Page 53 of An Amiable Foe
“It has been three days.” Miss Fife groaned. “I cannot stay here another night. If you have any honor, you will allow me to come and stay at the castle before I must set off to I know not where.”
“Where did she go?” he asked, ignoring Miss Fife’s request. Of course, he would take care of Miss Fife, but what if something had happened to Marianne? He had to know where she had gone.
“All I can say is that she is the most duplicitous, conniving creature. I can only guess she has gone to live with that Robert Vernon. You must have noticed they were most particular friends. As her companion, I did all I could to direct her down the right path, but I believe she was bent on ruin. There was nothing I could do.”
Miss Fife pulled out the handkerchief she was clutching and used it to good account, blowing her nose with a loud honk.
At Vernon’s!Surely Marianne had not transferred her affection to that man! Perry had to call upon him without delay. As unpleasant—this was the only sentiment he would allow himself to contemplate as matters stood—as it would be if he found her to have had a change of heart, he needed to know now.
“I will see to it that you are put up at an inn for the night and will arrange for your transportation once you have informed me where you wish to go. Please excuse me.”
Perry strode off, now deeply troubled. He had not admitted to himself how much he was thinking about their meeting and what it would feel like to have her in his arms again. He ground his teeth, imagining her giving her affection to Vernon in his absence. He went directly to the stables where he met Marcus.
“Saddle Beau for me again. I’m sorry ole boy,” he said, addressing the last words to the Percheron as he patted its side.
He glanced at the groom. “I must go out again. He did not ride far enough today that he should be winded by a short journey. He’s been watered and fed?”
Marcus nodded in the affirmative, and Perry swung up on the horse as soon as it was ready.
“I need you to do me a service, for I am short on time. Inform Dawson that he will have to arrange for a room at the local inn for Miss Fife, who is staying in the cottage. I will figure out what to do with her later.”
Marcus nodded again, and in minutes Perry was riding in the direction of Grinnell. He had forgotten his hat, which caused a twinge of regret, when he approached the door to knock. He was not in the proper style, but he could not think of that just now.
A servant answered the door, and Perry thankfully had a card in his waistcoat to hand over. In another minute, Mrs. Vernon appeared in the hall, full of smiles.
“Mr. Osborne, you are most welcome. Please come in.”
“I beg you will excuse me, ma’am, but I cannot stay. I came merely to inquire after Miss Edgewood. She is not staying at the cottage, and Miss Fife hinted that she might be here. May I see her please?” It took everything in him to inquire calmly when he wanted to storm through the house and look for her.
“Marianne!” Mrs. Vernon could not have been more surprised by his request. “Why, she is not here. I last saw her several days ago when she came for tea. Robert has not gone to see her since, and it seems there is no more communication between them. He won’t tell me what happened.”
Perry exhaled. He had steeled himself, preparing for the tormenting news that her heart was no longer his. He had not imagined that she might have gone missing all together. His relief at finding that she was not in the arms of Robert Vernon mingled with his fear that something had happened to her.
“Would you like to speak to Robert?” Mrs. Vernon asked.
Perry hesitated. As much as he was anxious to be off, if Vernon knew something of her disappearance, it would be better for him to learn of it.
“Yes, I would appreciate that.”
“Come right this way. You may wait here, and I’ll see that he comes.” Mrs. Vernon showed Perry into the drawing room before bustling off as quickly as her heavy tread would allow.
Vernon stepped into the room five minutes later, his face already mistrustful. “Osborne.”
Perry gave a slight bow and came right to the point. “I am searching for Miss Edgewood. She has gone from the cottage. Do you know where she is?”
Vernon studied him for a minute with a strange look, as though he’d expected something else, before shaking his head. “No. I did not know of it.”
Perry’s throat was dry, and his heart beat faster as the idea now seized him that some harm had befallen her. “Do you have any idea where she might have gone? Any friends or connections?”
“Marianne has no friends or connections apart from me. I cannot imagine where she has gone.”
Vernon’s face showed more belligerence than worry, and it made Perry want to grab him by the neckcloth and force some decency into him.
He controlled that burst of emotion as his reason took over. They would find her more quickly if they were both looking. After all, Vernon had said he was her only friend. The urgency to locate Marianne largely outweighed any dissatisfaction he might have at the thought of setting out with Vernon.
“Will you help me search for her?”
Vernon turned his face to the side, averting his gaze from meeting Perry’s. “You will have to excuse me. I am busy at present and am unable to be of assistance.”
