Chapter 19 #2
“Why did you not tell me of this before I left for the princess’s rooms?
I would have cried off and gone after her.
” Amy couldn’t believe Hannah could allow Marianne to meet Mr. Lambert when she knew of Amy’s concern.
“I do not think she should spend any time at all in Mr. Lambert’s company, even in the most public of places. ”
“I was reading,” Hannah said, her voice laced with guilt. “I did not think of it. But—Amy, I went to the Promenade, and she is not there!”
Cold settled in Amy’s chest. What must they do? There might be dozens of places they had gone. “I must sit for a moment. I must think.”
Hannah came instantly to her side. “I was about to ask the servants to help me to look. Shall we fetch Papa?”
Amy dismissed the idea of summoning their father.
“He will not be able to go after her. He is lately in too much pain, and this will only make the condition worse. Besides, for the moment, we are the only ones who know she cannot be found. Perhaps it is not too late to find her and avoid scandal. Let me call the servants.”
Amy went to the servants’ quarters, where Frances, Eunice, and Mrs. Mercy were each having a cup of watered-down tea. They jumped up guiltily.
“Marianne has gone off . . .” Her voice trailed away.
She trusted their servants implicitly, but it was still difficult to put her fears into words.
“She was last with Mr. Lambert, and I believe she is with him still. I trust her intentions but not his. Will you help me to go about town to look for her? But do not speak of it to anyone, for it will raise suspicion.”
The maids hurried to gather their bonnets, and Amy strode to the anteroom, telling Hannah, “The servants will search in the town. I will go to the parks.”
She tied her chip bonnet under her chin, then sat on the small bench by the entrance to change into her thick leather shoes for walking.
Hannah grabbed her bonnet, too, and tied it on with hurried fingers.
“I am coming with you. I can check the Capuchin gardens while you look in the Parc de Quatre-Heures.”
Amy nodded. Time was of the essence. Every minute Marianne spent in Lambert’s company posed a danger to her reputation, certainly, and possibly to her person as well.
Within minutes, they were leaving the hotel.
The servants had already left and gone in a different direction.
Amy told Hannah to check back at home after she was finished in the Capuchin gardens and to search the streets adjoining the monastery, as well as the H?tel Waldeck along the bridge.
Perhaps they had chosen a scenic spot near the base of the watermill for painting instead of the Pierre le Grand monument.
As for her, she would go to the Parc de Quatre-Heures, then see if they had made a reappearance on the Promenade.
Amy did not hold out hope that they were actually painting, although she knew Marianne would only have agreed to the invitation for that purpose no matter what feelings she harbored for Mr. Lambert.
Her sister was not of a clandestine nature and would not willingly engage in a dalliance. Mr. Lambert likely had other ideas.
Amy entered the park and cast her eyes across the grassy plain from the row of trees bordering one side to the steep hill on her left.
A few people rode or walked there, but not many.
It was too early in the day for the fashionable crowds.
She hurried along the path, but with such an open plateau before her, she was given a view of everything at a glance.
It was evident her sister was not there.
She exited the park and walked along the rue de la Grande Place in the direction of the Promenade when she saw Mr. Gaetano in the distance.
He must not know the purpose of her mission, for it would be spread throughout Spa within a day.
In an effort to hide the state of her distress, she slowed her pace and stopped to greet him.
“It is well I have run into you, Miss Bridwell,” he said after performing an elaborate bow.
“I have seen your talented sister, Miss Marianne, only an hour ago.” He sighed and lifted his eyes to the heavens in a theatrical pose.
“It is only natural that she should wish to be in the company of Spa’s illustrious painter, Mr. Lambert.
When I greeted them, she informed me that he had promised to take her to the Watroz source, for the ground is of an unusual texture.
He said attempting to paint it would improve her skill. ”
Amy looked at him keenly. Was he trying to warn her of the danger Mr. Lambert posed to her sister, or did he truly think it was an innocent diversion? She did not want to let on how worried she was, though she remained grateful for the information he had given her.
“The Watroz source, did you say? Yes, I have heard of its interesting landscape.” She appeared to think for a moment. “I suppose I should go and retrieve my sister, for I should not wish for her to become fatigued by being out for too long.”
“An excellent idea. Tell Miss Marianne that Mr. Gaetano will be keen to see her painting when she is finished with it. And she must not fear that I will spread it about that she is painting the Watroz. It would not do to have every aspiring artist attempting to copy her subject.” He winked. “Her secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you,” Amy managed to reply, now certain that Mr. Gaetano was doing her a service, letting her know where Marianne was while promising he would not cause harm to her reputation. If he indeed kept his word, Amy would forever be obliged to him.