One of my lads, sir. Dougie. Hes a good boy, one of the best Ive had here, and I would say trustworthy. He came to me just now with a story.
Yes? Michael encouraged him when the other mans voice trailed off. A story you thought I should hear?
Exactly. Tanner sighed, then said in a rush, The thing is, the lad thought he saw Miss Aincourt.
Miss Aincourt? Whatever he had expected the head groom to say, it had certainly not been this. My fiancée?
Yes. Thats right. Down below the gardens, along the path that leads to the meadow.
The meadow! When? You mean tonight?
Aye, sir. The other man looked away, not meeting his gaze. Maybe thirty minutes ago or so. Dougie was taking a walk before bed, and he comes back inside, lookin all distraught, and he pulls me aside and he says he seen Miss Aincourt down there.
He must be mistaken, Michael said automatically. At this time of night? I just saw Miss Aincourt a little over an hour ago, and she was going up to bed.
I asked him, sir, and he swore up and down that it was the lady herself. He was taken aback to see her, he said, so he moved a little closer. He The groom hesitated, then went on in a rush. He saw that she was talkin to a man.
Michael went suddenly cold. His fingers curled into his palms. Go on, he said, amazed at how even his voice sounded.
Dougie thought it was you at first, so he was goin to turn and leave, only a horse whinnied. He looked an seen there was a bay tied to one of the trees, kind of back in the shadow. Now Dougie knows horses, and this wasnt one of ours, so hehe didnt know what to do, sir. He was thinkin he shouldnt leave Miss Aincourt out there alone, an he reckoned the man was a stranger, cause of the horse. So he stayed, watching, tryin to decide. And then, well, the man led his horse out, an Dougie saw his face. It was no one hed ever seen afore, he said. An hehe helped Miss Aincourt onto the horse and mounted it after her, an theythey rode off.
The groom studiously examined the flagstone walkway beneath his feet. Michael felt as if someone had just knocked the wind out of him. He remembered suddenly the look on Rachels face after he kissed hersurprise, hed thought, then wondered if it had been fear. Had the force of his passion scared her into running from him? Then he remembered that she had seemed a little odd all evening.
He took a breath and tried to clear the confusion from his head. He is certain?
He swears it is what he saw. I wouldnt have bothered you if it had been some of the other lads. But Dougiewell, Ive never known him to lie or even exaggerate. I asked him over and over, an he insisted he hadnt been mistaken. There was no smell of gin on his breath. I didnt know what to do, sir, but finally I decided I had to tell you and let you decide, you know. His voice trailed off miserably.
I will look into it straightaway, Michael assured him grimly. I neednt tell you
No one else heard it, and they wont. I already swore Dougie to silence. He knows hell be turned off without a reference if he breathes a word of it to anyone else, including the other lads.
Thank you, Tanner.
He went back into the house, feeling strangely numb, and knocked on Lord Ravenscars door. Ravenscar came to the door, glowering, with his nightcap on his balding head and a dressing gown flung hastily around his shoulders.
In a low voice, Michael explained what he had learned. Ravenscar stared back at him blankly for a long moment, then his cheeks flushed red. What? What are you saying? he barked. Do you dare to imply that
I am not implying anything, Michael responded coolly. I am just asking if Lady Ravenscar might step into Miss Aincourts room and see if she is in her bed.
Ravenscar looked as if he would have liked to shut the door in Michaels face, but after a moment he turned away, and Michael heard him talking to his wife. Michael stepped a few feet away and waited. A few moments later Lady Ravenscar rushed out of the room, a dressing gown wrapped around her, the ribbons of her nightcap fluttering as she rushed down the hall. Michael caught only a glimpse of her face, but he saw that it was white and taut with fear. He was suddenly sure that she knew something her husband did not.
Lord Ravenscar went down the hall after her at a more stately pace. Before he reached the door, his wife stepped back out into the hall. If possible, her face was even paler than before. She looked at her husband, then at Michael, fumbling for words. Impatiently, Ravenscar shoved past her into the room. Michael strode down the hall to Rachels mother and took her arm to steady her. She looked as if she were about to faint.
Shes gone, then? he asked in a low voice.
Lady Ravenscar nodded dumbly, tears pooling in her eyes. She raised her hands to her cheeks. I dont know what he will say. She cast an anxious glance behind her toward the room into which her husband had gone.
Michael steered her into Rachels room and closed the door behind him, guiding Lady Ravenscar to a chair. Ravenscar stood in the middle of the room, shock turning to rage on his face.
Are any of her things gone? Michael asked quickly, forestalling the imminent explosion from Ravenscar.
Lady Ravenscar shook her head. I dont know. I dont think so. Her vanity set is still there. She gestured toward the dresser, where a silver-backed set of brush, mirror and comb lay.
Michael glanced around the room. The bed had been turned down, the fire banked. A womans white nightdress and dressing gown were tossed onto the bed. She had dressed for bed, he surmisedno doubt because of the presence of her maidthen had discarded the nightclothes and redressed, slipping out into the night. There was no sign of a letter on the bed or anywhere else. He wondered if she had gone out wothout intending to leave the estate, or if she had left her things behind to conceal what she had done for a while longer.
Do you have any idea who he is? Michael asked Lady Ravenscar.
Of course not! Ravenscar snapped.
Michael noticed that Lady Ravenscar cast a furtive glance at her husband but said nothing. He turned to Lord Ravenscar. They have not been gone long, and Dougie said they were riding double. It is quite likely that we can catch up with them if we leave quickly. I will send down to the groom to saddle two horses if you want to accompany me.
Ravenscar, still looking as if he might fly into a rage at any moment, nodded his head shortly. Ill get dressed.
He strode out of the room. Lady Ravenscar started to follow, but Michael laid a hand on her arm. Do you know his name, my lady?
Rachels mother cast him an agonized glance. IIm not sure. There was a manthe silly girl thought she had developed a tendre for someone. But I made sure he was not admitted to our house any longer and that she was never alone. She hasnt seen him in four months, I would swear it. I thought she had forgotten him.
What is his name? He had to know, though it cost him some pride to ask.
Anthony Birkshaw.
Birkshaw. Michael cast around in his mind for a face to go with the name. He faintly remembered a darkly handsome young man among the flock who had hung around Rachel before her engagement. She loved him when she accepted my proposal?