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Another small nod.
“Before her ladyship returned?” Matthew didn’t need to hear the answer. He leaned his arm against the brick wall of the fireplace to steady himself. Coleman arriving to find his wife absent was the unfortunate scenario that hadn’t entered his head. “I take it he found out she wasn’t where she was supposed to be?”
“He sent for her, to tell her he was home early, and she didn’t come back. Only a letter from her kin. He tore it into shreds.” Given the details, Paul must have witnessed the furious reaction.
“You fear for her?”
“I do, sir. He’s kept her locked her alone in her room, day and night, demanding to know where she’s been and... with whom. He’s given her no clothes, no means to keep herself occupied, and little decent food.”
Matthew straightened up, his hands clenched into angry fists. He stifled the string of curses behind tightly pressed lips until he was able to speak without revealing the extent of his ire. Unusually for him, he was struggling with not only anger, but rampant fear. What if...
“Has he hurt her? Hit her, done something abominable? Tell me, boy!”
Paul blushed. “No, sir. He’s not laid a finger on her. Her maid has told me she’s untouched. His uncompromising interrogations keep her weary and docile. She refuses to speak.”
Matthew crashed onto the stool. He’d told her to stay quiet, he’d put her in this dangerous situation. Henry had every right to her, there was nothing Matthew could do to stop him claiming his wife, but to do so with cruelty and hatred was contemptible. Would he though? And if he hadn’t, why not? Matthew prayed the answer would come soon; where was Lemuel?
“Why have you come, Paul?” he asked.
“If he doesn’t get an answer today, sir, he’ll send her back to her family in disgrace and demand a divorce. I’ve only spent a little time with her ladyship, but I don’t want to see her unhappy, and she’s terribly miserable. He’s punishing her, which isn’t fair.”
“Fair?”
“He left her first, with no company, and little prospect of joy.”
“Aye, he did. He’s not a good husband, is he?”
Paul shook his head.
“You remembered you saw her in town and realised she’d not gone far, and that she had been in the shop. I guess the shopkeeper gave you my name.”
“She wouldn’t give out the lady’s name, but she checked her ledger for an address. She remembered the lady could not pay, and was ashamed by it, and that you, Master Denzel, came in and set up an account for her, saying you’re her uncle.”
Matthew smiled. “I think we both know I’m not her uncle.” He rose to his feet. “You want me to rescue her?”
Paul’s blush deepened. “I think whatever fate awaits her, she should not decide alone. She needs wise counselling, nothing that any of us servants can offer her. Given her refusal to speak, I assumed that during her absence, she was with somebody she likes and respects.”
Matthew rose to his feet and clamped his hand on the servant’s shoulder. “Paul, you’re a canny lad. Don’t underestimate yourself. Now, where’s his lordship today?”
“Gone hunting. He’s taken the gamekeeper. The one man he trusts above all others.”
“This is the new gamekeeper?”
Paul’s face was naturally puzzled. “How did you know?”
“Doesn’t matter. Lend me your horse, and I’ll ride to the house and fetch her out. Whatever happens next, divorce or not, she should be with somebody she trusts. Aye?”
“Yes, sir.” Paul reached into his coat pocket. “A key, sir. The back entrance to the east wing of the house. Her bedroom is up there.”
Matthew pocketed the key. “My lads will give you food, you can make your own way back. If you need an excuse, say the horse threw you while out exercising.”
He wasted no time. Collecting his riding coat and a hat, he leapt onto the saddle and barked out a string of orders to Ezekiel.
“When your brother gets back, sent him straight to Willowby Hall. Understood?”
“Master.”
Matthew ordered the horse, a frisky one, to the gate, and clipped its flanks with his heels.
