“Good afternoon, Miss Fairley, Lord Yeatman.”
Both Lord and Lady Pleasance smiled as they greeted them, though Frederick caught the flicker in Lord Pleasance’s eyes. It seemed his friend understood that since Frederick was here walking with Miss Fairley, his offer of courtship had been accepted.
“Might I ask you something, Miss Fairley?” Lord Wellbridge threw Frederick an apologetic look. “It would only be for a few moments, and it is of a rather… intimate nature as regards… well, as I have said, it is personal.”
Frederick looked at Miss Fairley, seeing her gaze dart to his. No doubt she was thinking the same as him; that this conversation might well be about Martha, given what they had previously discussed and thus, it came as no surprise to Frederick when Miss Fairley nodded her assent.
“Do excuse me for a few minutes,” she smiled, nodding to Lord and Lady Pleasance, and then smiling at Frederick. “I will only be a few steps away.”
Turning his head, Frederick wondered whether he ought to say something to Lady Follet, given that she had been chaperoning her daughter from a distance, but the lady herself was in conversation with an acquaintance and did not so much as glance at her daughter.
“So, I see that your offer of courtship has been accepted?”
Frederick grinned as Lord and Lady Pleasance shared a look.
“Yes, it has, and I am delighted,” he said honestly, seeing no reason to pretend otherwise. “It is a joy. I had to first ask Lord Follet, of course, and I was afraid that he would refuse me!”
“Why should you think that?”
“Because he gave all manner of excuses,” Frederick explained, “though it quickly became clear that he thought I wasspeaking of the elder daughter. Once I explained it was Miss Emma Fairley that I wished to court, he could not have given his consent more quickly!”
“That is a good thing, however,” Lady Pleasance added, her voice quiet, though her smile grew quickly as Frederick looked back at her. “It means that when you seek out his consent to betrothe yourself to Miss Fairley, you can be fully assured of the answer!”
Frederick made to say at once that he was not thinking of such a thing as yet, only to stop himself as Lady Pleasance laughed softly, perhaps seeing his reaction. If their courtship went as well as their acquaintance had done thus far, why should he not consider betrothal and marriage? Miss Fairley had quite captured him, every moment with her was a joy, and the thought of ending their acquaintance brought such pain to him, he could not even let himself think of it for more than a moment or two.
“I think that you have chosen a very fine young lady.” Lady Pleasance glanced around, though her smile began to fade. “I did hear from Lord Pleasance of what you have gleaned about her situation, however. That does seem rather troubling.”
Frederick nodded.
“It has been, though I confess, we have not given that much thought these last few days! It will have to be considered all the more, however, for–”
“Where did Miss Fairley go?” Lady Pleasance took a step closer to Frederick, one hand going to his arm. “I do not see her.”
Turning around, Frederick searched for either the young lady in question or Lord Wellbridge, but to his astonishment – and horror – found that he could not locate her. She had said that she would only be a few steps away but instead, she had disappeared entirely.
“Lord Wellbridge’s carriage is not here,” Lord Pleasance growled, turning his head and looking back at Frederick. “It was there just a moment ago.”
“But why would Miss Fairley sit in Lord Wellbridge’s carriage?” Lady Pleasance asked, her voice a little hoarse with clear concern. “I do not understand.”
“Because,” Frederick gritted out, his concern about Lord Wellbridge’s words previously coming back to him, “I imagine that he has a dark intention which he has not yet shared with anyone.” Turning his head, he looked to Lady Follet, but she was still not looking at him, laughing at something her companion had said. “Yesterday afternoon, Lord Wellbridge said two things which made me wonder at his intentions. I considered them at length, in fact, but told myself they were of no concern.”
“What was it that he said?” Lady Pleasance asked as Frederick ran one hand over his eyes, trying to work out what he ought now to do. “What concerned you?”
Letting out a hiss of breath, Frederick shook his head.
“He expressed surprise – his own surprise – that I had asked to court Miss Fairley, though to my ears, it sounded as though it held a little regret. Thereafter, when Lady Follet told her daughter that she would not have received any other offers of courtship, Lord Wellbridge shook his head and stated thathewould not agree with that statement.”
“As though he had intentions of courting the lady,” Lord Pleasance said slowly, as Frederick nodded. “But why would he have refrained? Why would he have held himself back for so long?”
“I do not know. That is not important at present. Whatisimportant is that I find Miss Fairley.”
“I would quite agree. But where will you look?” Lord Pleasance hurried forward. “Do you think he has taken her to his townhouse?”
Frederick closed his eyes as panic ran through him, his heart thundering furiously in his chest as he tried to keep himself calm and think clearly.
“I have no notion of where he has taken her – or why! I do not know what he means by this. I have never once imagined that he would do such an irresponsible thing as this – nor do I understand why.”
“Take my carriage,” Lord Pleasance urged him, gesturing to it and catching the driver’s attention. “Hurry now. We will go and speak with Lady Follet and keep her distracted for as long as we can.”
