The Secret of Castlegate Manor (12 page)

CHAPTER NINE

A slow, spreading horror invaded Caroline as she read the note once again. The warning that the safe return of Lady Aberly depended upon Caroline's own choice made it quite clear that Lady Aberly was not missing of her own volition.

Caroline stood uncertainly, peering into her own pale face which stared back at her from the looking glass. Due to the deception Caroline had waged in coming here, she would feel responsible if Lady Aberly were harmed.

Even though the note was unsigned, she had no doubt that it had originated with Lord Humphrey. His veiled threats and attacks upon property and servants had not served to force her compliance. It did not surprise her to learn that he possessed no compunction about stooping to blackmail.

She clutched the note in her hand as she searched the house for Lavenia. She found her in the downstairs parlor in worried conversation with the Baroness who had come to call on her mother.

Lavenia turned to face her, a worried frown marring her usually cheerful countenance. "I have been telling the Baroness Tarrington that I cannot imagine what has become of Mother. I am nearly beside myself with worry and do not know where to turn."

Caroline composed herself as much as her pounding heart would allow. She pressed the note into the folds of her skirt and wished desperately that the Baroness had not chosen this morning to extend a visit.

"I am sure there is an explanation," Caroline said, attempting to attract Lavenia's attention with the tone of her voice.

Lavenia, however, appeared too upset to understand. She employed the manners her mother had instilled and offered the Baroness a cup of tea.

Fortunately, the grand old lady did not wish to linger and visit with the young women. If Lady Aberly were not at home, she had another matron with whom she wished to pass the morning.

Caroline waited, eager for her departure, as Edwards called a footman to escort her to her carriage. She did not think she could have borne an hour spent with tea and cakes and speculation as to what was keeping Lady Aberly.

As soon as Lavenia had finished her farewells, Caroline pulled her into the drawing room. Her questions froze on her lips as Caroline said, "I have word about your mother. I found this note deposited upon my pillow."

Lavenia read the note with an expression of disbelief. "I do not understand. Surely someone could not come into the house and take Mother from underneath our noses."

"I am afraid that is precisely what has happened."

"But how?" Tears filled Lavenia's eyes.

"That, I do not know. I saw nothing unusual when I went for a ride this morning."

"We must question the servants. Perhaps one of them will have seen something that may help us."

Lavenia instructed Edwards to send in the various staff. At the conclusion of the interviews, they were no closer to solving the mystery of Lady Aberly's disappearance.

Edwards cleared his throat. "If it might be of help, I do know that Lady Aberly received a message this morning. I delivered it to her myself."

Lavenia sat bolt upright. "Why did you not speak of it?"

"I am sorry, Miss. I thought nothing of it at the time. The stable hand, Benson, brought it round."

"What did it say?" Caroline asked.

"I do not know, Miss. Lady Aberly did not make me privy to the contents." He raised his chin as though she had implied that he could forget his place.

"Was there a note for me, also?" Caroline asked.

Edwards looked thoughtful. "Indeed there was. As you were out, I had the upstairs maid place it in your room. I assume you found it without difficulty?"

"I did."

Edwards studied the young ladies and, for a moment, seemed to lose his carefully cultivated imperturbable bearing. "If there is anything amiss, I should be happy to do all I can to be of assistance."

Lavenia nodded. "Thank you. I may as well tell you that Mother has been abducted. If you see anything unusual or hear anything among the servants that may help us, I would be obliged if you would make it known to me."

Edwards' shocked expression left no doubt that he had been unaware of the foul plot. "My word, Miss. This is ghastly. I shall report any news that may be of help."

"Thank you, Edwards." Lavenia seemed, once again, close to tears.

"Perhaps your mother left the note in her room. It may help us to learn what it said," Caroline suggested.

"Of course."

They found the room as Lady Aberly had left it after she had dressed for the morning. The room still smelled of her cologne and a book lay open on her desk as though she had decided on a break from her reading.

A quick glance around revealed a carelessly dropped note sitting on her writing desk. Caroline read over Lavenia's shoulder and learned that it appeared the gardener had requested Lady Aberly's presence in the garden for a decision as to which rose bushes she preferred for more plantings.

"The gardener said he had not seen Mother this morning." Lavenia's tone sounded doubtful.

"I'm sure he did not. Did you not hear that Benson had delivered the note. It is possible that he lured her to the garden under false pretense, then abducted her while no one was aware."

"This is dreadful," Lavenia moaned.

"We must find out if Benson has left his employment at the stable."

They hurried along the path. Caroline had an eagerness to see Geoffrey that transcended their current crisis. Whatever Lord Humphrey's twisted plans to force her into marriage, she knew that Geoffrey cared for her. He would not let her fall into the clutches of the distasteful Viscount.

Nottington was working outdoors, tossing straw into the pens when they arrived.

"Where is Geoffrey?" Caroline inquired.

"Lord...Ah...Geoffrey is in the stable, Miss. He had a horse what required his attention."

"Thank you."

Geoffrey appeared at Nottington's summons. Nottington returned discreetly to his work.

"We have received the most frightful news," Caroline said.

She handed him the note. "I found this on my pillow. Edwards tells us that Lady Aberly received a note also. Lavenia and I found it in her room."

Geoffrey's frown deepened as he read the neatly penned lines. "She was abducted this morning?"

"She was in her chambers when Edwards delivered the note summoning her to the garden. She thought the gardener wanted to discuss her roses." Lavenia choked back a sob.

Caroline patted the girl's shoulder. "Geoffrey will know what to do."

"Nottington and I will immediately search for tracks. Unless they continued on foot, we may be able to follow wheel tracks in the road. While we are out, we will ask the locals if they have seen anything."

The confidence in his voice soothed Caroline's fears. Perhaps they would find Lady Aberly before the day was out. It would be frightful to spend a night wondering what had happened to the lady.

"Did Edwards say who brought the note?" Geoffrey asked.

Caroline nodded. "It was Benson."

Geoffrey's expression showed disdain. "And he has disappeared. We have not seen him all morning. At least, that tells us who did the abducting. With your pardon, ladies, I shall saddle Victory and see what can be learned."

Lavenia wiped her frightened eyes. "You will tell us as soon as you learn anything?"

Geoffrey's eyes held sympathy. "I will relate my finding as soon as I return."

"Thank you."

Caroline steered the girl toward the house. "There is nothing more we can do. Geoffrey will do all that he can to find your mother."

Geoffrey watched the retreating figures and felt a deep pain. He wondered if it had been right to hide the identity of the true heir when it had put these innocent women in danger.

He had never planned to care deeply for a female again. After the broken engagement with an officer's daughter, he had sworn off affairs of the heart. But that was before meeting the fetching Caroline, who seemed devoid of the subterfuge that characterized the social set he had known in India. Her sweet temper, devoid of the pouts and carefully worded demands of other females enthralled him.

Caroline seemed a breath of fresh air to his heart, which had grown stale. He did not care about her background as a ladies' maid. If this had made her what she was, he could only be grateful.

He wondered if he would be able to equal the trust Caroline placed in him as he turned to saddle Victory. He would find Lady Aberly and he would protect Caroline, even if it became a risk to his own life. For to do less, and betray Caroline's trust, would bring pain worse than death.

Lavenia, nearly prostrate with heartache, had retired to her room. Caroline, for her part, found it nearly impossible to sit quietly and wait for news. She paced the drawing room, growing more restless as the hours ticked away. Where was Geoffrey? Had he any success at finding the trail?

Edwards brought her a light luncheon and cast a sympathetic look as she asked, "Have any of the servants remembered something that might be of use?"

He shook his head slowly. "I am sorry, Miss."

She sighed and resumed her pacing, wishing she might have gone with Geoffrey so that she might know what he had found. To wait and do nothing seemed much harder than to take action.

It was after dark when Geoffrey returned. Caroline and Lavenia were sitting in the drawing room, tending to needlework that did not hold their attention.

At Edwards announcement, they rose so swiftly their work fell to the floor. Yet Geoffrey entered alone, dashing their hopes that Lady Aberly had been found.

Geoffrey disheveled appearance bespoke the long day he had endured. Caroline's hopes sank at the troubled expression on his face.

"I am afraid I have nothing of use to report. We picked up horse tracks leading into the woods, but lost them among the underbrush."

"And no one had seen anything?" Lavenia asked.

"Unfortunately, no. We stopped at cottages and searched the woods until it became too dark to continue. We will, of course, begin afresh in the morning."

"Oh, this is simply unbearable. Whatever can that horrible man have done with Mother?" Lavenia began to sob afresh.

"I suggest you get some sleep. Perhaps there will be better news tomorrow," Geoffrey said.

"I think I shall go up, but I do not believe I shall be able to sleep," Lavenia mourned. "I think I shall have Maggie bring up a cup of hot chocolate."

Caroline placed her soft hand atop Geoffrey's, lingering while Lavenia retired to be attended by her maid.

"Thank you. It is kind of you to be concerned for us."

He studied her, liking the feel of her hand and wishing he could hold it whenever he wished. Honesty told him it was not only kindness which inspired him to search for Lady Aberly. It was guilt.

He looked away without reply. His natural forthrightness nudged him to confess, "I have not been entirely honest with you, Caroline."

Caroline withdrew her hand. The expression on her face

punctured his heart. Would she think him a coward?

He took a deep breath and continued. "I have allowed you to believe I was in the employ of the heir to the Castlegate estate. I am, in fact, Geoffrey Stewart, heir to the estate. My grandfather is Lord Stewart of India whom you passed yourself off as granddaughter. He had one child, my father. Father died several years ago and Grandfather died last year. Lady Eleanor, then named me heir on the stipulation that I return to England and manage her treasured home."

Caroline stared. He read the shock in her eyes as disapproval.

"Do not think I have not suffered for the fact that Lady Aberly is in such straits because I did not make my arrival known. It was a cowardly act, one that I now regret. Yet, it seemed prudent when I first arrived. Nottington informed me that he overheard the Viscount tell Benson that he would murder or marry whoever stood in his way. Since he was not likely to wish my hand in marriage, I presumed murder lay in store for me."

"I am glad you did not let your position be known."

Her voice was so soft, Geoffrey was not sure he had understood her.

She tilted her face to peer at him. "I am glad. I should have died if I had come to know you only to have you taken away."

His heart settled into a rhythm of relief. She did not hate him. She did not even blame him for the abduction of Lady Aberly.

"Nonetheless, it is my fault that you and Lady Aberly are in danger."

"Your death would have done nothing except put us into the position in which we now struggle. However, in that event, we would not have you to turn to for help."

"I had not thought of it that way." He smiled into her eyes. The temptation of her sweet presence grew overwhelming and he crushed her to him, kissing her fervently before the footsteps of the approaching butler forced them apart.

Edwards paused in the doorway, looking slightly askance. "Is there anything I might get for you, my lady?"