Page 68 of The Book of Lost Stories
‘Sent to deliver a message late yesterday afternoon, and not returned by nightfall. They have searched and can find no trace of her …’ Alys looked up. ‘Whatcanhave happened to her? I do not like this in the least.’
George, who had downed his brandy and was now sitting slumped in his chair, looked up at this. ‘Who is this Sarah?’
‘One of the young boarders at the Red House in Kew,’ explained Nell. ‘You must have heard me talk of them. Indeed,I mentioned to you that Sarah was to come here for Jane to train as a lady’s maid.’
‘I dare say she has run off,’ he answered indifferently.
‘Oh, no, I am sure she would not. I will send for Sammy, for they were particular friends and he might be able to shed some light on the matter.’
But Sammy, although distressed at the news, could not help them.
‘Might she have gone to visit her mother, do you think?’ asked Nell.
‘No, she would not go all that way alone, and besides, she was mightily pleased to be coming here tomorrow to learn to be a lady’s maid to Miss Alys,’ he said.
‘You may be right, but perhaps you had better go to her mother’s lodgings and see if she is there. If she is, do tell her not to be nervous about her reception when she comes back; we will not be cross with her. But if you do not find her there, do not worry her mother unduly, for I expect she will have been found by now. There must be some simple explanation, such as a twisted ankle.’
‘Yes, for she did not seem at all the sort of girl to run off,’ Alys agreed.
‘All this fuss over a street urchin, who is probably no better than she should be!’ George slammed down his glass.
‘But she is just turned fourteen, and a good, reliable girl, George,’ Nell said quietly. ‘That is why we are so anxious. I think, Alys, we had better drive out to Kew and see if there is any sign of her yet, and if—’
‘You have forgotten,’ George interrupted, ‘you are to spend the afternoon with my godmother, Lady Mersham.’
‘I do not think we picked on any particular day, for I maygo any afternoon, you know, and I am persuaded, when she learns the reason—’
‘There must be no excuses; I insist upon you going,’ he said flatly.
‘But, George—’
Seeing the thunderous expression dawning on her host’s face, Alys intervened quickly.
‘Yes, do go to Lady Mersham, Nell, for I am sure she will be very disappointed if you do not. I can very well go out to Kew myself.’
‘But do not go alone. You must wait for Sammy to come back, at least.’
‘Very well, if it will make you feel happier. It will all probably prove to be a storm in a teacup and I will find her there safe and sound.’
‘I hope so indeed,’ Nell said, glancing nervously at George, who now seemed to have lost interest in the subject.
*
Jarvis was hanging about outside the Rivers’ residence, mightily bored. However, he knew better than to forsake his post and risk Lord Rayven’s wrath. Very particular he was, where Miss Weston was concerned, he thought indulgently, although to his way of thinking that time she was near run down by a carriage was the merest accident; and as for poisoning, well, he could not see himself why anyone should want to harm the young lady.
He watched Mrs Rivers drive off alone and her husband, who looked the worse for wear, soon follow.
That his quarry was still at home he knew, for her faceappeared at the window once or twice, looking anxiously up and down the street. Then a carriage stopped outside and he became alert, for the horses pulling it were a pair of showy greys that he recognized as Nat Hartwood’s.
No one got out, but a servant knocked for admittance and handed over a note. Then, only a few minutes later, Miss Weston ran out of the house, still tying the strings of her bonnet and jumped into the carriage, which immediately set off.
Jarvis, taken quite by surprise, looked up and down the road for a hack, but none was to be seen – just a boy holding a riding horse a few yards away.
He hesitated for only a moment before striding up and snatching the reins from his hands, despite his protests, and swinging himself into the saddle. ‘Tell the gentleman, when he returns, that his horse has been borrowed on Lord Rayven’s business!’ he said, and, tossing him a coin, rode off in the direction the chaise had taken, hoping he would not be hanged as a horse thief.
*
Alys had begun to read the letter from her cousin Nat with some reluctance, only to emit a gasp as she took in what it said:
