Page 59 of Never a Duke
That such an experience was wedged between Rosalind’s fibs about shopping expeditions and Artie’s prattling was somehow wrong.
Before Ned picked up the reins, he touched a gloved hand to Rosalind’s sleeve. “My thanks for a wonderful two hours, my lady. I can assure you, I’ve never enjoyed a picnic more.” He bumped her gently with his shoulder, and the whole day came right again.
“Nor have I,” Rosalind said. “Not ever.”
Ned took up the reins. “Artie, attend me. When backing a horse in harness, you must give the beast a chance to comprehend what you’re asking. You ask, then you wait. Then you ask again. Rather like giving a scholar a chance to recite before you repeat the query.”
Artie had a thousand questions, now that he’d joined the loyal order of aspiring whips, and Ned was patient with him. When they passed through the village, Ned drew the gig to a halt outside the livery.
“My lady, will you take the reins for a moment? I want to make sure the bill was settled to everybody’s satisfaction.”
Rosalind took the reins, though she wasn’t wearing driving gloves. “Artie and I will be fine. Be off with you.”
Ned sprang down and strode off, while Rosalind admired the fit of his jacket across his shoulders.
“He’s sweet on ye,” Artie said. “He’ll try to kiss ye, but if you tell him not to, he won’t. Mr. Wentworth is a good sort.”
“Your recommendation would mean much to him.”
Artie appropriated one of the folded blankets and arranged it as a pillow for his perch. “He has blunt, buckets of it, though he don’t lord it about like some. He’d never raise a hand to ye nor laugh at ye in front of yer mates.”
Ned disappeared into the livery.
“If he’s such a sterling character, Arthur, then why won’t you tell him what has you so worried that you’re jeopardizing your post by repeated incidents of truancy?”
Artie squirmed about on his seat. “Sissy used to call me Arthur, all prim and proper like you do. She’s a chambermaid, or she was. Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
Artie shot Rosalind a look much too mature for his years. “She’s not on the game. Sissy’s a good girl. We look after each other.”
A chill goose-bumped down Rosalind’s arms. “Has Sissy gone missing, Arthur?”
He ducked his head. “Nah. She’ll show up soon. She must have a new post is all and she’s waiting for her first half day. She wouldn’t leave Town without letting me know.”
“You’ve been looking for your sister?”
He nodded. “She had some fella panting after her. Sissy’s pretty. She said this bloke was special. Ain’t none of ’em special enough that she’d turn her back on me. She’s not like that.”
Hope and conviction colored Artie’s words, the hope coming through most loudly.
Ned strode out of the livery. “They asked me where I’d found my groom,” he said, climbing into the vehicle. “Said the lad had a nice way with the ribbons.”
WherehadNed found Arthur? Rosalind would ask that when the boy wasn’t shamelessly eavesdropping. She passed over the reins, though in future, she’d remember to bring her new driving gloves when on an outing with Ned.
“Arthur and I have been chatting,” Rosalind said. “Arthur, you might be interested to know that my most recent lady’s maid and the one before her have both gone missing. They left without collecting their wages or gathering up their things.”
“Piked off?” Artie muttered. “Did a bunk? From a lord’s house?”
Ned half turned to peer at Artie. “You know of a similar circumstance involving another party?”
Artie took a moment to translate that. “My sissy hasn’t met me on her half day for two weeks. Sissy never misses a chance to check on me, not even when it’s raining and cold and miserable. She sometimes brings me a meat pie or tuppence.”
Ned stared off down the road, which wound out of the village past fields and hedges. “Tell us what you know, Artie, every detail.”
Artie heaved a sigh, which to Rosalind sounded relieved. “I got to askin’ around, and Belinda Crocker—she has the flower stand nearest the bank—said her cousin went missin’ about the same time as Sissy. I’m that worried, Mr. Wentworth, but you mustn’t say they went on the stroll. Sissy ain’t a game girl, and I’d black your eye for insultin’ her.”
“Well you should,” Ned said, giving the reins a shake. “But two heads are better than one, Artie, and I fear this problem is bigger than either of us knows.”
