Chapter 35
The rest of the day passed without event. Helena had stormed out of Gabriel’s office after their discussion—although argument might be a better way to put it, Gabriel thought ruefully. He hated arguing with Helena, but on this occasion, he had to admit that maybe she had a point.
Not that he was going to admit that to her. He would never hear the end of it.
There was nothing he could do about it anyway. Even if she did have a point, it wasn’t as if he could go and fetch Lady Agnes and bring her back. It really was over between the two of them. He was certain of that.
He was going to have to find a way to explain it to his niece; that was the trouble.
It was clear to him now that Helena had formed an attachment to Lady Agnes, one that might cause her significant pain and strife if he didn’t quickly put to rest the idea that there could be any future for the two of them.
He needed Helena to understand that it wasn’t going to happen.
He made up his mind that he would speak to her over supper. He would tell her as much of the truth as he possibly could, make certain she understood that things were over with Lady Agnes. He would apologize if that were necessary.
It will be all right. I’m her uncle. She might have grown fond of Lady Agnes during our time together, but she was perfectly happy with our life before Lady Agnes came into it. She will be again.
His stomach soured at the thought. Hadn’t he been perfectly happy before Lady Agnes had come into his life? And now it seemed impossible to him that he would ever find happiness again. Everything was caught up in memories of her.
What if Helena had suffered the same fate? What if this was the impact Lady Agnes had on everyone around her, and it was simply impossible for anyone to recover from her beguiling presence?
He shook his head. It couldn’t be. His own infatuation was that of a man for a woman, but Helena wouldn’t be suffering like this. She liked Lady Agnes, that was all.
He waited for her at the dinner table, but she didn’t appear. His frustration mounted, and finally, he beckoned to a maid. “Lady Helena,” he said. “Where is she? I can’t wait forever to begin my meal. Please go to her quarters and tell her she’s expected down here at once, with no delay.”
He sat back in his chair as the maid scurried off, pondering what he would say to Helena when she arrived.
This must be some sort of tantrum, some childish rebellion.
He would have to put a stop to it. It was one thing for her to speak up to him, to say what she truly thought about things, and express her wishes.
He liked that. But to sequester herself in her room and refuse communication altogether?
No, that was foolish. That was something he could not abide.
The maid returned to the dining room, wringing her hands. “Your Grace,” she stammered. “Lady Helena is not in her room. I’ve asked the staff, and no one has seen her in hours.”
Gabriel sat bolt upright, his chest suddenly hollow. “What do you mean, no one has seen her? Where did she go? She has to be here somewhere.”
The maid bit her lip as if reluctant to answer.
“Speak,” he commanded her.
“Well…we spoke with the stable hand,” the maid said. “Apparently she took a horse out a few hours ago.”
Of course, she had.
Gabriel gritted his teeth in frustration and barely suppressed anger.
There was no question in his mind as to where his niece had gone, especially after that argument.
But hadn’t he told her that if she wanted to see Lady Agnes, she ought to speak to him about it? That he would make the arrangements?
She must have believed things were different now that our courtship has come to an end.
He didn’t know that he could blame her for thinking so, really.
Things were different. Given his way, he would not have taken her to see Lady Agnes now.
He was more concerned that the two of them ought to cut ties with one another.
He was worried that she was too interested in Lady Agnes, that they were too close.
And yet, if she really did want to see Lady Agnes, Gabriel would have taken her rather than have her go on her own like this.
There was only one thing to do, of course. If I don’t intervene, it’s as likely as not that I won’t see her again until tomorrow.
“Have a horse made ready for me,” he said, rising to his feet. “I’m going to bring her back.”
Dinner was just going to have to wait.
Coming face to face with Lady Agnes, after all that had happened between them, hit Gabriel like a knife to the gut. For a moment, looking at her was more than he could bear, and he almost forgot how to breathe.
She stared back at him, frozen where she sat, clearly waiting for him to speak first, but he couldn’t. What could he possibly say?
Finally, he overcame the lump in his throat. “Lady Agnes,” he said. “You’re…looking well.”
She wasn’t, actually. Her face was pale, and she had dark circles under her eyes, just as she had the day he’d kissed her.
But she looked even worse now than she had then.
Was her illness growing worse? Or was this something else, perhaps not an illness at all?
Maybe she was having trouble sleeping lately. Lord knew he was.
She rose slowly to her feet. “Your Grace,” she said, her voice wavering. “Why…what brings you here?”
“You must have known that I would come,” he said.
She shook her head. “No. I had no idea. I thought…well, our business is concluded.” She swallowed visibly. “And I wasn’t exactly courteous to you the last time we met.”
“No, you weren’t,” he agreed, a lump rising in his throat. “But still…it’s for Helena’s sake that I come here tonight, not yours or mine. You know there’s nothing more important to me than Helena.”
Her whole demeanor shifted. The tension left her, and her face softened. “Of course I know,” she said. “Is there something the matter with Helena? You don’t have her with you, do you? I’m happy to see her, to speak to her, if there’s something I can do to be of help.”
Gabriel frowned. “What do you mean, is she with me?” The hair on the back of his neck rose. “I thought…I mean, I assumed she would be with you, Agnes.” In his agitation, he forgot that she had asked for formalities. “Do you mean to tell me that she isn’t here?”
“No, she isn’t.” Agnes rose to her feet. “I haven’t seen her since you and I ended our arrangement…but what do you mean? Is she missing?”
“She left home hours ago,” Gabriel said, his hands trembling ever so slightly at this new and unwelcome information. “I assumed she had come here. Please don’t lie to me out of some impulse to protect her. I’m very worried. I just want to know where she is.”
“No, Gabriel.” Her voice was soft with understanding.
“I would never lie to you about this. I would never conceal her from you. I know that things between you and I have been less than pleasant as of late, and I’m sorry for that, but you must know that I wouldn’t try to keep you away from Helena for anything in the world. ”
He let out a sigh. “I know that,” he said. “I trust you, Agnes.”
It was a surprise to him to realize how true it was.
In a moment like this, it was easy to see everyone around him as a threat.
An enemy. He knew he had been unduly harsh on his staff, even though they hadn’t done anything wrong.
But standing here with Agnes, he felt no anger.
He only felt reassurance. She would help him if she could find a way to do it. He did trust her.
“I just don’t know what could have happened,” he whispered, fear overtaking him.
Agnes put a hand on his arm. “What did happen?” she pressed. “She didn’t just leave the house for no reason. What led up to it?”
“We had an argument.” Guilt settled like a stone in his stomach. “She was angry with me. I implied that she didn’t understand matters of the heart.”
“When of course she feels that she does,” Agnes murmured. “Especially since she’s recently fallen in love.” She paused for a moment. “Have you spoken to the young man? The solicitor’s son?”
“Do you think I need to? That she might have told him something that would help here?”
“Gabriel, I think she might be with him,” Agnes said. “If she wanted to run from her uncle and into the arms of someone else, it stands to reason that she would go to the man she believes she loves. It seems the most obvious place to begin our search, at any rate.”
He looked at her. “Our search?”
“Of course I’m coming along with you,” she said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You know I won’t rest now until I’m sure that she’s safe. We’ll go together. I trust you know where the young man can be found?”
“Of course. At his father’s home.” Gabriel hesitated for a moment. “You really want to come along?”
“Yes, I think I have to,” Agnes said. “For one thing, as I said, I won’t be able to relax until I’m confident that she’s safe.
But also, once she’s found, I might stand a better chance at convincing her to come home than you would.
You know she trusts me. I think it’s possible she’ll listen to me where she might not to you. ”
Gabriel let out a sigh. She was right, of course, little though he liked to face it. He wanted to be all Helena needed, but she had told him herself that he wasn’t. That she needed someone like Agnes in her life.
It would be wrong to decline this offer of help when he knew it was exactly what was needed, and he wasn’t too proud.
“Very well,” he said. “Thank you, Agnes.”
“Of course,” she said. “Can we travel together? I don’t know where this young man can be found.”
“Of course,” Gabriel told her. “It’s for the best that we do.”
“Then I’ll come right away.”
She hurried toward the door. Gabriel fell into step alongside her, nerves twanging at the thought of what was to come. He was afraid in equal measure that Helena would be at the solicitor’s house and that she wouldn’t be.
If she’s there, at least I will know she’s safe and sound. At least I’ll be able to bring her home with me. That’s more important than anything.
But also, it would mean that she values this young man so much that she’s willing to run to him in a crisis…and what am I going to do if that’s the case? How will I ever convince her that she shouldn’t be doing things like that? She’s too young to call herself in love with anybody at all.
Together, he and Agnes hurried out to the horse that he had left in front of her house. He paused for only a moment, uncertain of what was appropriate. But there was no time to hesitate.
He lifted her onto the horse’s back, climbed up behind her, and wrapped an arm around her to keep her secure.
Taking the reins in his hands, he spurred the horse into motion, and they rode off.