“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.
CHAPTER 36
The ride to the solicitor’s office was exhilarating, little though Agnes wanted to admit it to herself.
Gabriel held her body pressed tightly against his. His arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her there. Her heart raced. She told herself it was nothing but anxiety over Agnes, but she knew in her heart that wasn’t the truth.
The truth was that it felt good to be held by Gabriel again. She hadn’t thought this would ever happen. She hadn’t even believed, if she was honest, that she would see him again after that last ball. Either she would be too reluctant to go to any more social events—she certainly didn’t want to go to any at the moment—or else, even if she did manage to drag herself out of the house, he wouldn’t be there. He would find out before attending anything whether she had been invited, and he would avoid situations where there was a chance the two of them might meet.
After the way she’d acted, she couldn’t even blame him if that was what he chose to do.
But now here he was, his body strong and sure behind her. Impossible to ignore. As worried as she was for Helena, there was a part of her that was tempted to just relax into his embrace and enjoy this for as long as she could.
Don’t fall for it. Don’t be foolish. This isn’t an embrace at all. He’s holding onto me to keep me on the horse, that’s all.
She focused on the cool air against her cheeks to try to ground herself, to keep herself from drifting away into fantasy. She couldn’t let herself become distracted by what was happening. The important thing was to focus on Helena.
They rode through town quickly, and before Agnes knew it, they were drawing to a halt in front of a building on the corner. Gabriel jumped down from the horse and reached up for her. Agnes slid off into his arms, and he held onto her for a second longer than was strictly necessary as he stood her on her feet.
Comforting himself, that’s all. He’s worried about what he might find in there.
“Don’t be angry,” she told him. “Don’t go in and start scolding her right away. I know you’re upset about this, but remember, she’s young, and she’s upset. The most important thing is to remind her that we love her and to bring her home.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I know that’s right,” he said. “Don’t worry. I won’t be too hard on her. I’ll focus on getting her home. You’ll help me convince her?”
“Of course I will,” Agnes assured him.
That is, assuming she’s in there.
Oh, how I hope she’s in there. If she isn’t there, I won’t have the slightest idea where to begin the search!