by Joyce Alec
"We must make ourselves comfortable. This is essentially my house now," she told the skeptical Amelia.
"M’lady, the Earl of Swinford has arrived. He said you were expecting him," Andrews announced.
"Yes, you must go, Amelia." Henrietta turned to Andrews, "Do tell his Lordship that I am unwell, and it will just be Lady Amelia and her lady's maid."
"Very well, m’lady."
"No, you promised me," Amelia said as she became very flustered at the thought of being alone in the earl's company, much to Henrietta's amusement.
"You will be fine. Enjoy yourself,” said Henrietta, as she embraced her friend and kissed her on the cheek. “Do be kind to him. He is my future husband’s cousin, after all.”
Amelia smiled and left the room to meet Bartley.
With time to herself, Henrietta took delight in her new surroundings. The dressing table was intricately carved with roses trailing up the leg. The mirror was crafted from silver with the same rose pattern. The furniture was made from walnut, and the sofa and chaise were covered the same blue upholstery.
“I wonder if this room has any secrets," Henrietta said aloud, as she examined everything the room had to offer.
Chapter 3
Much to John's dismay, Lady Henrietta didn't want to leave her room. It was with great effort that she attended dinner. She was right; he didn't mind one bit that she had changed rooms.
"There's just something very soothing about the bedroom. I do believe I could stay there forever," she exclaimed at dinner.
"You can change anything you want. It is your home now," John told her.
"Well, perhaps there are some things I would like to change, but not the room. It is perfect,” Lady Henrietta grinned like a Cheshire cat from the freedom she was just awarded to redecorate anything she wanted. She turned to Amelia and inquired about her carriage ride with Bartley.
Amelia found it very difficult to hide her discomfort, and her cheeks had failed to return to their normal color.
Not wanting to speak ill of the duke’s cousin, Amelia chose her words carefully, "The carriage ride was lovely. Lord Swinford was right; London is beautiful at Christmastime. Lord Swinford was—"
“…charming, handsome, sincere in his feelings," Henrietta chuckled as she finished Amelia’s sentence.
Amelia smiled, “I was going to say, Lord Swinford was an excellent host.” She paused, then continued, "I have never known a man to declare his love so…vehemently. I suspect he is trying to throw me off course by pretending not to know who I am," she said with a hint of disappointment.
"Lady Amelia, I have not revealed your heritage to my cousin, if that is your concern. He is as sincere as they come. There are no hidden agendas with him. On that count, you can be assured," John answered.
Henrietta offered, "I have only discussed you in terms of your beauty and grace, Amelia. The fact you are a marquess's daughter has not been mentioned by me either. I know you want someone to fall in love with you, not your position. So, what do you think of him? I do so hope you give Lord Swinford a chance.”
Amelia brought her finger to her mouth, in a motion to warn Henrietta to be quiet. She didn’t want to engage in any sort of gossip in front of the duke.
Henrietta waved her off, “Do not deny it. We have been friends for too long, and I can see it in your eyes. You enjoyed the carriage ride," Henrietta said.
Amelia was quiet. It was rather wonderful to have a man declare his love. She didn't like being suspicious of his intentions, but it was her nature to be cautious. Perhaps tomorrow she would behave more favorably towards Bartley now that she was certain that his admissions of love were for her, and not her position, but how could he really love her?
"I am feeling rather tired. Do you mind if we postpone our card game until tomorrow, dear Henrietta? It seems I have much to think about," Lady Amelia said as they finished dinner.
The lack of sleep from the night before was catching up with her.
"Not at all, Amelia. We shall meet in the morning for breakfast and make a plan of action with regards to the earl.”
Amelia rolled her eyes at her friend while smiling.
Lady Henrietta was feeling very happy as she retired to her room. Things were working out beautifully. In a few days, she would be the Duchess of Kentonville, and perhaps another wedding in the Springtime was on the cards. She was waiting for her maid, Mary, to return, but as she sat in her chair, she thought about the last duchess who never got to see the room in all its splendor.
The light of the lamp was playing a strange game with Lady Henrietta's mind. The reflection of light in the mirror was mesmerizing, and then she noticed how it bounced off the other mirror. Henrietta thought it was odd to position two mirrors across from each other.
As she stared at the mirror in front of her, she could make out the strangest shape in the mirror behind her.
"I wonder…" she said as she turned to the mirror behind her. There was a pattern carved into the beautiful walnut wood that framed the mirror. The light from the oil lamp highlighted the intricacies of the carvings, and Henrietta couldn’t help but touch them to examine their fine detail.
***
"M’lady, I can't open the door," Mary knocked on her mistress's door, but there was no reply.
As Lucille helped Lady Amelia change, they could hear Mary's pleas.
"Mary, please go find out why Lucille is so upset. Whatever is the matter with her?" As Lucille opened the door, Mary came rushing in.
"Begging your pardon, m’lady, but I can't open the door to Lady Henrietta’s bedroom. I have called out to her, but there is no reply. It's locked, but that cannot be as the key is on the outside. m’lady was expecting me," Mary said in one breath.
"Lucille, call for Andrews and His Grace. We need some man power. Mary, you come with me," Lady Amelia's heart was racing. Whatever renovations had been carried out must have interfered with the door, causing it to stick.
Andrews put his shoulder to the door, trying to push it open.
"Take care, Andrews, the door may open suddenly, and you will fall through," Amelia warned him as John came running, his worried face gaunt in the light.
Then as Lady Amelia had warned, the door opened, and Andrews fell to the floor.
“Andrews, are you all right?” asked John as he offered his hand to help Andrews up.
"Henrietta, where are you?" Amelia called out.
With only their lamps for light, John began to panic and frantically ran from corner to corner of the room.
There was no sign of Lady Henrietta anywhere. She was gone.
"But how can this be? Andrews, you must send someone to fetch an inspector at Scotland Yard,” ordered John, who continued to search every corner of the room. “Did someone break in? I don’t understand where she could have gone," John said with worry in his voice.
"She didn't need to go anywhere. She was quite content to stay here," Lady Amelia was trying to remain calm. There was enough panic in the room.
She looked around. Nothing seemed out of place other than the fact the room had been plunged into darkness when they opened the door. Lady Henrietta would not have turned out the lights. She had been afraid of the dark since they were children and always had a light source. The curtains weren't even open to let the moonlight in. Something bad had happened.
Andrews lit the oil lamps around the room, so they would not remain in the dark.
Amelia believed she was in a real-life mystery. She was an avid reader with a particular fondness for mysteries, but there was no joy in this situation. Henrietta was missing, and Amelia was frightfully worried. Poor John was not going to be easily calmed.
"Perhaps we should convene to the living room? I am sure the police do not wish us to crowd the room. Perhaps one of the footmen could stay by the door while we wait for the police to arrive. In the meantime, let’s recruit the help of every servant to search the house," Amelia said to John. The duke nodded in approval.
&nbs
p; ***
The police arrived, and a tired looking man, Inspector Grimshaw, seemed to be suspicious of John immediately. Amelia noticed the way the inspector was quizzing John on his whereabouts, and who had seen him. Why the need to visit London? Question after question as though John had some hand in his fiancée’s disappearance.
"Lady Amelia Harrington, your bedroom is across the corridor from Lady Henrietta's room. Is this correct?” When Amelia nodded in confirmation, Inspector Grimshaw continued, “It seems strange that you did not hear anything out of the ordinary." His eyes were piercing as he looked in her direction.
"No one entered her room; that much is for sure. I wonder, Inspector, if you would rather spend your time searching for His Grace's fiancée rather than lingering here asking us useless questions,” Amelia’s tone was harsh, but still polite. “She may even have been kidnapped. Perhaps you should consider that rather than accuse the duke of wrongdoing."
"I can assure you that every available man is searching for Her Ladyship, but the window does not appear to have been breached. If no one entered from the hallway, then you can see, perhaps, the reason for my questions. I am anxious to return Lady Henrietta Blythe to you. Now, if you’ll please excuse me,” said the Inspector. "Bloody toffs, think we've nothing better to do before Christmas than to go on a wild goose chase," he muttered under his breath as he left the group alone.
"Your Grace, there’s a gentleman at the door saying he's the Earl of Swinford," another policeman had come through to the living room much to the Inspector's annoyance.
"Yes, he is my cousin. Thank you, constable," said John as Amelia went to greet Bartley.
"Whatever has happened? My business ran later than planned. Why so many police? They wouldn't tell me what transpired." Bartley looked around the room, "Where is Lady Henrietta?"
"Lady Henrietta has gone missing from her bedroom," Amelia said.
"Oh, poor John. And their wedding is in just a few days. This cannot be happening,” said Bartley. “Lady Amelia, are you quite well? Did you see anything?"
Amelia didn’t answer, and her face suddenly lost its color, as she began to lose her balance. Bartley caught her in his arms just before she melted into the floor.
"Lady Amelia! Andrews, get the smelling salts," Bartley had her in his arms and gently placed her on the chaise.
"Lady Amelia, please come back to me," he waved smelling salts under her nose.
Amelia began to respond, and her eyelids fluttered.
"You've had a big fright tonight. I'm here now, and I will take care of everything," he said reassuringly.
Amelia couldn't help but smile up at him. She admired a man who would take charge and not collapse at the slightest panic.
The inspector returned, and spoke directly to the duke.
"Your Grace, I'm afraid there is no sign of Lady Henrietta anywhere on the streets or around the house. The snow would have revealed footprints, but there is nothing on the ground near Lady Henrietta’s window. I have called the search off until daylight, so we can further examine her room and the surrounding area in more detail.” The inspector paused and carefully considered his next words, “Are you sure she wasn't in any way distressed? She still wanted to go through with the wedding?"
"Inspector, how dare you imply such a thing? Remember who you are speaking to," said Amelia, who was incensed by inspector’s audacity to say such things to a duke.
"The inspector has to ask uncomfortable questions. Let him do his job," Bartley counseled before continuing, "Inspector, have you any objections to us staying in the house?"
The inspector shook his head. There was no reason for them to leave, but he would leave some policemen in the house and outside for protection.
Amelia had to admit she had a new admiration for Bartley. His easygoing nature allowed him to take charge, without seeming forceful. Even though John outranked Bartley, the inspector was more deferential towards the earl.
John was distraught, as was expected. The duke’s reaction had Amelia believing that his feelings towards Henrietta were love, and not just infatuation. Amelia felt bad for John; he hadn't even married Lady Henrietta, and now gossip would be rife about what happened. The truth would not matter. It was a mistake to come here, but Henrietta just had to have her way.
"I do not think we will sleep tonight. I propose that we remain together and pray that Lady Henrietta will be returned to us," Bartley's suggestion was agreed upon, and he directed Andrews to provide refreshments to the police officers.
"Lady Amelia, perhaps you would join me in a card game.”
Something about his expression made Amelia leave her chaise and join him a distance from John, who just stood at the fireplace staring into the flames.
"Are you as curious as I am to try to figure out what happened to Lady Henrietta?" Bartley asked when he was sure they were out of earshot.
"What kind of a question is that? I am extremely worried, but I am sure the police will do everything in their power…" Amelia was interrupted by him.
"A woman with an intelligent mind like yours; surely you do not intend to just sit here while your dearest friend has gone missing? We must figure it out ourselves. I cannot see what waiting until the morning will do.” Bartley lowered his voice, to a barely audible whisper, “What if she found a secret tunnel? Did you know some of these homes have secret hiding places, just in case there was any sort of trouble or uprising?”
Amelia looked at him curiously, “So, you believe she may still be in the house?”
“Well, Lady Amelia, it’s certainly possible. After all, the room had been renovated fairly recently. There was no sign of forced entry. It can be the only explanation."
“Why did you not tell the inspector of your theory?” questioned Amelia. “Surely that information would have been helpful.”
“Secrete passages were built to remain hidden from the public’s knowledge. I didn’t want to share the house’s secrets with the whole police force.”
"Do you really think that's what happened here?” She furrowed her brow as she thought about the room’s design. There wasn’t a wall jutting out to create the space required to hide people. The theory didn’t seem to make sense, but she was willing to consider it. For the sake of finding her dearest friend, she was willing to consider anything.
"But where? The room, while beautifully decorated, is rather flat."
"At least I've got you thinking, Lady Amelia. Remember when under attack, the hiding place must not be detectable so that the family could stay protected,” explained Bartley.
“We must tell His Grace about your idea. He might have some information on that room that we are not privy to.”
“I don’t think we should involve him at this point. The idea does seem a little farfetched, and I do not wish for my cousin to feel as if we are making light of the situation," it was the one moment of seriousness from Bartley, who glanced at his friend.
As Amelia looked at John, she was sure a circus could be in the drawing room and he would not have paid it any attention. The duke was lost in his own thought, probably wondering how unlucky he was to lose his fiancée so close to their wedding. If she was lost forever, his heart would surely break.
John was lost in his own world, but he was admonishing himself for allowing Henrietta to make him come to this ghastly place. She would be safe if they had stayed in Kentonville. He should have never allowed her to move into that room. But how could he have said no? He adored Henrietta, who had brought new life into his world. Even the thought of her bright, smiling face brought joy into his life. He was utterly alone, and he didn’t know what else he could do. As one of the most powerful men in England, he suddenly felt helpless. He had been given a glimpse of happiness, and now it might be gone.
Chapter 4
Amelia and Bartley watched as John never moved from his spot. They tried to engage him in conversation, but he didn't pay them any attention. Bartley nodded towards the door. If they left one at a ti
me, he might not even notice they had left. They had to look inside the room.
Except, they forgot about the constables guarding the door. No one was entering the room. Inspector Grimshaw had given him permission to arrest anyone, no matter their rank, who tried to gain entry.
"I don't really fancy a night in the police cells, do you, Lady Amelia?" Bartley smiled as he escorted Amelia back downstairs. Despite the circumstances, Bartley found a small amount of pleasure in spending more time with Amelia.
"I do hope Henrietta is coping. What if it was a kidnapping? Someone might see her as an easy way to get money from the duke. He would surely want the safe return of his bride-to-be, but the scandal might ruin him. What do you think, Lord Swinford?"
Bartley stopped to consider what she said. "I suppose it is a possibility. Shall we look around outside? Perhaps we will find something that the police missed.”
"We'd have nothing to lose by looking around, I suppose,” said Amelia, although a little hesitant.
They didn’t want to alarm John, so Andrews was quiet as he retrieved their coats. They snuck outdoors with two servants, who offered their help.
Amelia tried to piece together a plan, trying to imagine what one of the protagonists would do in the mystery novels she had read. Her first concerns were with finding Henrietta, but she was experiencing a slight thrill at being able to solve this mystery.
If it was indeed a kidnapping, her question was, how had they coerced, or even taken, Lady Henrietta from her room? And why wasn't there any ransom note? Perhaps the earl's suggestion of a secret passageway was true. Maybe Henrietta had discovered the passage and was stuck. The thought of her friend being scared in a dark secret passageway nearly brought tears to her eyes. Henrietta’s fear of the dark would have made the situation even more frightening. Amelia was determined to get to the bottom of this.
The snowfall was beautiful, and Amelia would have been delighted with the scene, being it was so close to Christmas. But because her mind was focused on the important task at hand, she had hardly noticed the breathtaking trails of white the snowflakes were leaving across the dark sky.
