Chapter Twenty-Four
The loose-lipped Archiesoon had Lochinvar ready for Harry, who mounted using the block in the yard. A feeling that he needed to hurry had come over him as he left the girls and now he urged the big horse into a long-striding trot. His leg ached immediately but it was a good ache, as he felt it meant he was getting somewhere.
The mile along the lane to Rampton took him only ten minutes, with a couple of brief periods at a walk to rest his leg, and he was at the gate considering how to get through it when Betsey came out of the house and spotted him.
“Sir Henry.” She executed a curtsy and approached the gate.
He would have taken his hat off to her had he been wearing one. “Good morning, Betsey.” He smiled. “I’ve come to see your mistress.”
She didn’t smile back and he had the distinct impression she was disapproving of a second visit by him in one day. She must be thinking it was not at all the done thing for a gentleman to keep calling on a lady like this. She shook her head. “She’s not here.”
Harry was aware of his face falling. “Oh.”
Betsey relented. “I did think as she’d ridden over to the Hall to take you round some more of the tenant farms.” And now she sounded unsure of herself and a faint frown of worry marred her wrinkled brow. “Did you not see her, sir?”
Harry shook his head, positive that had she been anywhere near the Hall he would have known. “No, her daughters are there but sheisn’t.” He chewed his lip. “You say ‘ridden?’ She took her horse?”
Betsey nodded. “She took Traveler out a good hour and a half gone. You certain sure she’s not at the Hall?”
“I’ve just come from there. As I said, only her daughters are there.”
What to do now? He took his right leg out of the stirrup and stretched it to ease the ache. And at that moment Dick emerged from the stables holding a broom.
“Dick, come here, can you,” Harry called out.
The boy leaned the broom against the wall and loped over. “Sir Henry.” He tugged his thick forelock and sketched an awkward bow.
“When Lady Madeley rode out this morning, did you see where she rode to?”
Dick scratched his tousled hair, which had a few bits of straw in it. “She come out about two hours ago and asked me to get Traveler in for her from the field, so I did. She were in a bit of a hurry, I think. He’d rolled in the mud so it took me a bit of time to groom him for her, and then she jumped on and were off down the track in a canter. I dint see which way she went at the lane on account of you can’t see the end from here in the yard.” He shuffled his feet. “I did think as she was going up to the Hall.” He grinned. “To see you.”
Did everyone know their secret?
Harry chewed his bottom lip some more. That was of no use at all. Where could she have gone? He was going to have to look for her, but where to start?
It was at that point that hooves sounded on the track behind Harry. He looked over his shoulder. A man on a bay cob was approaching in a trot. His face seemed familiar. Was he one of the footmen from Thornby Grange? He did not seem at home on a horse. Whatever was he doing here?
The newcomer brought his horse to a halt beside Harry’s and nodded his head in some semblance of respect. “Good morning, Sir Henry. I’ve a message for Miss Madeley.” He fished a folded and sealedmissive from an inner pocket.
“She’s not here,” Harry said. “Give it to her housekeeper.”
Betsey held out her pudgy hand and Dick regarded the footman with open hostility. It seemed Sir Julian’s reputation adhered to those who worked for him.
“I’ve to give it only to Miss Madeley,” the footman persisted, a hunted expression on his face. “I’m told ’tis a private matter.”
“Well, you can’t,” the redoubtable Betsey snapped. “Because she isn’t here. You’ll have to give it to me, young man, or I’ll box your ears for you.”
Even though he was on a horse on the opposite side of the gate to her, the footman quailed at this threat. He leaned forward and handed her the letter.
“Are you to wait for an answer?” Harry asked as Betsey broke the seal.
The footman shook his head. Was that a hint of fear in his eyes. He was definitely on the shifty side. Harry reached out and took hold of his horse’s reins near the bit. “I think you’d best stay until Miss Betsey has read it.”
The footman glanced to right and left in panic, but was happily not such a horseman that he thought he could wrench his reins free and gallop off. Which was lucky as Harry would not have been able to stop him.
Betsey looked up at Harry, her face creased with worry. “It’s from Sir Julian Horncastle,” she said. “Lady Madeley rode over there this morning and has been tooken ill. This letter says she’s unable to return. Sir Julian tells us not to worry and that he will take care of her.” She gave a derisory harumph at that last bit.
“Taken ill within hours of being perfectly fine?” Harry asked, glaring at the footman. “What do you know of this? You’re an indoor servant. I assume you know everything. You’d better tell us right now, and make it quick.”
