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‘You can’t be certain of that.’
‘When I arrived at Rockwood and they told me you had been missing all night I thought I would go mad. I’ve been to practically every house in the village asking if anyone had seen you, including Greystone Park.’
Momentarily diverted, Nancy turned her head to gaze at his profile. ‘Did you speak to Foster or any of the house servants?’
‘I didn’t get past the gates. I was turned away by a rough-looking fellow who swore that Mr North had gone away.’
‘Gervase said he had hired ruffians to protect his privacy. I think you will have a fight on your hands if you challenge them.’
‘A fight is just what I want now. I’m opposed to violence, but Gervase has gone beyond what can be considered civilised behaviour. I’ll see you safely home, Nancy, and then I’m going to join the others and we’ll have Mr North out of Greystone Park and in prison where he belongs.’
‘Please don’t do anything silly, Freddie,’ Nancy said anxiously. ‘Leave it to the police.’
‘I’ll do whatever is necessary. I won’t allow anyone to harm you in any way, Nancy.’ Freddie pointed ahead. ‘We’re almost home. I’ll leave you in Jarvis’s safe hands, but I will be back as soon as possible.’
Freddie left her in Jarvis’s care before driving off into the darkness. For a moment Nancy thought that Jarvis was going to hug her, but he limited himself to a wide smile and a nod of his head as he welcomed her home. She found the family assembled in the drawing room and was overwhelmed by the genuine warmth of their greeting, and the relief on all their faces to see her safely home. Even Hester was moved to give her a peck on the cheek, although she tempered her unexpected show of emotion by scolding Nancy for driving on her own after dark, giving Gervase the opportunity to abduct her. However, Hester’s was a lone voice criticising Nancy’s actions. Bertie was furious and Walter left the room declaring his intention of joining Freddie and Leo in helping the police to storm Greystone Park if they were denied access. Tommy had apparently been the first to volunteer and had gone with Constable Burton.
‘I can’t sit here doing nothing,’ Bertie said at last. ‘Wolfe, have my carriage brought to the front entrance. You and I will go to Greystone Park. I might not be able to do anything, but you can offer your services to Constable Burton.’
A slow smile spread across Wolfe’s face. ‘Aye, sir. That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.’ He loped off, leaving the door to swing shut behind him.
‘You shouldn’t go, Bertie,’ Hester said angrily. ‘Leave it to the police, or let Wolfe go on his own.’
‘What? And miss a good fight?’ Bertie threw back his head and laughed. ‘Now that we know Nancy is safe, I want to see Greystone humiliated and arrested. As for him trying to take advantage of Nancy, I’ll see him locked up for life if I have anything to do with it. The magistrate is a friend of mine – an ex-army man, who knows how things should be done.’
‘You will keep an eye on Walter, won’t you, Bertie?’ Louise clasped her hands as if she were praying. ‘I’m afraid he’ll get hurt.’
‘Don’t worry, my dear. Wolfe won’t allow that to happen, and neither will I. It’s not as if Gervase has an army defending him. His hired thugs will melt away when faced with the police and the rest of us there to back them up. Gervase will wish he had never started this whole thing by the time we’re finished with him.’
‘I’m coming with you,’ Nancy said firmly. ‘I won’t sleep if I go to bed.’
Bertie gave her a calculating look. ‘All right. I’ll take you, but on one condition. You must stay in the carriage with me. Is that clear?’
‘Yes, Bertie.’
‘Do you promise to do as I say?’
‘I promise.’ Nancy turned her head at the sound of a commotion outside the room. The door was flung open and Felicia de Marney made a grand entrance, followed by her husband.
‘What on earth is going on, Bertie?’ Felicia demanded, throwing off her cloak and allowing it to fall to the floor. ‘The village is swarming with policemen.’
‘Yes, Bertie, old chap. Is there a villain on the loose?’ Claude picked up his wife’s fur-lined cloak.
‘Well, now. This is a surprise. How long is it since you last graced us with your presence, Felicia?’ Hester rose from her chair. ‘I suppose this means you are in between engagements. Are you planning to stay for a while?’
‘If it’s inconvenient we can always book a room at the Black Dog,’ Claude said apologetically. ‘I realise it’s rather late, but we’ve had a long journey.’
‘Have you come far, Mrs de Marney?’ Louise asked tentatively. ‘I’m afraid your grandchildren are in bed, or I would bring them down to see you.’
Felicia turned to give her a frosty stare. ‘Oh, you’re still here, are you, Louise? I thought that you and Walter would have found a home of your own by now. And I’ve told you before that I do not recognise myself as being a grandmother. My public think of me as being eternally youthful.’
Nancy could see that Louise was hurt by this and she stepped forward. ‘I know you are angry with me, Mrs de Marney, but there’s no need to take it out on your own flesh and blood.’
‘Which you are not.’ Felicia looked Nancy up and down. ‘You seem to have made yourself at home here, too. I thought you would be living with Patsy, or didn’t she want you?’
‘You are still the same sweet-natured person you have always been,’ Hester said drily. ‘I’ll ring for Tilly. She’ll light a fire in your old room. We’ve had dinner but I expect Cook can make something for you.’
‘Please don’t trouble her,’ Claude said hastily. ‘We dined on the way from Exeter.’
