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As if it could understand her, it grabbed the stick between its teeth and she started to pull it up. The puppy slipped in the mud, releasing the stick and rolling backward. It barked miserably and she felt for the poor creature.
"Do not worry, I shall go find help at once," she said, making to rise. She must have stepped on the slippery part of the edge because she lost her footing and fell in with a loud, ungraceful shriek.
She hit her shoulder on the way down and perhaps injured her foot because a sharp pain shot through it. When her shock wore off, she was grateful to find the pup safe from her fall.
Seemingly frightened by her sudden descent, it scuttled away from her, barking. “Oh, come now. I was trying to rescue you.” She sat up, wincing at the pain in her shoulder, and reached for the puppy. “I am your friend, little one and I wish to help you.”
She made cooing sounds so the dog could trust her and slowly, it approached her. She stroked its mud-covered ears and it leaned into her. She smiled. “Good boy.” The ditch was deeper than she thought and climbing up would be a challenge. Mud was never a good thing in such situations. Holding the puppy close to her, she attempted to get up.
The pain that clenched her ankle made her gasp. Horrified, she looked down but all she could see was her muddied frock. The puppy barked as if asking her what the matter was.
“My foot is injured,” she choked out, shuddering. She could only hope against hope that her absence would be noticed and a search party sent out. Or at the very least, someone would wander the area and find her.
I certainly hope it does notrain, she thought miserably, her gaze finding the overcast skies.
Chapter Thirteen
Tired of brooding in his study, Albert decided to find a better occupation. In the front hall, he came across a frantic young lady he recognized to be Edwina's friend. At first, he thought she was caught in histrionics that was typical of young ladies of thetonand was about to continue moving but her conversation with the butler captured his attention, stopping him mid-stride.
"I do not know!” she cried. “She is not in any of the places I looked. I am worried"
As Edwina and Miss Matthews were always together, Albert suspected she was looking for Edwina. He walked up to them. "Are you looking for Edwina?" he asked.
"Yes,” she replied distractedly but when she turned and realized it was him, her features hardened. Yet, she curtsied politely. “Have you seen her, Your Grace?"
"No, I have not," he replied, wondering why she was cold toward him. "Come, I shall help you search for her."
Her expression turned worried and it concerned him. For some inexplicable reason, something felt very wrong. “I have searched everywhere in the Mansion for her. We should look outside,” she said.
"Did she mention where she might be going?" he asked.
Miss Matthews paused as though she was thinking. "She did mention something about taking a walk earlier but that was more than three hours ago."
Albert led her out the front door and surveyed the grounds for a moment. “We should split to cover more grounds. Search the gardens while I search beyond.” He suspected he would find her at Glass Blanket or its vicinity.
“Very well,” Miss Matthews agreed.
“If I do not return in half an hour, have the butler arrange a search party.”
“I certainly hope not,” she said, biting her bottom lip with worry. “I will search the gardens now.”
“Remember,” he called after her, “half an hour.”
“Your Grace.” He took a shortcut to Glass Blanket but there was no sign of her. The waters were still which told him they had not recently been disturbed. Something tightened in his chest as a rumble sounded in the sky. It looked like rain might fall at any moment.
Edwina had not been herself when she left the library last night. It was natural that she might desire some solitude, but he dearly hoped she had not put herself in harm's way in the process. He left the lake and took a path that led back toward the Mansion.
“Edwina!” he called as he jogged across the field. When she did not answer, he thought about the denser, unknown path that led to the lake from the Mansion, the path near the forest. It was unlikely that she had taken that path but he needed to look for her everywhere he could.
Hardly anyone ventured there and he suspected it had been ages since anyone had. There used to be a deep ditch there and it was one of the reasons people kept away. He could not remember if the ditch was still there, however. He continued to call her name and silence continued to answer.
Fear began to grow in the pit of his stomach. He emerged in the clearing where the ditch was and allowed his eyes to carefully scan the area. She was not there. Still, he called her name. No answer came. He marched toward the ditch again and called.
A response came, a bark. Not what he had been expecting but he moved forward to see if the dog was in trouble, although it did not sound distressed. The bark came again and to his great surprise, it was followed by a giggle. He paused and listened.
Another giggle. “Stop it!” It was Edwina’s voice. Albert closed his eyes and sighed with relief but that relief was short-lived when he realized she was in the ditch. “See, now my face is covered in mud!”
He found her at the bottom cradling a puppy and she was laughing as it licked her face. "Edwina!" he called, unsure what to make of what was happening.
