Page 83 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Unfortunately, he did not have the time to inquire about it as his steward was patiently waiting for him.
Another time, then.
“Mr. Reddington,” Moses said as he approached the man, “What do you need of me?”
* * *
The Earl of Crampton was actively seething as his carriage left the Barley mansion’s driveway. His effort to find a morsel of intelligence about the troubling governess had been foiled. Peregrine stopped himself from ordering his driver to turn around and construct some fiction in order to get information.
He knew that Moses would never outright tell him where she was because the man would have instantly gotten suspicious at the mere inquiry. He saw how Moses was with the woman. A tenderness he had never seen in the Duke with his own daughter, was given to a servant.
“It’s as though he is giving the children’s bread to the dogs,” Peregrine swore, knowing that he was contorting the Bible’s passage in heinous ways. “I don’t care if she was born from nobility. The woman has no place in our lives, Moses, and if you cannot see it this way, I will make sure you see it in another way. I must speak to Lord Rowe.”
* * *
The issue with another sector of his tenants, the woodworkers, had taken Moses most of the day to resolve but when he had, there was another issue he had to solve.
Why was Lavinia looking at me, or possibly, her father, like he was the scum of the Earth?
Climbing the stairs, Moses phrased what he was going to say to Lavinia but stopped short when he saw his wife standing in the middle of the room looking lost.
“Lavinia?”
“It would do you good to stay away from my father, Moses,” her words were enigmatic as she wrapped her robe around her tighter.
A frown cemented itself in the middle of the Duke’s forehead, “Is there a particular reason for such a mysterious statement?”
She pinned him with a narrow-eyed look, “I know that you haven’t had much regard for my insights but just listen to me for once, take his words with a grain of salt.”
With that, she swept past him and out into the corridor to her sitting room. Moses spun on his feet to look back at her but she did not turn.
Take his words with a grain of salt… for once, Lavinia, I do think you are right.
* * *
“Get out of my way.” The Earl of Crampton brushed rudely by the butler and barged into the Baron of Rowe’s study as the wait in the foyer was rubbing him raw.
“Well, come in, why don’t you?” Lord Rowe drawled sardonically as he capped a decanter of scotch. “I would charge you for the disabuse of my servant but I sense you have a strong purpose, no?”
“I have terrible news, but I think an informed man like yourself knows half the tale.” Peregrine grated, “Miss Robins is gone and until we know where she is our quest is put on hold.”
“Yes,” Lord Rowe added, “I know that part and I am scouring the countryside for her. Unfortunately, it seems our Duke is too canny for our liking. You have removed Miss Orville, yes?”
Peregrine grunted. He was not surprised that the Earl knew that and was not bothered by it. “What do we do now?”
“Something drastic,” Lord Rowe said, “We need to take something he thinks is precious and demand ransom with the payment as Caroline. I am assured he will pay up.”
The words rang in Peregrine’s head like a gong and a small, sly smile crossed his face, “And I know exactly what to take...”
Chapter 30
For the past few days, Caroline was uneasy. Her disquiet had started the day she had learned of Miss Orville’s death. It was inexplicable, but she felt a storm brewing over her head, just gathering the tempest clouds, only waiting for the storm to burst forth.
Where she was the natural air was light and calm, and there was no sign of a storm, but her senses told her that one was brewing. She did not know where or when but the disquiet within her grew daily.
“Miss Robins,” Verona’s voice was censoring, “You have not touched your plate and now your food had gone cold.”
Caroline blinked and dragged herself into the present to see her fork hovering over her plate of warm veal and scalloped potatoes. A light blush tinted her face as she murmured her apologies.
