Page 85 of A Lady in Name

She clasped his hand between her own and then let it go. “I only know my heart is not yet free.”

“This has to do with Alice?”

She nodded. “Don’t ask me how, for I don’t know. But the urge is strong in me to go there.”

A faint smile lit his eyes. “Dare you brave your lunatic uncle again?”

Lucy gave a short laugh. “I must. There is a wrong which must be righted.”

He had said no more, and Lucy was grateful. Despite the wonder of love’s awakening in his bed, she was yet hollow in spirit. Could it be the shade of Alice once more, urging her to action? A fanciful thought, but Lucy was nevertheless gripped with the same pressing intensity which had accompanied her visit to the church the day before.

As they neared the vicinity of the Oade farm, she could not withstand a rise of apprehension, remembering the threats of Alice’s brother and his blunderbuss. Lucy comforted herself with the presence of Stefan at her side. And at need, there was Cobbold, a thickset stolid creature in whose physical power Lucy was persuaded she might repose every confidence.

The place was as quiet as it had been the first time as the curricle turned in and approached the Cullicudden farmhouse.

“It looks deserted.”

Stefan glanced at her. “So it did when we visited before.”

Nevertheless, he sent Cobbold to knock upon the door before taking trouble to alight. No answer was forthcoming.

“Give them a shout,” Stefan recommended.

The groom raised his voice. “Ho, there! Anyone home?”

They waited while Lucy’s apprehension grew. She could not be defeated now.

“If they’re here, sir, belike they’re out of hearing,” Cobbold said, coming back towards the curricle.

But at that moment, the young lad who had previously taken charge of the curricle came into sight around the bend of the house. He stopped when he saw the curricle, standing staring at its occupants. The groom accosted him.

“You, boy. Where is your master?”

The lad shuffled his feet. “Down in the fields.”

Cobbold looked in question to his master in the curricle and Lucy turned quickly to Stefan. “Help me down, if you please.”

Stefan called to the groom to go to the horse’s heads. In a moment, Lucy had been assisted down.

“Come here, boy,” Stefan called to the youth, who was still standing there, apparently unable to operate until he was pushed. He obeyed, taking several steps towards them before he stopped again.

“I have not come to see Mr Oade, but his mother,” Lucy told him firmly. “She is at home, I trust?”

Reflecting that the crippled lady could hardly be otherwhere, Lucy waited for his response.

The lad jerked his head towards the house. “She’s abed. She’s been took ill.”

“Oh, no,” Lucy cried. “Is it bad?”

The youth nodded. “The master don’t reckon she’ll last the week.”

Lucy turned to Stefan, a pang catching in her breast. “I might have been too late!”

He put out a hand and brushed her cheek with his finger, a smile in his eyes. “Go.” Then, to the boy, “Take her ladyship to Mrs Oade, if you please.”

The boy looked towards the house, doubt in his face.

“Is the door open?” Lucy asked.

“Aye.”

“Then pray hasten.”

Stefan walked her to the door. “I will wait for you here.”

Lucy nodded, drew a breath, and followed the lad inside.