“Thank you, Your Grace,” Evelyn said. “I will try to be as quick as I may.”
Evelyn hurried downstairs in the butler’s wake, and was astonished to see that the small drawing room located just off the dining room was quite full of masculine persons.
“Mrs. Evelyn Swinton,” Mr. Wilson announced her. Then added formally, “Mrs. Swinton, I believe you already know Dr. Alton and Constable Morris. This is Vicar Talverton. But I am not acquainted with the other two gentlemen.”
“This is Mr. Smith, and that is Mr. Martin,” Constable Morris explained. They have been sent down from London by the magistrate Mr. Rudge wrote to about a certain confidential matter. Their faces are known to me, so I am able to vouch for them, but they also carry letters of introduction for Mr. Rudge and for the Duchess.”
“Thank you, Constable Morris,” Mr. Wilson said. “Those letters should go up to the Duchess forthwith. Meanwhile, I will send for tea. Mrs. Swinton, will you take the letters up to the Duchess? If the rest of you would be so good as to wait?”
“Yes, Mr. Wilson,” Evelyn replied at once. The gentlemen in the room all nodded, and settled themselves on various chairs and on the sofa. Evelyn could hear the rumble of male voices as she hurried back up the stairs to the Duchess, carrying the letters of introduction that were addressed to her.
“What news, Mrs. Swinton?” the Duchess asked, setting to book of woodcut pictures aside, and looking at Evelyn expectantly.
“I do not think I have ever seen the downstairs drawing room so full!” Evelyn replied. “The vicar, the constable, the physician, and two gentlemen from London, all packed into one small room like a box of dried herring!”
“That must be quite a sight,” the Duchess said, a smile playing around her lips. “So why are you back up here?”
“The gentlemen from London have letters of introduction to you, and I have been sent upstairs to bring the letters to you. Constable Morris says that he knows them by sight, so we can be sure that they are not imposters.”
“Was there a question?” the Duchess asked, breaking the seals on the letters. “To Her Grace, blah, blah, blah…” the Duchess made skimming through titles noises, “And now to the meat of the matter: Introducing to you Mr. Reginald Smith and Mr. Thomas Martin, who are being sent to you to act as bodyguards for the gentleman known as Mr. Mayson Rudge.” She looked up from the letter. “Known as… is there some question of Mr. Rudge’s identity?”
“I’m sure that is just a manner of speaking,” Evelyn said hastily. “I believe Constable Morris was concerned for Mr. Rudge’s safety, and sent for these gentlemen.”
“Is that so?” the Duchess said, a little skeptically. “Well, I shall let it stand for the now. Since their credentials are in order, I scarcely need to see them. Go back, and have Mr. Wilson get them settled in and shown to their duty. I will own, that having someone responsible for Mr. Rudge’s safety until he is back on his feet would be a great relief.”
“Just so, Your Grace,” Evelyn replied, with a deep curtsey. “I will go back and tell him at once.”
“Thank you, my dear. Go, take care of our excellent cook. We have had enough of these dreadful doings. Perhaps with their help, the Constable will be able to get to the bottom of all these things.”
Evelyn gave another deep curtsey, and hastened out the door and back downstairs. “The Duchess says to go ahead and get them settled at their post,” she announced without ceremony.
“Excellent!” Mr. Wilson remarked. “There are too many of us to all fit into Mr. Rudge’s small chamber, so I shall take Constable Morris and his two companions up first, if you do not mind, Mrs. Swinton, Dr. Alton.”
Evelyn was impatient to see Mayson, even though she had looked in on him at breakfast. But she assented to Mr. Wilson’s suggestion, and remained in the drawing room with Dr. Alton and Vicar Talverton. She crossed the room, holding her hand out to the vicar. “It is so kind of you to come to us while Mayson is ill.”
“I have seen both of you at a distance,” the vicar replied. “I believe you have been coming to Sunday morning services?”
“Yes, we have,” Evelyn replied. “And I recognize you, although I have not heard your name until today. Everyone just speaks of ‘the young vicar’ when they speak of you.”
Vicar Talverton made a slight face. “I fear I shall be the ‘young vicar’ for at least the next ten years. It takes a good, long while for country folk to let go of a favored personality.”
“Indeed, it does,” Evelyn gave a little laugh. “But being the young vicar is not always a bad thing. I have heard only good reports of you. Now that you are a father, the villagers are more likely to warm to you.”
The vicar fairly beamed, smiling broadly. “You heard?”
“I think everyone has heard,” Evelyn said. “What a happy event. Your son and wife both continue to do well?”
“Bursting with health, both of them. There has never been such a wonder as my Nettie.”
Mr. Wilson came hurrying to the door. “Mrs. Swinton, Dr. Alton come quick. Something dreadful has happened, and Mr. Rudge is nowhere to be found.”
“Where could he be? We shall come at once!” Evelyn exclaimed, hurrying through the door.
Dr. Alton and the vicar hurried along in her wake, neither of them speaking.
What can have happened to him? He was sitting up in bed, but not well enough to get up. Is he better? Did something frighten him?
Evelyn could scarcely breathe, her fear was so great.