Anne Herries - The Mysterious Lord Marlowe

She was not the sort of woman men admired or wanted as their wives; her independence and habit of speaking her mind actually repulsed men who might otherwise have thought her a suitable match. Although not without fortune, she was plain and too outspoken to please generally.

‘Nonsense,’ she said and turned away, a flush in her cheeks. ‘Crying would change nothing. We must think of Mariah and do what is best for her.’

‘You have discovered a clue?’ Justin asked. He glanced at Andrew. ‘Pray do not keep me in suspense. Does this concern Mariah or your sister?’

‘I made some enquiries myself and discovered that the carriage used for the abduction of Mariah and Jane turned off before reaching the toll. I therefore rode across country and was able to discover that a few miles from Avonlea an unconscious lady was seen being transferred from one carriage to another. I have been told that both carriages then set off in different directions.’

‘I am not sure what this means.’

‘We believe that Mariah was indeed the intended victim.’ Justin nodded. ‘It seems to me that Mariah was taken off by one of them and several men remained with the first carriage in which Jane was taken somewhere else.’

‘Yes, that would appear to be the logical explanation. So your search has been split—a clever ruse to confuse the situation, perhaps?’

‘After employing the agent I told you of, I made a further search myself and was able to trace Mariah’s carriage to its final destination.

Indeed, I discovered it still at the property, where it had been abandoned.’

‘You have discovered one of the ladies?’

‘Unfortunately not,’ Andrew replied. ‘The house was deserted, but there were signs of it having been used recently. By the look of it no one had been there for years until one of the captives was taken there. It was because it had fallen into disuse that I was guided there by a curious bystander. He had worked up at the hall, as he called it, and knew that the old man had died. The owner had no immediate family and died intestate, which meant the land and property had been neglected while lawyers attempted to find the rightful beneficiaries.’

‘It will, of course, go to the Crown if none are found, but left to decay it will fetch little enough. What made your informant so curious?’

‘The carriage swept past him and frightened a flock of sheep he was driving into new pasture. One of them injured itself and he was angry so he went up to the house to remonstrate and saw a woman being carried into the house. He thought she was unconscious, but, apart from telling his wife, he did nothing more until he heard that I was making enquiries at the local inn. I paid him a guinea, which was recompense for the animal’s injuries and he described the carriage and one of the men he saw.’

‘But when you went to the house it was empty?’

‘I found a back door open and went in. I searched every room. One bedroom had been occupied. The bed looked as if someone had lain on it and there was a tray of food and wine. The window was unlatched. There were signs of people having been elsewhere in the house—but nothing to tell me who might have been there.’ Andrew paused and his mouth thinned. ‘However, in the bedroom, I found a reticule that belongs to my sister. She must have had it with her when they took her to the house and left it there on the floor by the bed.’

‘Then you can be certain she was in the house,’ Avonlea said. ‘Did you find blood or the signs of a struggle?’

‘No, thank God!’ Andrew rubbed at the side of his nose. ‘I saw some branches that had broken recently in a tree near the open window. I believe—I have hope that—Jane may have got out of that window and scrambled down through the tree.’

Justin stared at him in disbelief. ‘Is it possible? Would she have tried to escape that way?’

‘Yes, I am sure she would if she had the chance.’ Andrew frowned. ‘I spent some time looking in the wood near the house. I found some deep tracks—as if a horse might be carrying two people.’

‘Did they recapture her?’

‘That, too, is possible. I know that Jane would do her best to get word to me if she could.’

‘Were you not engaged on some business or other for the regiment?’

‘That business is on hold,’ Andrew said. ‘If Jane and Mariah are not found, I must leave the matter to another, because I shall not rest until I know they are safe. Just as you cannot rest until Mariah is found.’

Avonlea nodded. ‘My wife is concerned for Mariah, as I am. You have not received a ransom note?’

‘No. I am certain the rogue means to compromise Mariah, perhaps even force her into marriage for the sake of her fortune.’

‘Yet her trustees have heard nothing. I told them what had happened and they were greatly distressed. They begged me to find Mariah and see her safely wed to a decent man—and I have promised to do all I can, but Mariah has a mind of her own. Apparently, they have the power to veto a marriage if they think it unsuitable, but I was assured that if I approved the match they would not object.’

‘You do not think she agreed to this abduction to force her trustees to release her money?’

‘Mariah is inclined to be reckless, but she would not endanger a friend. Had this been a sham abduction, Mariah would simply have disappeared and a note been immediately delivered. I think the rogue that has taken her means to hold out for marriage to ensure he has the whole of her fortune.’

‘What will her trustees do if he makes such a demand?’

‘I have been asked to manage the affair to prevent a scandal. If she is forced into anything, her abductor will very soon regret it.’

‘Be careful, Justin,’ Andrew said. ‘Whoever planned this is a clever devil. He will not simply hand Mariah over. You may have to release at least a part of her fortune if you wish to see her safe.’

‘Damn it, I don’t care for the money—but the rogue deserves to hang.’

‘Yes, he does,’ Andrew agreed. ‘If I have anything to say in the matter, that is exactly what will happen—but first we have to find them.’

‘I wish you good luck,’ Justin said. ‘Lucinda is in a delicate situation, therefore I can only do so much to help in this investigation. I fear that most of the burden must fall on you, Andrew—though you may call on me if necessary.’

‘I wish Lucinda a safe confinement when the time comes and congratulate you,’ Andrew replied with none of the pain the announcement might once have caused him. ‘You should take care of her and leave this business to me. I shall call on you only if I need you.’

‘Lucinda comes first with me—but I feel responsible to Mariah in a way and will do all I can to recover her. I shall send to London for another agent to help in the search.’

‘I already have a good man on the trail, but we need as much help as we can get,’ Andrew said and his expression was both grim and determined. ‘I am fairly certain that Mariah will not be found locally. This rogue will have her somewhere secure by now. We had a chance that we might find them at an inn nearby, but too much time has elapsed now. You will, of course, let me know if you hear anything?’

‘Of course. I wish you good luck in your search for Jane,’ Avonlea said. ‘If you find her, you may also find Mariah.’

‘It is my fervent prayer that we shall find them both—though I think not together, for I am certain they were separated.’

Andrew’s face was set as he made his farewells and left Avonlea’s house. He knew that it might be impossible to find Jane. She might even be dead. Mariah was probably being kept safe in the hope of her fortune. Andrew drew some comfort from that, but his feelings were in such turmoil that he hardly knew whether he was more concerned for Mariah Fanshawe or for his sister.

Something told him Jane might have escaped her captors and if that were the case his highly independent sister might even now be on her way home.

If only that were so. He would then be able to concentrate all his efforts on finding Mariah.

‘It is a pity your caretaker did not have a horse you could borrow,’ Jane said as they stopped by a river to let George’s horse rest and drink. Dusk was falling softly over the countryside, hiding the contours of roads, houses and barns, making her feel they were alone in all the world. ‘Or perhaps you did not trust me to ride alone?’

George looked at her in silence for a moment. ‘I thought you had agreed to trust me?’

‘We could have travelled faster with two horses.’

‘Yes, that is true—but Mrs Muffet would have wondered how two gentlemen had arrived with only one horse between them. I wished to protect your reputation.’ His eyes seemed to burn into her, making her tremble inwardly. ‘Will you not give me your trust, Jane?’

Jane looked at him in silence. Her mind wavered between trusting him and understanding his predicament, and condemning him for his part in the affair. She sighed, because she was stiff, her ankle had begun to ache again and she was tired of being so uncomfortable. The thought of her home and her brother made her eyes prick with tears. Andrew would be out of his mind with worry.

‘My name is Jane Lanchester,’ she said as George turned away and then handed her a flask of water he had brought with them. ‘We live at Hillcrest. It is a lovely Queen Anne house not ten miles from the Avonlea estate. My brother is Lord Andrew Lanchester. Blair was my mother’s maiden name.’

George smiled at her, and once again Jane felt that odd pull at her heart. She ought not to feel anything for a man she did not know and was not sure she could trust, yet there was something about him and their situation that made her want to let down her guard.

‘Thank you. I shall try to send word to your brother, tell him not to worry.’

‘Why do you not confide the whole in Andrew?’ Jane asked and rubbed at the back of her neck tiredly. ‘He would be grateful to you for helping me and he might be able to help you find Blake.’

‘I think it more likely he would call the magistrate and have me arrested. In his shoes I should certainly do so. Besides, I still believe you should remain hidden, Miss Lanchester. Should Blake discover who you are and where you live, you would be at risk …’

‘Yes, I know the risk.’ Jane frowned. She bit her lip. ‘I suppose he would kill Andrew as well if he stood in his way. I had not thought of that—it would be my fault for becoming embroiled in this affair. How much damage one might do without intending it.’

‘It is a sobering thought, is it not?’ George looked grave. ‘Perhaps now you begin to understand what compelled me to do something I should not otherwise have contemplated.’

‘Yes, perhaps I do a little,’ Jane agreed. Her heart pounded, for she was very much affected by him in a way she hardly understood. Surely she could not be attracted to a man she ought to despise? She drank some of the water and splashed some on her face. ‘Have we far to go?’

He looked at her in concern and once again her heart raced. ‘You are tired? I have pushed you too hard, but I am concerned that Blake may be looking for you—or us. I think he may suspect me of helping you.’

‘I am sorry. I have caused you a great deal of trouble. I should have stayed out of it, as you told me, and looked for help after they took Mariah.’

‘You thought only to help someone in distress. It was brave of you, Miss Lanchester—but reckless.’