Chapter 20
“That was unsuccessful,” Colin grumbled as he and Michael exited the Green Dragon Tavern.
The elusive Mr. G was out of town at the moment, according to the tavern keeper’s wife, and would not be returning for several days.
Michael had bribed the woman to say nothing of their visit to Mr. G or his associates.
“Do you think that she will keep to her word about not telling anyone?”
Michael shook his head. “Probably not, but it was the only option available to us. We do not wish for Mr. G to flee the country without giving us the information that we need first. Our only recourse now is to see what we can discover about the art theft at Ravenshollow.”
“Perhaps said art thefts are the reason for Mr. G’s absence,” Colin offered, as they walked back toward Michael’s London townhouse.
They were both being careful to make certain that they were not followed, taking illogical circuitous routes.
They had even dressed in disguise as per Mr. Hardy’s instructions.
Mr. Hardy had remained behind in the tavern to see if the tavern keeper’s wife had been telling the truth.
He had entered separately from Michael and Colin, blending into the tavern’s regular clientele.
He did not ask any questions, simply observed from a distance so as not to be identified with Michael’s inquiries.
“Perhaps.” Michael nodded in agreement. “Either way, Mr. Hardy will send word the moment that he has any new information.”
“A good man to have around, that Mr. Hardy,” Colin mused. “Mr. Frampton was fortunate to have hired him.”
Michael nodded in agreement. “If it were anyone else besides the Frampton ladies, I would steal him away.”
Colin laughed. “I had the same thought, but for Rebecca and me when we are wed.”
“Confident that she will say yes, are you?” Michael asked, amused.
“I am.” Colin nodded. His face grew sorrowful. “The thought of our happily wedded life together is the only thing that is helping me to get through this situation.”
“I understand,” Michael reassured him, laying a loving hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “We will find her, Colin. Do not lose hope. We are closer now than we were before.”
Colin nodded. “I could almost feel her when we were in the tavern as if she were about to walk through the door at any moment.”
Michael sighed. “I remember feeling that way after Emmeline left. I would walk the grounds of Ravenshollow and expect her to appear around a tree at any moment, her whisky amber eyes smiling up at me.”
Colin gave his cousin a surprised look. “That is quite poetic of you, cousin. I did not know that you had such a romantic soul.”
Michael laughed. “Have you seen my paintings?”
Colin laughed in return. “Touche!” He gave a mock fencing bow.
Michael shook his head in amusement. “I was not always the serious man that you see before you today.”
“I remember.” Colin gave him a sympathetic look. “I miss the old you.”
“As do I, my dear cousin. As do I.”
“How do you think that your parents will respond to having Emmeline under their roof once more?”
Michael frowned in thought for a moment. “I do not know. I assume that they will treat her as they would any guest with kindness and hospitality.”
“How do you feel about it?” Colin watched Michael from the corner of his eye.
Michael sighed. “I do not know. I thought that I had buried my feelings for Emmeline and my heart with it, but recent events have shown me a different side of the story that has left me feeling confused and uncertain.”
“A state that you are not at all comfortable with,” Colin noted.
“I am not,” Michael agreed.
“Your visit to the country should prove to be interesting,” Colin mused.
“I am not certain if this is the right thing to do, but it is the only other lead that we have. I cannot ignore it,” Michael admitted, his heart heavy.
“I will send word the moment that anything changes,” Colin promised.
“Do not put yourself in danger,” Michael warned, pausing in his steps to hold his cousin’s eyes in earnest seriousness. “You will not do Rebecca any good if you get yourself killed in the process.”
Colin nodded. “I will proceed with caution, Michael. Upon this, you have my word.”
Michael nodded. “This is where I leave you.” The men had reached the corner of Michael’s street. “I must go and prepare for departure. I am meant to arrive at the Frampton townhouse straight away.”
Colin nodded, the men shook hands, then parted ways. Michael continued on to his townhouse, mulling over their conversation and what might occur within the days ahead.
When he arrived home, his butler had everything ready for his departure already waiting in the carriage.
Entering the house, Michael quickly changed from his tavern disguise to his normal attire before mounting his horse that had been tied behind the carriage and setting off for the Frampton household, his carriage following behind.
***
The journey to Ravenshollow passed uneventfully. Michael rode his horse to avoid the awkward carriage ride north. The Frampton family heir had arranged rooms for Emmeline at inns along the length of their journey so as to avoid any gossip about her traveling with Michael.
He had been in support of their plan and offered any assistance that they might need, while agreeing that it might be best to have Michael’s mother chaperone their visit.
While their father’s heir was family, he was technically an unmarried man who could be perceived as a possible suitor. If Theodocia had been present during their visit, it would not have caused the bat of an eyelash, but without her presence, it put all of their reputations at risk.
Michael’s mother and father greeted them the moment their carriage came to a stop in front of the manor house. While his parents had their own home within the estate’s boundaries, for the sake of Emmeline’s visit, they had temporarily moved back into the main house.
As he had predicted, they were both as kind and hospitable as they would have been with anyone, but there was a slight undertone of uncertainty between the entire group.
“Welcome, Marchioness. Viscountess,” Michael’s mother greeted each lady in turn with the proper decorum of their respective stations. “Your journey was uneventful, I hope?”
“Indeed,” Emmeline returned the greeting graciously. “We thank you for your kind hospitality.”
“Think nothing of it. It has been too long since the laughter of the Frampton girls echoed in these halls,” Michael’s mother reassured her.
A sadness entered both her and Emmeline’s eyes.
“Has there been any word?” She reached out a hand to Emmeline in sympathy, and Emmeline took it in gratitude.
“There has not.” Emmeline shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
“I am sorry to hear it.” Michael’s mother gave Emmeline’s hand a squeeze before releasing it
“As am I,” Emmeline echoed.
Louisa, clearly taking in the underlying current of the moment, interjected herself into the conversation. “Perhaps some rest before we dine this evening?”
“Yes, of course.” Michael’s mother ushered them all inside as the footmen began unloading their luggage. “I will show you both to your rooms.”
As the women climbed the stairs to their respective rooms, Michael watched them disappear from view.
“You still love her,” his father’s voice spoke softly from beside him. “Does she know?”
Michael shook his head. “No.”
“Do you plan to tell her?”
“I do not know.” Michael sighed. “I truly do not know.”
His father nodded in understanding, laying a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Do not tarry over it, my son. A lady like that will not be available for long.”
Michael stood there in silence for a long time after his father departed, thinking over his words. When the staff began to spare him furtive questioning looks, he moved to the library to tend to any details that needed his attention after being gone for an extended period of time.
Once he had taken care of the necessary estate business, he turned his mind toward the stolen paintings. Exiting the library, he went in search of his estate manager.
As he stepped out of the house and into the back garden toward the estate manager’s cottage, Michael found Emmeline and Louisa coming out from behind some trees, their clothes and hair slightly disheveled from their usual orderly perfection.
They looked more refreshed and satisfied than Michael had seen them since Rebecca’s disappearance. He offered them both a smile upon their approach.
“I see that your rest turned into a replenishing stroll.”
Louisa and Emmeline exchanged a pleased smile. “Indeed.”
“I was about to retrieve my estate manager to go over the list of stolen paintings with him. Would you care to join me?” Michael said.
“It is why I am here,” Emmeline replied.
“I thank you for agreeing to this. I value your expertise,” Michael said.
“Let us hope that it gives us a lead on the perpetrators, which in turn leads us to Rebecca.”
“Agreed.” Michael nodded. “I will meet you in the library once I have retrieved my estate manager.”
Both ladies agreed and entered the house. Michael crossed the garden and exited through the back gate. He made his way around the grove of trees that separated the manager’s quarters from the main house.
“George,” Michael called out as he tapped his knuckles on the roughhewn wood of the door. “George!”
“My lord,” George Haversham emerged from around the side of the cottage. “How may I be of service?”
“I am ready to discuss the list of paintings that have been stolen. I have an art expert awaiting us in the library,” Michael informed him.
“Very good, my lord,” George replied, dusting his hands on his trousers.
The two men walked together back to the manor house, George updating him on everything that had happened since his last letter.
When they entered the library, George stopped in his tracks at the sight of the beautiful ladies awaiting them there.
He gave Michael a questioning look. “My Lord?”