Mrs. Moorshead rose to her feet and, with her, her company too. “I must tend to my Edmond. He is used to me reading to him at this hour. I do hope I have been helpful in some way.”
Nick bent over and kissed her on the cheek.
She caressed his face. “I wish with all of my heart and I shall pray every day that you find what you are searching for.” She turned to Miss Rothschild. “You too, love.”
They walked out to the gate, lingering when they ought to have made haste to inform the rest of their party what they had found. Two nurses, both employedby Mrs. Finchley. Both dead. That was something to pursue.
Darcy and Nick distanced themselves by a few paces, leaving Richard with Miss Rothschild behind. He wished they would not have. What was he supposed to say to her? Normally, he had no trouble conversing with ladies, but when she turned to face him, he found himself tongue-tied and stupid.
“I wonder, Colonel…” she began, chewing on the corner of her bottom lip. “Perhaps you shall think me impertinent, but I shall regret not taking the risk…”
“I like impertinent ladies.” He smiled, earning a confused expression from Miss Rothschild and several poorly masked guffaws from his cousins ahead of him. “That is to say, impertinence is too often a term men use to refer to ladies who are more clever than they are. I shall not hold such an estimable quality against you. Now, how may I be of service?” He bowed, grateful to have his usual charm restored to him.
She rewarded him with a smile. “Thank you, Colonel. What I wish to suggest is that we join forces. I know where Mrs. Brown was buried and, consequently, where we might find more about her activities with Mrs. Finchley.”
Richard turned to his cousins, but Nick’s line of vision was fixed to the side of a large building. Under a sign reading “Callaghan and Sons, Cider Merchants,” Richard saw Connell doing his best to melt intothe shadows.
“Where do you plan to go next?” Nick asked, without taking his gaze off his pursuer.
“Bath.”
“Then, allow us to accompany you.”
Just like that, their party multiplied and their journey continued.
CHAPTER 36
Elizabeth climbed into the carriage on their second day of travel, Miss Rothschild at her side, Papa and Alexandra sitting opposite.
No streaks had stained Alexandra’s cheeks that morning, but Elizabeth knew she still felt Jaffa’s departure keenly.
“He shall be happy to return to his family after all these years.” Elizabeth tapped Alexandra’s knee.
Leaning her forehead against the window glass, Alexandra sighed. “I trusted him more than anyone.” With a sniff and an inelegant wipe of her nose against her sleeve, she added, “But I have Nick now.”
Papa handed her his handkerchief. “Three is too crowded. Jaffa is both trustworthy and wise.”
Miss Rothschild observed the scene quietly. She was a welcome addition to their party, though not for the reasons the gentlemen had presented two daysbefore when they had made introductions. According to them, she had provided them with their next clue, which had set them on the road to Bath. With her help, they would succeed in discovering why Nick, and a slew of other babies all over the country, had been separated from their families. What Elizabeth saw was how Miss Rothschild’s gaze fixed on the colonel … and how he attempted to balance the attention he wished to show her with what he considered proper.
Lord Matlock was on to the pair. The evening before, he had met Elizabeth’s gaze over the dinner table, his eyes glinting. She wondered what he planned. Lord Matlock’s firm exterior housed a soft heart, especially where his son and nephews were concerned.
Alexandra regaled Papa with stories of her exploits. She was an accomplished storyteller with an inclination to exaggerate, but it made for a lively trip. Elizabeth wondered if Nick did the same with Fitzwilliam, the colonel, and Lord Matlock. She hoped so.
Rolling pastures led down to the River Avon. Elizabeth watched the scenery with interest, knowing they were coming upon Bath.
“Your mother shall never forgive me for going to Bath without her,” sighed Papa.
“I shall not tell if you do not,” Elizabeth said.
Uncle Gardiner had already promised he would keep the more exciting details out of his report. For his brother-in-law and niece’s benefit, as well as the nerves of his wife and sister, he would make their jauntacross England sound as mundane as possible. Jane and Aunt would know otherwise, but Mama would be comforted to know her husband and daughter were safe and not enjoying themselves too much without her.
A string of ionic columns and white doors shaped in a crescent rolled by, and the pastures transformed to an extensive, manicured lawn as the carriage stopped.
“This must be Mr. Darcy’s residence.” Papa peeked through the window.
“Mr. Darcy’s?” Elizabeth gasped. How many houses did he own?
Her father smiled impishly at her. “He is quite wealthy, Lizzy.”
