. ‘Do you know anything of this, Miss Bancroft?'

‘No, sir. Lady Sarah has just this minute told me that she cannot find them.'

‘I locked them in my jewel case,' Lady Sarah said and her hands fluttered nervously. ‘I am almost certain I did, Howard. The key was placed in my reticule, as always. This morning when I looked for them they were not there.'

‘Then you must have placed them somewhere else.' He looked at Eliza. ‘Do you recall seeing where the rubies were put last night, Miss Bancroft?'

‘No, sir. I was not here when Lady Sarah took them off, but I am certain she placed them in her locked case for safety.'

‘Then what has happened to them?'

‘Some thief must have come in the night and taken them,' his mother said nervously. ‘There is no other explanation, Howard.'

‘Indeed?' His eyes narrowed, a speculative gleam in their depths as he stared intently at Eliza. ‘When you employ a young woman you do not know without references, what do you expect? I dare say they will be hidden in her room somewhere—unless she has already passed them to an accomplice…'

‘Howard! You will take that back at once,' Lady Sarah cried, too angry to be nervous now. ‘I did not ask you for the rubies. Eliza has no interest in such things. You are insulting to suggest such a thing about…my daughter.'

‘I suppose you believe her lies?' he sneered. ‘Who told you she was your lovechild? Was it her lover? Those rubies are worth a small fortune, Mother. A woman like that is capable of any villainy.'

‘Eliza loves me and I love her. I shall not allow you to malign her that way.'

‘Have you searched her room? No, I thought not. Well, I shall remedy the neglect…'

He strode from the room. Lady Sarah gave a cry of distress and followed him, Eliza one step behind.

‘I am so sorry, dearest,' she said and looked close to tears. ‘This is abominable.'

‘We shall soon discover the truth of this, madam.'

Eliza could only watch as he proceeded to throw her things about as he searched her room, opening drawers and poking amongst her clothes and her reticules. Then he delved under the bed and pulled something out. It was one of Eliza's reticules, but an old one that she seldom used. She stared in horror as he released the strings and tipped something into his hand. The rubies flashed, blood red and accusing in his hand.

‘So, Miss Bancroft, perhaps you can explain this?'

‘Eliza…' Lady Sarah stared at her in distress. ‘Surely…? I cannot believe it. You would not…'

‘No, I would not,' Eliza said, lifting her head proudly. ‘I did not put the rubies there and I have no idea how they came to be there. I swear on everything I hold dear that I had no knowledge of them until Lord Manners found them.'

‘She is a liar and a thief and I shall know how to deal with her,' he said, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. ‘You have been utterly deceived, Mother. This woman is not your lovechild. She is an impostor and a thief, sent here by her accomplice to rob or cheat you of all she can.'

Eliza's heart sank, because she could see the hint of a doubt in her mother's eyes. Lady Sarah did not wish to believe him, but she had only Daniel's word that Eliza was her daughter.

‘I do not believe you,' she said, looking pale. ‘Eliza
would not…she could not be what you name her. She loves me…'

‘Yes, ma'am, I do love you,' Eliza said. ‘I know your son thinks ill of me, but I did not take the rubies—and I have told you only what I believe to be true.'

‘I cannot bear…' Lady Sarah said and swooned. Her son caught her and eased her into a chair. ‘Please, call my doctor. I feel most unwell.'

Lord Manners went to the door and shouted for help. He had tucked the rubies into his pocket, and when the servants appeared said nothing of the theft. He directed two of the footmen to help Lady Sarah to her room and Maisie followed, looking anxious and scared, while another servant was sent scurrying to fetch the doctor from the village.

Eliza did not attempt to follow. When the others had gone, she looked at Lord Manners.

‘We both know I did not take those, sir. I think you know that I was not in my room last night and I believe it was you—or one of your servants—who placed the rubies here beneath my bed.'

A smile of malice touched his lips. ‘You will leave this house at once, Miss Bancroft. Do not stay to pack more than a small bag. Anything more may be sent on another time. Go now or you will find yourself locked in a cell by the end of the morning.'

‘How can I leave when our mother is so ill?'

‘She is not your mother. Any hopes you had of her are gone.' He walked to the door and looked back. ‘I am warning you, Miss Bancroft. You will leave now or you will suffer an unfortunate future. I do not imagine you would care for the life in prison. I hear that few survive more than a year or two and a young woman of your fastidious nature would find it hard to bear.'

Eliza closed her eyes as he walked from the room. She walked along the corridor, but at the door of her mother's room, Maisie barred her way.

‘I am sorry, miss. His lordship said as you weren't to see her. She is too upset, miss.'

‘I have done nothing of which I am ashamed,' Eliza said, her throat tight as she saw suspicion in the maid's eyes. ‘You will take care of her? I love her so much.'

‘She will be safe with me, miss—but you should be ashamed. The kindness she showed you. How could you do such a thing?'

‘I did not steal those jewels. Had I done so, I should not have left them where they could be so easily found.'

Eliza turned and walked back to her room. Lord Manners had not even thought of searching anyone else's room, because he knew they would be in hers. He had made a show of searching for them to convince his mother, and it seemed he had succeeded.

Holding back the tears, Eliza packed the things she could carry with her. She placed the aquamarine pendant on the dressing chest. She had taken nothing she had been given, other than her wages, of which only about half was left.

She must leave at once, even though she was innocent of any crime. Her word would not be believed against that of Lord Manners. Even Maisie thought her guilty. The worst hurt was that her mother would think she was guilty; she would believe that Eliza had left of her own accord, but she would write to her and pray that she received the letter and would be prepared to accept Eliza's innocence.

She must meet Daniel in the woods and tell him what had happened. He would surely believe her? Her
disgrace meant that she would not be a fit wife for him, but perhaps they could live together for a while? She would be happy enough to be his mistress, since she could no longer expect him to marry her.

D
aniel waited for three-quarters of an hour in the woods. He glanced at his watch several times, frowning over Eliza's lateness. Surely he had not mistaken the place for their meeting? Did she think that he would come to the house so that they could tell her mother together? He decided that he would walk up to the house. There must be a reason why Eliza had not come, as she promised. After the previous night he had no doubts concerning her feelings for him. She could not possibly have changed her mind.

Catching sight of a piece of pale blue material caught on a bramble, Daniel frowned and bent to pluck it from the thorns. There was some damage to the grass and bushes, as if several feet had trampled them. A cold trickle of fear slithered down his spine. Had something happened to Eliza? No, it was not possible. Who would wish her harm? For a moment a picture of Cheadle flashed into his mind, but he dismissed it. The marquis
had made his peace with Eliza, accepting that she was his daughter. He would not do something underhand.

Then who might have arranged an accident or an abduction? Was he making a mountain from a molehill?

Daniel hurried on towards the house, his heart thumping. The scrap of material might not have come from Eliza's gown—and yet he was sure she had one something very like it.

The door was opened to him by a subdued-looking maid, who seemed not to know her business, for she stared as if she did not know what to say.

‘May I speak to Miss Eliza Bancroft, please?'

‘She's gone, sir. Left in disgrace more than an hour ago.'

‘Eliza left an hour ago? Are you sure, miss?'

‘Yes, sir. I saw her leave. She left an address in Norfolk for her things to be sent on.'

‘Why was she in disgrace? I do not understand?'

There was some mystery here for Lady Sarah had been so very fond of her companion, even before she knew the truth.

‘I'm not sure as I should say, sir. There has been an uproar and Mrs Bristow would turn me off if I breathed a word—but it might be because of them rubies that went missing…' The girl gasped and looked over her shoulder in fear. ‘I didn't tell you that, sir.'

‘I think I should see Lady Sarah, if you will please ask her to receive me.'

‘I'll ask Maisie, sir. If you will step into the parlour.'

‘Thank you.'

Daniel paced about the small but exquisitely furnished parlour. What could have happened since the previous
evening? Eliza had been so happy when she left him, content to leave the future in his hands. He was staring out of the window when he heard steps behind him and turned to find himself looking at another maid.

‘My mistress asks if you will step up to her boudoir, sir. She is not feeling well enough to come down—but she does wish to speak with you.'

‘Thank you, I shall,' Daniel said and followed her up the stairs and along the hall. She knocked at a door, opened it and intimated that he should enter. ‘Thank you…' He inclined his head and went inside.

Lady Sarah was lying on a
chaise-longue
with her feet up. She had a lace kerchief in her hand, smelling salts and lavender water to hand.

‘Forgive me if I do not get up, sir. I understand you enquired for Eliza?'

‘Yes, ma'am. We had arranged to meet this morning at ten o'clock and then we were to come to see you. I waited almost an hour and then I wondered if I was supposed to come here instead.'

‘Eliza did not meet you? I had hoped she might. She had spoken of you recently. You are hoping that I know where she is, but unfortunately I have no idea. My son must have sent her away. I know she took only a small bag and left a message that her things are to be sent to Norfolk.' Lady Sarah gave a cry of distress. ‘The foolish child. She ought to have waited and spoken to me. Whatever my son said to her could have been sorted. I fear she thinks that I believe she took those wretched rubies.'

‘I am not sure—there is a question of some missing rubies?'

‘The wretched things were found in her room, hidden under the bed. Of course someone else put them there.

Eliza would not have stolen from me—would she?' There was a look of unconscious appeal in her eyes, as though she needed reassurance.

‘Eliza loves you dearly. When I asked her to be my wife, her first thought was of you. She was angry with me for telling you that she was your daughter. Cheadle had confirmed it, but still she would not tell you because she feared that it might upset you. All that concerned her was that you should not lose your home.'

‘I would live anywhere if I could see my dearest child often,' Lady Sarah told him, tears standing in her eyes. ‘Where has she gone to, sir? Will she have returned to Norfolk? Why did she not meet you if you had arranged it?'

Daniel reached into his pocket and took out the scrap of cloth, handing it to her. ‘Do you think this might have come from one of Eliza's gowns, ma'am? I found it on a bramble bush not far from the house.'

Lady Sarah gave a cry of fear. ‘This is from one of her favourite gowns. We chose it together. Something must have happened to her! Oh, this is all my fault. I was overcome and shocked, and I allowed her to think that I believed she had taken those ridiculous rubies. I am sure my son planned the whole thing. He knew where I kept my key and he could quite easily have entered my room and taken them. Nothing else was missing. Eliza did not even like jewels of this kind—why would she take them?'

‘She would not,' Daniel said stoutly. ‘Do not even consider it, ma'am. If the rubies were there, someone put them there.'

‘Yes, I think you are right. What can we do, Lord Seaton? How can we discover where she has gone?'

‘I shall go down to—' Daniel broke off as the maid returned, looking distinctly odd.

‘Yes, Maisie, what do you want? I am talking privately with Lord Seaton about my dearest Eliza's disappearance.'

‘It is the Marquis of Cheadle, ma'am. He said he had come to see Miss Eliza Bancroft, but when I told him she had gone he asked to see you.'

‘Let him come up,' Lady Sarah said. ‘Please do not leave, Lord Seaton. Three heads are better than one and he may know something of Eliza.'

‘Yes, perhaps,' Daniel said. He walked over to the window and was staring out of it when the marquis entered. Waiting a moment until the greetings were over, he turned to see the marquis still holding Lady Sarah's hand and a fond look in his eyes. ‘Cheadle. We have a mystery here. Eliza was falsely accused of stealing a valuable heirloom and has since disappeared. Lady Sarah was told that Eliza planned to return to Norfolk where she has friends, but I am not convinced that that is where she is headed. I found a scrap of cloth in the woods near here and I fear that something may have happened to her. You know nothing of this?'

‘I had no hand in her disappearance,' the marquis assured him. ‘I came to return this to her.' He handed a ring to Lady Sarah. ‘Eliza showed it to me when she began to suspect the truth. I took it from her, for at the start I thought her an impostor, but I soon discovered the truth. She is our daughter, Sarah. I intended to give the ring to her and tell her that I have set up an account for her with my bank in Bath. She will have an independence in the future—and there is no need for you to leave her part of your fortune. Your family need never know the truth and you will not lose your home.'

‘My son already knows, which is why he set up this false theft and made sure that Eliza took the blame. I did not see it instantly for I was upset, but I know that my daughter would never hurt me. What Howard said to her I do not know, but I intend to find out.'

‘You will allow me to speak to him for you,' Cheadle said. He took her hand and kissed it. ‘If he is so unkind as to turn you from your home, I shall purchase a house in the country for you and Eliza—you shall not suffer one day more of his unkindness, my love. Lady Cheadle and I have parted on terms agreeable to her now that Marianne's future is assured. She will not divorce me, but agrees to a separation and will live in London. I intend to travel in France and Italy and perhaps settle somewhere of the sort—but we shall speak more of this when Eliza is safe.' He turned to Daniel. ‘Will you go down to Norfolk, sir? See if you can discover the whereabouts of my daughter and keep us informed. I want Eliza found—and if I discover that Manners has harmed her he will come to regret the day.'

‘You will need to be there before me,' Daniel said, his mouth hard. ‘I love Eliza and she has promised to marry me. I have explained that I shall have little to offer, but she is happy to follow the drum as a soldier's wife.'

‘Be damned to that,' Cheadle said. ‘I have been trying to tell you that I wish to return the money your father lost to me at the tables, for I think I was in the wrong. I should like to make amends for any harm I have caused—especially if you are to marry my daughter.'

‘It is a debt of honour,' Daniel said stiffly. ‘Perhaps something for Eliza.'

‘Stiff-necked young fool,' Cheadle said. ‘ We shall talk again. Now get off and see if you can find my
daughter—and then bring her here to us. I shall be staying here until Sarah's future is decided. If Manners does not care for it, he may do the other thing.'

Daniel could not stop the laugh that escaped him. ‘I think I should not like to be in Howard Manners's shoes when you pay him that visit,' he said. ‘Lady Sarah, you will excuse me. I shall go immediately to Norfolk and discover if Eliza is there. Cheadle, you will discover if you can if Lord Manners was behind her disappearance?'

‘Naturally,' the marquis said. ‘I do not think he will deny me. I happen to hold enough of his notes to make him think twice. I have taken the precaution of purchasing them from his creditors in the event that they might come in useful. One word from me, and the lawyers will move in.' He shook his head at Lady Sarah. ‘Do not fret, my dear one. Your son needs a fright, but if he is obliging he will come to no harm.'

Daniel inclined his head, feeling almost amused. He might have found the situation funny had he been sure that Eliza was safe. She would not simply have gone off on her own, would she?

 

Eliza was aware of the jolting of the carriage. Her head was aching and she could not focus when she first opened her eyes. Some moments passed before she realised that her hands had been bound. Gradually, she began to piece the sequence of events together. She had been accused of theft, told that if she did not leave immediately she would find herself imprisoned, and then she had packed a small bag and set out for her meeting with Daniel.

Suddenly, three rogues had pounced on her from behind the trees. She had struggled and cried out but
they had placed something over her face and she had fainted. Perhaps they had given her some evil drug, for she had known nothing for hours. It was night now and so far as she knew no one had even come to see if she was still alive.

Eliza's thoughts were clear even though her head still ached and felt fuzzy. She had been abducted. Why? Was it because someone mistakenly thought her an heiress? She was sure she had been followed in Bath, but had thought herself safe in the country. Was Lord Manners her abductor? He had threatened her with dire consequences if she ignored him, but she had been leaving. His ruse had succeeded—Lady Sarah believed that Eliza had stolen the rubies. She might even believe the rest of his accusations.

Tears stung Eliza's eyes. She struggled to control them. Now was not the time to give way to grief. She had to think about what was happening to her. What did her abductors plan to do with her? Was she to be murdered, her body left in some lonely spot until it decayed and she was for ever lost, just a tainted memory in the minds of those who had known her?

It would seem as if she had run away, as if she were guilty. If Lord Manners had planned this, he had been fiendishly clever. The only flaw in his plan was her meeting with Daniel. He would wait and then…surely he would go to the house looking for her.

Daniel would not believe that she was a thief. She felt confident that he would try to find her—but would she still be alive?

Eliza had no idea how long they had been travelling or in which direction she was being taken. However, she was certain of one thing. When her chance came, she must escape. She could rely on no one else to save her
from these rogues—she must make a bid for freedom herself as soon as the occasion arose.

‘Daniel,' she whispered as she began to move her hands, trying to ease the ropes that bound her. They had cut into her flesh and were painful, but she focused her mind on the night she had spent with her lover and did not notice the cramping in her legs and arms. ‘Daniel, I love you so much.'

If she could only get away from her abductors, she would somehow find her way to the man she loved. Even if he no longer felt able to marry her, he would help her.

 

‘Oh, no, sir,' Betty said when she had invited the gentleman to step into her kitchen because of it being such a cold wet day. ‘Miss Bancroft is with Lady Sarah Manners. She went to Bath to be her companion some weeks back. My Ted took her himself.'

‘Miss Bancroft left Lady Sarah's house over two days ago,' Daniel replied. ‘There was a misunderstanding and Lady Sarah is most upset. She wishes Eliza to return.'

‘And who would you be, sir?' Betty looked at him a mite suspiciously.

‘I am Lord Seaton, the Earl of Standish's nephew,' Daniel said. ‘I came to enquire for her—because we think something may have happened to her.'

‘Lawks-a-muss!' Betty cried, turning pale. ‘You never mean it, sir—something happened to my Eliza? She isn't the sort of girl to get into trouble. She's always been an angel, looking after her mama all that time with never a murmur of complaint. Who would want to hurt my lamb, sir? That is what I should like to know.'

‘So should I, Mrs Wright,' Daniel assured her. ‘If I
find the man who abducted her, he will regret it. I give you my word.'