“Tell Mrs. Wilson this has to do with Emma,” she added gravely.
“I will, My Lady.” Madeleine nodded her head once and left the room.
“Now I have to wait,” she muttered to herself.
A short while later, Madeleine reappeared. “Mrs. Wilson said she will send Mr. Langley to the library again, and that you will have only a brief moment to talk to him.”
“Great! Thank you, Madeleine.”
“You must go to the library now,” Madeleine replied. “Lord Brighney and Mr. Langley just left a moment ago.” Caroline walked down the corridor and opened the door to the library, and Madeleine hurried down the steps. Caroline stood by the smaller desk and picked up a neatly written paper. It was his handwriting. She brought the note closer, and she could smell his scent.
A loud voice outside startled her. “I saw the folder on the desk, it must be yours,” Mrs. Wilson said, opening the door.
“I don’t know what you are talk…” Mr. Langley said, sounding confused.
“The carriage will be ready in a few minutes,” Mrs. Wilson replied, pushing Mr. Langley inside the room and closing the door behind him.
“We don’t have much time,” Caroline said, causing Mr. Langley to turn his head so swiftly in her direction that she couldn’t help but smile.
“Lady Caroline!” He looked around, still seeming to be uncertain of what had happened.
She took a step closer to him, “I must tell you something.”
“What is it?” He closed the gap between them and took her hand in his as if nothing was more natural.
“Last night, when I returned home, I found Emma, hurt, by the gates,” she explained.
“She was hurt?”
“Yes, and we took her in, me and Mrs. Wilson, but this morning she ran away.” Mr. Langley pulled her into his arms as a small sob escaped her lips.
“I will find her,” he said, stroking her hair. “You have my word.”
“Thank you.” There was a soft knock on the door. “This must be Madeleine, you must leave,” she said.
“Goodbye, my love,” Mr. Langley said, kissing the back of her hand.
She wanted nothing more than throw herself into his arms and kiss him deeply, but she knew she must not. It was not appropriate, and if someone saw them, all would be lost. However, an invisible force drew them together. He let go of her hand, and they were intertwined in a warm embrace. Their lips gently caressed each other, and his tongue grazed hers in a sensual dance.
The kiss ended, and she held him tightly. Finally, he reluctantly let go of her and left the room. Before he disappeared, he looked at her intently. Her knees felt weak at his gaze, and her breath quickened.
But then he left, and the pounding of her heart intensified, drowning all other sounds. All warmth seemed to leave her. Nothing made her feel as complete as being near him, and every time he left her, a void was created in her heart. This had been a short respite from her troubled thoughts.
Jasper looked out the window of the carriage. He had not been prepared to see her so suddenly. When he had arrived at Brighney Manor, he had heard music from one of the rooms. He had imagined Lady Caroline sitting at the pianoforte, caressing the keyboard, with a slight crease in her eyebrows as she concentrated.
He’d used all his willpower to stop his mind from conjuring up her mouth gasping his name, and her fingers caressing him. It was dreadfully inappropriate to think of her in such a way while working with her father.
Having her in his lodgings the night before had been a small slice of heaven. Feeling her writhe in his arms, and tasting her skin had been better than anything he could ever have imagined. It had been a tense night after she had left. His dreams were filled with Lady Caroline panting with wanton desire, making him wake up painfully hard.
The carriage stopped in front of his lodgings. Deep in thought, he entered the lonely-looking home. He poured himself a drink and sat down, facing the window. The dark and gloomy sky seemed to reflect his solitude. He thought about what Lady Caroline had told him. Emma had been hurt. But why had she been at Brighney Manor in the first place?
Lady Caroline said Emma had been waiting for her, injured. What if someone saw Emma there? Could Lady Caroline be in danger?
When he spoke with Emma, she had seemed eager to have Lady Caroline believe all was well. Something must have happened. But he didn’t know where to begin searching for her. Would Emma return to her home? It seemed strange for her to leave her home in the middle of the night. He needed answers, and he knew just the person to talk to.
Chapter 30
Caroline sat in the drawing room, with her needlework once again. There was a strange tension in the air, she thought. The Dowager Duchess was busy with her correspondence, but every now and then, she looked up and observed her niece. Caroline pretended not to notice this unusual behavior from her aunt.
“Oh, how lovely,” her aunt suddenly said. “The Duchess of Wessex will be hosting a ball in the coming week.”
“That’s very exciting,” she replied. A ball at Lady Anna’s home would no doubt be an entertaining night.
The needlework was no further along than when she began. Again and again, she pushed the needle through the material, but either forgot to pull the thread or realized that she had pierced the wrong spot.
Later that evening she was going to the concert with Lord Estaria. Her aunt had not once commented on which gown she should wear or mentioned she ought to behave herself.
What is bothering Her Grace, I wonder? Ever since yesterday, she has been this way.
Madeleine entered the room, holding a silver tray. She gave a short curtsey to the Dowager Duchess, before approaching Caroline. “This letter just arrived for you, My Lady.” She pushed forward the tray showing the sealed letter.
“Letter?” She looked at her lady’s maid nervously. The only letters she had received lately had all been from Mr. Langley.
Surely, Madeleine would not bring a letter from him here, in front of Her Grace?
“Thank you, Madeleine,” she added, taking the letter. The thin, slanting handwriting was not one she was familiar with. The sealing wax was dark green with an attractive floral pattern.
Who could this be from?
Slowly, she unfolded the letter. The foolscap was very thick, which was rather unusual, she thought. She read the first few lines, and almost dropped the letter with shock.
“Who is writing to you?” Her aunt asked, looking up from her correspondence.
“It’s from Miss Pembroke,” she replied, stunned. “Or, Lady Duncan, I should say.” She corrected herself.
“Miss Pembroke?” Her aunt gaped at her. “What on earth is she doing writing to you?”
“Well, she is sending her regards, and offering that we ought to visit her in the Highlands if we are ever in the vicinity.” She re-read the short message again.
How utterly bizarre!
“I see,” her aunt replied with her eyebrow raised. “I was not aware you two were close.”
“We are acquaintances,” she said thoughtfully. “But we have always gotten along rather well.” This was an exaggeration, to say the least. Caroline and Miss Pembroke had only met on a few occasions, but she suspected that there was more to this letter than met the eye.
“It will soon be time to leave.” Her aunt sighed. “You should go change.”
“I will,” she replied.
What has made Miss Pembroke send me this letter? This is mighty suspicious!
The carriage arrived at Covent Garden. The Dowager Duchess had insisted that she and Caroline meet Lord Estaria at the concert hall. She stepped out of the barouche, and Lord Estaria rushed forward to help her down.
“Lady Caroline, you look wonderful as ever,” he said with a low bow.
“Thank you, My Lord.” Her aunt appeared next to her.
“My dear Dowager Duchess, good to see you again.” Lord Estaria spoke with superfluous poise.
“Lord Estari
a,” her aunt replied with a small smile. They walked into the concert house, greeting other concert guests as they moved. Lord Estaria seemed to be trying his hardest to stand to the side, greeting everyone they met warmly and courteously. However, he did not partake in the conversations, only nodding his head every now and then, or smiling politely.
This certainly has been an odd day. First, the letter from Miss Pembroke, then Lord Estaria behaves in this most unusual manner, and I am confident that Her Grace is observing his every move.
Lady Anna walked toward them, accompanied by her lady’s maid and her mother. “Your Grace, how are you?” Lady Anna smiled widely, and her aunt returned the greeting warmly.
“Wonderful to see you, Lady Anna,” her aunt said. “Your Grace, it has been too long.” She turned to Lady Anna’s mother. As everyone greeted one another, Lady Anna exchanged a playful look with Caroline, eyeing Lord Estaria.
“I am awfully excited for this concert,” Lady Anna said happily.
“Lord Estaria was kind enough to invite us,” she replied.
“This will surely be an excellent concert,” he said.
“I do hope you will be at our ball!” Lady Anna spoke with excitement. Her mother shook her head, disapprovingly.
“Lady Anna, settle down,” the Duchess of Wessex said reproachfully.
“Forgive me, Your Grace,” Lady Anna replied.
“Will you honor us with your presence at the ball, Lord Estaria?” The Duchess of Wessex turned to look at him.
“Only if Lady Caroline will agree to accompany me,” he said gently. All eyes were on her now.
“I would be delighted,” she replied, desperately wanting the concert to begin soon.
They took their seats, and soon the conductor raised his hands. The music filled the hall, and Caroline could feel Lord Estaria fidgeting in his seat next to her. She chanced a glance in his direction, and noticed that he wasn’t looking at the orchestra on stage, but looking to his right.
When she tried to see what he was looking at, he looked at her abruptly. Feeling embarrassed at being caught looking at him, she smiled sweetly at him and turned her attention back to the stage.
Once the concert finished, Lord Estaria bade them goodbye as soon as they had left the concert hall. Caroline turned around as their carriage arrived, and when she looked to Lord Estaria again, he had gone.
“Lord Estaria certainly was in a hurry,” her aunt said pointedly. They were inside the barouche and heading home.
“Yes, he was,” she replied. Her aunt was not pleased with him; she was certain.
Hopefully, Her Grace will finally understand that this courtship is not ideal. Not ideal at all!
Jasper entered the grubby pub, purposefully. It was dark outside, and the pub was filled with people just like the last time. He was hoping he would meet Mr. McIntire here again. The barkeeper looked up as he walked toward the bar.
“Well, how about that.” The barkeeper grinned. “Ye have returned.”
“Yes.” He chuckled, getting a coin from his pocket.
“What will it be?” The barkeeper put down the glass he had been polishing.
“Ale.” He put the coin on the bar counter and looked around the pub.
“Are ye looking for Mr. McIntire?” The barkeeper handed him the drink.
“Is he here?” Jasper asked.
“Nah, not yet,” the barkeeper replied. “But he will probably be here later.”
Jasper found a seat in a booth near the back. Slowly, he sipped his drink, patiently waiting for the elusive Constable to arrive. Mr. McIntire was his best hope of finding Emma. His position gave him access and tools to search for her that Jasper did not have. This might, however, fail horribly.
If someone overheard them, or if Mr. McIntire told anyone of their exchange, Emma might be in even more danger. Jasper was hoping that Mr. McIntire would not let the fact that he had almost coerced him to testify in Lady William’s case stop him from helping, with the help of a large sum of money.
Finally, when he was just about to leave, the door to the pub opened, and Mr. McIntire entered. He exchanged brief words with the barkeep, who nodded in Jasper’s direction. Mr. McIntire approached him slowly.
“Mr. Langley,” Mr. McIntire said, sitting down across from him.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. McIntire,” he replied.
“Why are you here?” Mr. McIntire asked directly.
“I need your help,” he said quietly, but Mr. McIntire scoffed loudly.
“You need my help again?” The Constable stared at him intently. “Testifying for you wasn’t enough?”
“This is for another matter.”
“Aye, of course, it is.” Mr. McIntire took a sip from his drink.
“I am willing to pay you generously for your service,” he continued. Mr. McIntire stared at him for a long while in silence.
“What is this regarding?”
“I need you to find someone,” he said, looking around to see if anyone was listening to their conversation.
“Have you lost a witness?” Mr. McIntire jeered.
“This is sensitive. I would prefer to discuss this at my office.”
“Either tell me now or get the hell away from me,” Mr. McIntire spat. “I have already repaid my debt to Lord Windham.”
“You know, perhaps this was a mistake coming here,” he said, frustrated. “I will find someone else.” He pushed his unfinished drink down the table and moved to stand up.
“Stay, Mr. Langley!” Mr. McIntire said gruffly. “Tell me, what do you need?”
“I am searching for a woman named Emma Mitchell.” He spoke in a low voice.
“Did she scorn you?” Mr. McIntire mocked. Jasper glared at him. “Well, why do you need to find her?”
“I cannot go into details here,” he replied.
“All right,” Mr. McIntire said. “What can you tell me?”
“She is in danger, and it is imperative to be discreet in your search.” Jasper was trying carefully not to say too much at this place.
“Why is that, Mr. Langley?” Mr. McIntire looked at him with a calculating stare.
“That will hopefully become apparent after she is found and is safe,” he replied.
“Will you do this?” he added determinedly.
“Aye, I will,” the Constable replied. “But it will cost you.”
“I can pay half now, and the rest if you find her.” He reached into his jacket pocket for his money.
“Leave that,” Mr. McIntire said. “This is not the place for you to fling your bank notes around.” He finished his drink and stood up. “You can pay me after I find her, which I will do.”
Chapter 31
It was late. Caroline sat on top of the bed cover, dressed in her nightgown. Her hair was in a thick braid that slid down her shoulder. The room was almost completely dark except for the candle on her bedside table. She was holding the letter from Miss Pembroke. Once she had returned from the concert, she had a quiet dinner with her father and aunt. All of them had seemed to be equally pensive, and she had retired to her room early.
Tiredness began taking hold of her, and her eyelids became heavier and heavier. All of a sudden, a loud screech from a nearby owl startled her terribly. For a moment, she looked around the room, nervously looking for the source of the sound.
When she realized what had happened, she relaxed but noticed, to her dismay, that she had scrunched the letter tightly together. The paper was ripped in one corner, and she stood up to return the letter to her worktable. That’s when she noticed it—a second page, sealed firmly to the paper with Miss Pembroke’s odd exchange.
What on earth is this? There is another message written there!
Carefully, she pulled the additional thin page off, but the pages were so tightly interwoven that she could not help ripping a large section off. The writing was the same as in the letter. Suddenly, she was wide awake. Her heartbeat raced as she read the second message from Miss
Pembroke.
Dearest Lady Caroline
Forgive this intrusion. If you are reading this, allow me first to pray for your understanding. I could not think of another way to get this message to you. You were always kind to me, and I worry that if I do not send you this warning, you will end up like me. I have accepted my fate, but I fear that…
The message ended there, the final part having been ripped off. Caroline turned the piece of paper around in her hand.
For the Lust of a Rogue: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 19
