Chapter 38
GIDEON
The butler at Clara’s house showed them into the drawing room where Lady Hampshire rose to greet them. She was a composed woman with Clara’s sharp eyes, and when she saw Gideon her expression moved immediately into relief.
“Your Grace,” she said. “I am very glad you have come. I had hoped someone would put an end to all of this foolishness.”
“That is precisely why I am here, my lady,” Gideon said. “I wonder if I might speak with my wife.”
Lady Hampshire’s expression shifted. “You are most welcome to, Your Grace. However, she is not here.”
He went still. “Not here.”
“No. She left this morning with Clara and Mr. Ashworth. They have gone to Brighton. To the Vale estate.”
Gideon’s mind went immediately to Emmett — to the drawing room at Blackthorne, to the things Emmett had said to Helena’s face, to the cold calculation of the man and what he was capable of when he felt he had the advantage.
Helena alone on his grounds with only Clara and Benjamin between her and whatever Emmett decided to do.
“We are going after them,” he said.
“Your Grace—” Lady Hampshire began.
“Thank you, my lady.” He was already moving.
James followed him out. They were back in the carriage and moving before Lady Hampshire had reached the drawing room window.
“She would not have gone for Emmett,” James said, as the carriage headed south. “Clara would not take her there simply to confront him. There must be another reason.”
“I know that,” Gideon said. “But Emmett is there regardless of the reason, and he will use whatever opportunity presents itself.” He looked out of the window. “She should not be there without more support than a baronet and a good friend.”
“Benjamin is perfectly capable—”
“Emmett tried to extort my wife on her own doorstep. On his ground he will feel considerably more confident.” Gideon shook his head. “Whatever she has gone there to do, she should not have to manage him at the same time.”
James said nothing further. The carriage moved south through the outskirts of the city and onto the Brighton Road.
The afternoon light was thin and the road was busy and Gideon watched the passing countryside without seeing much of it, turning over in his mind what could have taken her to Brighton, what she had decided in the weeks since she left that required the Vale estate to resolve.
They had been on the road perhaps twenty minutes when James leaned forward and looked out of the window.
“Is that Lord Hampshire’s carriage?”
Gideon looked. Coming toward them on the road was a carriage with the Hampshire crest clearly visible on the door panel.
James’s coachman had already seen it and was slowing.
The Hampshire carriage slowed in turn. James put his head out of the window and Clara’s face appeared at the opposite window, she saw him, and said something to someone inside.
Both carriages came to a stop in the middle of the road. The vehicles stacking up behind them received this development with considerable ill humor. A cart driver began making his feelings known. A gentleman on horseback went around with an expression of profound injury.
Gideon had the door open and was out before the steps were properly down.
On the other side of the Hampshire carriage the door swung open and Helena stepped down into the road.
They were twenty feet apart and then ten and then standing in the middle of the Brighton Road with traffic stacking up behind both carriages and someone somewhere shouting with considerable malcontent.
She looked at him. He looked at her.
Neither of them said anything.
Benjamin appeared from the far side of the Hampshire carriage, took in the situation with the calm of a man built for exactly this kind of moment, and raised his voice above the noise. “We cannot stay on the road. There is a posting house a quarter mile back. We will meet there.”
“Agreed,” James called, from inside the carriage.
‘No,” Helena’s voice came. “I think we should stay here. The two of us. If you wish.”
Gideon’s mouth open but his head moved in agreement.
“very well,” James called and knocked on the carriage’s door, signaling it to move once more. “But do get out of the road lest you be run over.”
Gideon blinked but did not reply. Then, he proffered his arm and to his relief, Helena took it and allowed him to walk her to the side of the road.