Before she knew it, he was beside her. “I wish you’d drunk the wine. It would make this so much easier,” he said, his voice a low growl.
She opened her mouth to scream and was silenced by a sharp blow to her chin. Darkness descended.
*
Hugh gained somehelpful news from an Irish friend. Apparently, Aidan Connor, the man with whom Mrs. Grayswood’s daughter had run off, had come from Killarney, and it was likely that the couple had gone there. He drove to Westminster and knockedon that lady’s front door. The dark-haired young servant, clutching a sugared bun, answered it. “Mrs. Grayswood and Miss Kershaw are away, milord,” he said, swallowing noisily. “They left yesterday for the country, for a few days.”
That seemed sudden. Lucy had made no mention of it when Hugh had seen her only two days ago. “Where in the country, precisely?”
“Cambridge, I heard it said, milord. Mr. Rattray has a house somewhere in those parts.” The boy made a clumsy bow and shut the door.
Rattray! Fear rocketed through him. What was the fraudulent man’s intention? It made no sense that someone of his ilk would pursue Lucy’s aunt for marriage. She wasn’t a wealthy woman. And he didn’t believe it was a powerful emotion like love. But curse it, Rattray might believe Lucy was coming into money! Wanting to go in pursuit, Hugh climbed back into the phaeton and took up the reins. But could he in all conscience follow them? Rattray might be entirely innocent of any trickery. But it still left him deeply concerned for Lucy’s safety.
If everything went as planned, Isabel would have left England next week. Hugh drove home wondering what he might do and came to the conclusion there was nothing. Lucy was not alone—her aunt was with her. But the rest of the day was spent wishing he’d told her about Rattray. Needing to air his concerns, he decided to seek Luke’s opinion.
Luke had told him he would ride today if the fine weather continued. Reaching home, Hugh took up the groom and headed to the park. He drove to the South Carriage Drive and looked for Luke riding in Rotten Row.
Hugh spied him on horseback in a group of friends and hailed him. Handing the reins to the groom, the earl leapt down from the carriage and crossed to the Row, where Luke waited for him, his companions having ridden on.
“I have a problem,” Hugh said, when he reached Luke, seated on a tall thoroughbred. Luke dismounted, and they walked into the parkland while he explained.
“I don’t see that there’s anything I can do,” he confessed. “If I’m wrong, Rattray could cause a fuss, just when Sir Phillip Ashton wants Isabel’s wedding to go unnoticed.”
“If you decide to go, I’ll come with you,” Luke said thoughtfully. “But how are we to find them? Cambridge isn’t small, and his home might be in any of the surrounding villages.”
“That’s true,” Hugh said with a worried nod.
“I’ll excuse myself from my party and join you at your home,” Luke said. “We’ll think more on it, there.”
“I appreciate it. Thanks, Luke.” Hugh ran back to the phaeton.
As he approached the gates of Dorchester Court, he saw a small figure huddled against the stone wall. He pulled up the horses and Mrs. Grayswood, red-faced, struggling for breath, her bonnet askew, ran over to him.
“It’s Mr. Rattray,” she gasped out. “Lord Dorchester, forgive me for this intrusion, but I didn’t know who else to turn to.What have I done?” she wailed.
Hugh leapt down, his heart in his mouth and took her arm leading her through the gates. He would have preferred his mother or Sarah to help, but they were away shopping. “Come inside and have some tea. Then tell me what has happened.”
Luke joined them in the drawing room, where Mrs. Grayswood sipped the tea. She had recovered enough to explain. “Mr. Rattray invited me to spend a few days at his country house.” She drew in a breath, stark fear in her eyes. “I thought the invitation perfectly respectable with Lucy accompanying us. And I couldn’t leave her alone at home.”
“Of course,” Hugh said in an encouraging tone, although he clamped on his jaw and wanted to shake her to hurry her along.
“We stopped at an inn near St. Albans for the night. At supper, Mr. Rattray produced a bottle of wine he’d brought with him. I drank some, although Lucy declined it.” Her eyes widened. “It made me dreadfully drowsy, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.” She took another sip of tea, her hand shaking, then put it down carefully. “When I woke in the morning, I had a horrible taste in my mouth and a throbbing headache, and… Lucy was gone!” She stared at them each in turn. “Imagine what a state I was in! I questioned the innkeeper, who said Mr. Rattray had left during the night. He had taken Lucy with him.” She dropped her chin to her chest with a sob. “I didn’t know what to do. Then I thought of Lady Sarah, who is such a good friend of Lucy’s, and called for a carriage to bring me back to London.” She glanced at Hugh hopefully.
“I’m afraid my sister isn’t here, Mrs. Grayswood.”
She clutched her trembling hands. “Then will you help me find her, Lord Dorchester?”
Hugh’s chest tightened and he gripped the arm of the chair, his knuckles turning white. He forced himself to sound calm or the lady would be in hysterics. “You can rely on me, Mrs. Grayswood. Do you know where Mr. Rattray’s country house might be?”
She mournfully shook her head. “That’s the trouble. He must have lied to me. He said it was near Cambridge. But we were nowhere near St. Albans, as he had said. On the way back to London in the carriage I hired, I saw a sign saying Chigwell and Epping Forest, which was only fifteen miles away. Rattray did say his home is surrounded by forest.” She sighed. “That’s all I am able to tell you. Does it help at all?”
Hugh stood and came to pat her shoulder. Indeed it does.” He glanced at Luke. “Fancy taking a drive to Chigwell, Luke?”
“Indeed, I do,” Luke said, his tight voice revealing his anger.
“I hope you find her soon, before…” Mrs. Grayswood’s voice faltered into silence and her shoulders heaved.
Hugh felt as if he was pulled into a nightmare. He could not lose the woman he adored before he had even had a chance to tell her, to hold her, to make her his own. “I will do my best to find her, Mrs. Grayswood. I’ll arrange for my groom to take you home.”