Chapter 22 #3
“We believe so. He never left us, Nelly. The letter was forged.”
She explained as quickly as she could: the second letter William had discovered, the prisoner being held at Bryn Hir, and Isabella’s certainty that both letters had been written by the same person.
By the time Rosalind finished, Nelly was already out of bed.
“And you mean to go after him.”
“I have to.”
“Of course you do.” Nelly crossed immediately to the wardrobe. “How long?”
“Nearly two days if we ride hard.”
That earned Rosalind a look, but Nelly wasted no time arguing. She began gathering only what Rosalind could carry easily: a clean chemise, stockings, a comb, and a few other necessities packed tightly into a small traveling bag.
“Lord William is going with you?” she asked.
“He knows Bryn Hir and the road there. Mr. Frost is coming as well. They are preparing the horses now.”
Nelly paused long enough to glance toward the door. “And your mother knows none of this.”
“No.”
“She is going to have a fit.”
“I know.”
“A proper one.”
Despite everything, Rosalind smiled faintly. “I know.”
Nelly sighed and tucked the last of the clothing into the bag. “What would you like me to tell her?”
The question wiped away Rosalind’s smile.
She had tried not to imagine the morning. Her mother waking, asking for her, discovering that her daughter had ridden away in the darkness toward Wales and whatever danger waited there.
“Tell her we found Papa,” Rosalind said. “Tell her he did not leave us. There was no other woman, and none of what we feared was true. Someone took him, and I know where he is.”
Nelly’s expression softened.
“And tell her I am sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, but I could not ask her permission when I already knew I had to go.”
“My lady…”
“She will be frightened. I know that. But I need her to trust me.” Rosalind took Nelly’s hands in hers. “Tell her I am stronger than she thinks. Papa needs me, and I cannot remain safely at home simply because the alternative frightens her.”
Nelly squeezed her fingers. “I’ll tell her.”
“Tell her I am not alone either. I know where I am going, and I am traveling with people I trust.”
The words settled differently than Rosalind expected.
People I trust.
Only hours ago, she had looked William in the eye and told him she could not trust him.
Now she knew that had never been entirely true.
She had trusted William enough for his ignorance to frighten her. Trusted him enough that discovering how little he knew about his own family had felt almost like betrayal. Perhaps that was why walking away from him had hurt so terribly.
But when given a choice between protecting his brother and helping her find the truth, William had chosen the truth.
He had chosen her.
Rosalind tightened her fingers around Nelly’s. “Tell her I will bring Papa home.”
Nelly’s eyes glistened. “You had better.”
The next instant, she pulled Rosalind into a fierce embrace.
Rosalind held her just as tightly.
“Be careful,” Nelly whispered against her hair.
“I will.”
“And bring him back.”
“I will do everything I can.”
Nelly kissed her cheek before releasing her. “Then you had better go before I lose my nerve and wake your mother myself.”
Rosalind laughed softly through the sudden tightness in her throat. She fastened her cloak, took the traveling bag Nelly handed her, and hurried downstairs before either of them could make leaving more difficult.
The house remained silent as she descended. When she reached the rear corridor, she could see movement beyond the windows near the stable yard, where William and Gabriel were making the final preparations for their departure.
Someone else was waiting beside the rear door.
Rosalind slowed.
The figure wore dark trousers, boots, and a coat, with a hat pulled low over the face. For one startled instant, Rosalind thought William had returned.
Then the figure turned.
“Isabella?”
Her friend smiled.
Rosalind stared at the trousers before lifting her gaze to Isabella’s face. “No.”
“Of course I am coming.”
“It is two days of hard riding, and we have no idea what we will find when we reach Bryn Hir.”
“I am aware.”
“Isabella—”
“You are my dearest friend, Rosalind. Your father is in danger. Where else would I be?”
That silenced her.
Only moments ago, Gabriel had given William much the same answer. Rosalind could hardly demand the freedom to face danger for someone she loved and then deny Isabella the same choice.
She stepped forward and hugged her. “Thank you.”
Isabella wrapped her arms around her. “You may thank me after we find him.”
When they parted, Rosalind glanced again at her friend’s rather astonishing attire. “Where did you get those clothes?”
“I borrowed them.”
“From whom?”
“That is not presently important.”
Rosalind suspected someone in the household was going to have a very confusing morning.
“You truly intend to ride all the way to Wales dressed like that?”
Isabella adjusted her hat. “I am not riding hard for two days in skirts.”
Rosalind laughed.
It was probably the most sensible thing anyone had said all night.