Chapter Thirteen
“It’s been over a week since we last saw him.” Miss Eloise wrung her hands for the fifteenth time within the hour, a sure sign of her distress.
Frankly, the schoolmistress’s sign of nerves wasn’t helping Penelope a bit.
“I know, ma’am.” She sucked in a ragged breath. It was the only way to keep herself from bursting into tears. “But if Edward were able to get to me or send a note, he would. That’s why I believe he’s hurt and alone somewhere.”
“I sent Jack to look for him.” Miss Eloise shook her head slowly.
“I don’t know what else to do. He was last seen at the public house.
He strolled off with a man but left the school’s only riding horse at the mews.
The letters Edward was supposed to have collected were returned to the public house. ”
Penelope blew out a breath. “It’s not like him to disappear.” A gasp of pain escaped her. “What if he’s…in a ditch and needs help and there’s no one to hear him or help him?”
How could the happiest weeks of her life turn into one of the saddest? She and Edward had shared so much during those days. Their thoughts, hopes, dreams, not to mention their futures. They had worshipped each other.
If she’d lost him—Penelope straightened to her full height. She would not think negative thoughts. “He has to be out there.”
Just then, the door flew open, sending Pen’s heartbeat accelerating. Edward. He had finally returned. But when she turned around, it was her darling sister-in-law, Felicia, and her brother Charlie, wearing a scowl that would have sent the devil into hiding.
Miss Eloisa dipped into a low curtsey. “Your Graces.”
Charlie dipped his head in acknowledgment, but his stare was glued to Penelope.
She wanted to roll her eyes. She’d seen that look over a thousand times in her life. Her brother was riled, and no doubt she was the one who had caused it. Well, today she did not have the patience to placate him. She had bigger problems, such as finding her beloved Edward.
“Miss Eloise, if you’d be so kind as to give Lady Penelope and us some privacy,” Charlie said.
“Of course, Your Grace,” Miss Eloise replied as she brought her handkerchief to her nose and blew softly. “I suppose Edward, I mean Mr. Thornton, would approve. I had promised him that I wouldn’t leave her alone.”
Felicia came forward and took Miss Eloise’s hand in hers. “We promise to stay by her side.” She turned to Pen with a small smile. “It’s so good to see you.”
Pen felt her heart constrict at the kindness and empathy radiating from her newest sister. “You too.”
When her voice broke on the last word, Felicia rushed to her side and took her into her arms. “Oh, darling, don’t cry,” she soothed.
After Miss Eloise left, Charlie closed the door. “Of course, she’s crying. The cad has ruined her and then left her to deal with the aftermath by herself.”
“My love,” Felicia chided. “Don’t. We’ve just arrived. We don’t know what has happened. Let Penelope have a chance to catch her breath before you start throwing out accusations.”
“Sound advice.” Her brother pursed his lips, then nodded once. “Now, where is he?”
“Let’s leave that until we can find out how your sister is.” Felicia smiled at her husband, then escorted Penelope to the small sofa facing the fireplace. Charlie glanced around the room before walking to the tiny kitchen table with two chairs. He picked up one and brought it to face Penelope.
“Well, you are certainly living humbly. At least, you’re trying to complete your task.
I’ll say that for you.” He rested his elbows on his thigh and stared at the floor.
Slowly, he raised his gaze to Pen. “How are you?” He turned to his wife.
“As you requested, I’m trying to be agreeable.
Once Penelope answers, then I’m going to kill him. ”
Pen bristled instantly. “I forbid it. And I ask you not to say a word of disparagement against him.”
Felicia patted Pen’s hand. “He doesn’t mean it, darling. He’s upset.” She tilted her head until their gazes met. “But not as upset as I’m sure you are. Now, tell us what happened?”
“He’s gone,” Pen bit out. “And I don’t know where he went.”
“The mark of a complete scoundrel,” Charlie added with a scowl. “He gets what he wants and then leaves.”
“Charlie,” Felicia hissed. “You are not helping your sister.”
Pen ignored her brother and focused on her sister-in-law.
“Edward went to the village at Miss Eloise’s request and never returned.
He left the horse he was riding there. The barkeep at the public house said he’d asked for Miss Eloise’s mail and left.
A man who worked at the mews said he saw Edward walk off with a stranger, then disappear around the corner.
No one has seen him since.” She studied the hand that Felicia held. “I’m afraid he’s hurt…or worse.”
“Well, if he’s dying somewhere, he’ll wish he was dead by the time I’m finished with him,” Charlie offered.
“What are you saying?” Penelope cried. “He’s my friend.” She shook her head. “I will not lie. He’s more than that. I love him.”
Charlie’s eyes widened as everything quieted, including the boisterous fire. “You what?”
Felicia shushed him. “Let her speak.”
Charlie nodded once. “I apologize.” He stood abruptly and started pacing.
“But I’ll not apologize for being worried.
He turned on the sole of his boot and faced Pen.
“I’ve been out of my mind with worry. Once I received the letter from Lord Draven that you’d spent the night at a public inn with that man, I couldn’t rest.”
Pen stood and walked to her brother’s side. “What are you talking about?”
Charlie ran a hand through his hair. “Draven sent word that his solicitor had informed him that you and Thornton were seen at the Black Boar Inn near the border. The letter said that you were traveling as a married couple and staying in one room.”
Penelope huffed out a breath. “Edward was right. Draven must have had me followed. He visited me in London and asked me to marry him. I said no.”
“I would never allow that cad to marry you.” Charlie released a long, weary sigh.
“I didn’t know what to think. I thought perhaps Edward had kidnapped you and forced you to go with him.
I would never forgive myself if you had been hurt.
It’s bad enough that you’re ruined, but we’ll get through that. Harringtons always do.”
The extreme misery on her brother’s face made her hold her tongue from giving him a good verbal lashing. Her brother wasn’t angry at her. It was her situation that crushed him.
“Oh, Charlie,” she murmured as she came to his side and took his hands.
“Your worry means the world to me, but it is not I whom you should be worried about. It’s Edward.
He was trying to protect me. There was a man who had followed us from the Black Boar Inn to here.
Edward never left my side. If anyone is ruined, it’s Edward.
I’m the one who asked him to come with me.
He didn’t want to, but when I said I was leaving, he agreed.
” She closed her eyes and lowered her head.
He knew how much I hated to be alone. “He wouldn’t let me suffer. ”
Funny, for the past week she’d never considered the fact that she was alone. All her thoughts were consumed with Edward.
“Oh, Pen,” Charlie said as he stood and pulled her into his arms.
She buried her head against his chest. “What if I never find him? No one can ever replace him in my life. Never.”
Being in his embrace unleashed all the pent-up tears she’d tried so bravely to contain, which was all for naught.
Charlie led her to the sofa and seated her beside Felicia. He then brought the simple wooden chair he’d sat in and placed it in front of her, sitting himself across from her and taking her hand.
“Penelope, you can’t stay here. Based upon what you told me, it’s not safe. I don’t know who that man is. Like Edward, I can’t leave you here.”
“No—”
Before she could say another word, he held up his hand. “Listen to me. I promise to send my men, an army of them, and cover every major road from here to Edinburgh and London. I’ll even send some men back to the ducal estate in case Edward has made his way back home.”
“But I don’t want to leave here without him.” She glanced out the window. The gray evening sky matched the gloom in her heart.
“We know you don’t, dearest,” Felicia said as she wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “But with what you’ve told us, I agree with my husband. It’s not safe for you. Come home to London with us. It’ll be the best place to receive any news your brother’s men find.”
Charlie nodded in agreement. “I’ll have my best riders assigned to each group. They’ll inform us of everything they discover.”
She rested her head on Felicia’s shoulder and shut her eyes. Good heavens, she was exhausted. She had barely slept since Edward had disappeared. It was a blessing to have Charlie and Felicia here with her. They could help keep watch for her.
She swallowed the thickness in her throat and nodded her agreement. “Let us inform Miss Eloise of our plans. If she hears anything, she can send word to us in town.”
“I’ll see her now,” Charlie said as he stood. “Thank you for agreeing to come home. London will be the best and safest place for you.”
“I’ll be failing my task to father, though.” She hadn’t thought of that until that moment. What had become her initial objective had lost all importance compared to losing Edward. “Father would be so disappointed.”
“No, Penelope,” Charlie said softly. “He would completely understand. I’d even say he’d do the same thing under the circumstances. He loved you, and he deeply cared for Edward.”
Though her brother’s words were designed to give comfort, she still felt completely hollow on the inside. Nothing could help until she found Edward.
She said a silent prayer. She’d do anything asked of her and not make a single grouse or grumble about it. She’d even give up her ridiculous yet stylish hats if need be. She’d live in a barn if it would help.
She’d even clean out the chicken coops and muck the mews if required. Not to mention, she’d be willing to pump well water all day long.
She even vowed to give up all sweets.
She’d do it all and even more. She would give up her ridiculous bonnets.
She’d give up everything if it would bring back Edward.