Page 64 of The Music of Love

“Is Mrs. Harrington at home? I should very much like to offer her my felicitations on both your marriage and upcoming happiness.”

Stacy took out his watch. “She should have returned from town by now.” He rang the bell and they waited in awkward silence until Soames opened the door.

“Ask Mrs. Harrington to join us.”

“She is not in, sir.” His eyes drifted to Stacy’s distinguished visitor.

“She’s not back from Bude? She left hours ago.”

“She went out again, sir.”

“In this weather?” Stacy glanced out the window he now left uncovered. The sky was an ominous gray and the rain was coming down in buckets.

“Yes, sir, she went out shortly after his lordship arrived.”

“I hope Daisy prevailed on her to dress warmly,” he said as he stared at the deluge.

“You could ask her, sir. Daisy came downstairs looking for Mrs. Harrington some time ago.”

“She did not accompany Mrs. Harrington,” Stacy repeated sharply.

“Er, no, sir.”

Stacy shook his head. He’d asked her not to go out unattended and already she’d disregarded his request. “That will be all, Soames.”

“Is aught amiss?” Pendleton asked, reminding Stacy he was not alone.

“I daresay I am behaving like an over-protective husband, but I wish she would not wander off without her maid.”

Pendleton smiled. “You’ve only been married a short time. You’ll soon learn it’s pointless to attempt to direct one’s wife. Indeed, more often than not I find that I’m the one taking direction.” He was smiling, but Stacy thought the other man’s voice held an edge. What was his brother’s viscountess like?

“How long have you been married?”

“Eight years.” He did not sound particularly happy.

There was another scratch on the door and Frances entered. She gave Stacy a slightly defiant look. “I’m only here because I wanted to say goodbye to Portia and Daisy told me she went to Nanny’s,” she paused, flushing under Stacy’s stare. “I think something might be wrong. I came that way myself only an hour ago and I did not see Portia. I should’ve passed her if she was on the path.”

Stacy’s anger turned to fear.

“Is it a treacherous path?” Pendleton asked.

Stacy shook his head. “No, but she’s been rather short of energy lately. I wonder if she stopped to rest someplace.”

“Perhaps she’s waiting out the storm?” Pendleton suggested. “I’m sure you’re eager to go look for her. I’m not familiar with the area but an extra pair of eyes is never a bad thing.”

His mind raced. “Tell Hawkins to saddle Geist and Selene. Lord Pendleton and I will take the road. Tell Baker to walk the trail to Nanny’s. Have either Powell or Hawkins search the south end of the forest. She sometimes likes to sit by the stream.”

Frances left without a word.

Stacy turned to his brother. “I’m sure it will turn out to be nothing but she tires so easily and—” He sounded like a hysterical fool.

Robert gave him a reassuring smile. “Come, my heavy cloak is in the coach, I’ll get my man to fetch it and we can go.”

Chapter Eighteen

It was dark when they finally found her.

She’d burrowed into the hollow of a big tree not far from the road to Bude—nowhere near the trail to Nanny’s.