Page 91 of An Unwitting Alliance
Cassandra had been hungry for hours, but now sitting to eat sounded like torture. But her ire melted a little when she saw the fatigue in Aunt’s face. Who was Cassandra to ruin the reunion and good news for everyone? Her heart was breaking, but she could not be so selfish. She could not run off to the shed just yet either. Not when she had to know for certain the outcome of Tom’s discussion with her father. She clamped her jaw down tight, saving her emotions to deal with later, and marched to the dining room.
Peter was already seated, and moments later, Papa and Tom entered the dining room too. Tension filled Cassandra’s limbs, but she refused to look at Tom even when he sat down beside her. Soon silverware and porcelain clanged together as the meal began. Aunt Evans prodded Peter to tell them all about their brief trip to Oxford, but Cassandra could not pay attention to a single word. She glanced up to find Papa looking at her, his expression grim.
So it was done. She should be celebrating, but instead she was devastated.
Tom stood and excused himself, claiming a headache. No doubt the bruising by his eye was only one reason for his discomfort.
Cassandra heard one word in her head.Shed.The siren song of solace called to her, and she could not resist. No one could witness her tears there. Shortly after Tom disappeared, she wandered out of the dining room without a word to the others. She thought perhaps Papa had seen her go, but he did not call after her. He knew what the others did not. Now that word of her engagement was out, soon everyone would know her suffering. It no longer mattered like it had before. She cared only about one thing—one person. Tom.
* * *
Tom pushed his bedchamber door open and collapsed on his bed. The dull ache in his head from his injury would drive him mad if his circumstances did not first. Cassandra would learn soon enough what he had done. Could she ever forgive him? If he could only have a few hours of sleep, he might be able to make sense of something.
He did not know how long he slept before there was a knock on his door. He pulled himself up to a sitting position. “Come in.”
Joseph entered, lifting a folded paper. “Lord Reynolds sent a note. He said it’s urgent.”
Tom’s stomach sank. He was not sure he was ready for any more bad news. But accepting the paper, he flipped it open.
Alan is gone. Come quickly.
He clenched the paper tightly. Had the boy run away again, or had Longbottom found him? “Joseph, prepare my things. Alan has gone missing, and as soon as I find him, I have to remove him to Brookeside. He won’t be safe until he is far away from here.”
He took one last look through his window in the direction of the shed. Was Cassie there? He hadn’t the time to find her and explain. He darted into the corridor and took the stairs two at a time. A pit in his stomach grew with each step. He could not despise himself more for walking away from the only woman he had ever loved.
But if Longbottom was involved, he could not waste any more time. No one else was going to die on his watch.
Not a half hour later, he found Ian pacing in front of the fireplace just inside the inn. “What happened?”
Ian pointed to one of two elbow chairs a few feet from the fire. “Sit down.”
“I’d rather stand.” He braced himself for whatever news Ian had.
“Very well, but you’re not going to like this. Alan escaped from Nancy. I’ve hired some men to search the roads for him, but there’s not been a sign of him yet.”
So there was a chance he was still free of Longbottom. “He’s got a knack for disappearing.”
“That isn’t the best piece of information to learn after the fact.” Ian sighed. “I thought he might have gone in search of you. Did you notice anything unusual on your ride here?”
“No, nothing.” Tom folded his arms, holding himself together. “I hate that he’s out there alone. I must go out and search too. Thank heavens this town is not large.”
“Yes, but the country is vast.”
“What roads have been tried?”
“I’ve asked for a report every half hour and should be getting another soon. You might as well sit down. It will be better to search in an efficient manner than haphazardly in a panic.”
Tom sank into the seat he had refused earlier and squeezed his eyes shut. His head hurt like the devil after his ride here.
“You look terrible.”
“The Vails’ baby was born early this morning.” Not to mention he had just ripped his own heart out. It was probably rotting on the floor of Mr. Vail’s office, where he had left it.
“Congratulations.”
Tom nodded. “Listen, once we find Alan, I’m taking him back to Brookeside with me. He won’t be safe until he is away from Longbottom.”
Ian took the other elbow chair and pushed it closer to Tom before sitting down. Minutes passed as his friend digested Tom’s words before he finally spoke. “And what of Miss Vail? Is she happy you are abandoning her so you might father an orphan?”
