Page 33 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
Colin’s eyes held Emmeline’s in earnest. “The coachman has arrived.”
Chapter 14
“Where?” Michael asked, his entire body coming into attention, ready for whatever might await.
“He awaits us at his carriage near the garden gate,” Colin replied, motioning with his chin for them to follow him.
He led them all out toward the veranda just beyond the ballroom doors. Colin and Michael had been taking turns standing watch for the coachman since their arrival. It had been a long and anxious wait.
“Did you speak with him?” Michael asked as he joined his cousin, matching his stride.
Colin shook his head. “No, I thought it best to do so together as we planned.”
“Thank you, Louisa, for acting as chaperone,” Michael overheard Emmeline murmur as the ladies scurried after the men’s longer strides. “I pray that I have not placed you in any danger by asking you to join us.”
“I would not miss this for anything,” Louisa reassured her. “My life has not held such excitement since my beloved’s passing. You know that I will do all in my power to aid you in your search for Rebecca.”
Emmeline reached out and took her friend’s hand, giving it a squeeze in appreciation. “Let us pray that all of this leads us to her and is not a foolish flight of fancy.”
Michael silently agreed. As their small group approached the coachman, he straightened up from his position leaning against the wheel of his carriage.
“I see that you are a man of your word,” Michael noted, having previously been chosen as the spokesperson of the group.
“My lord.” The coachman nodded in respect of Michael’s position. “I thank you for your patience.”
“My patience is swiftly declining,” Michael’s tone held a warning. “What can you tell us about the laundress, Martha Gouldman, and her connection with Miss Rebecca Frampton?”
The man nodded, shuffling his feet as he worried his hat in his hands.
“Martha met Miss Rebecca at the Shepherd Market. Miss Rebecca was there shopping with her lady’s maid for a gift when Martha saw her. Miss Rebecca had such fine clothes and was looking at some of the more costly goods within the market. We do not often see ladies as fine as that. Martha was struck by herbeauty and poise. She thought, she hoped, that Miss Rebecca might be able to help her.”
“Help her with what?” Michael demanded to know, feeling Emmeline’s body tense beside him at finally getting some information.
“Martha’s family was suffering. Her father had been fired from the Woolery Mill and could not provide for his family. Martha had become determined to take on work doing the laundry of those within the higher classes of society.
She simply needed a reference, someone who would give her the opportunity to prove herself capable. I thought that Miss Rebecca would refuse Martha and send her away, but instead she sat down with her and asked her about her life.” Here, the coachman paused, his eyes meeting Emmeline’s. “Miss Rebecca is a kind soul. I am sorry that she has been taken.”
Tears sprang to Emmeline’s eyes. “Do you know who took her?”
The coachman shook his head. “I wish that I did. Martha has disappeared as well, and I have not been able to find either of them.”
Colin’s patience was running thin, and he interrupted at this juncture. “How do you know so much about how they met?”
“I was there,” the coachman admitted.
“Miss Rebecca and Martha became friends over the months that followed. Miss Rebecca would slip away from home with one excuse or another for her mother to visit the market. Over time, she began to sneak out of the house after her mother went to sleep, disguised as one of us common folk. She was not very convincing as her manners and way of speaking were too refined for anyone to truly believe that she was one of us.”
“Why would she do such a thing? Why would she risk herself and her reputation?” Emmeline demanded to know.
“She had begun to provide charity relief to those who were suffering after the Woolery Mill fire. You may frown on her seemingly reckless behavior, but her intentions were noble.”
“Good, God, man! Why did you not stop her?” Colin ground out, barely constraining himself from beating the man senseless.
The coachman ignored Colin and gave Emmeline an apologetic look. “I did try to convince her to cease risking herself, but she would not listen.”
Emmeline sighed, nodding in understanding. “Once my sister has set her heart and mind upon something, there is noconvincing her otherwise.” She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. She swayed and moaned softly in distress.
“Are you well, my lady?” the coachman asked, uncertainty in his voice.
