Panic flared.
Miss Asprey examined Christian’s face with curiosity and interest. He supposed a mistress was always looking for her next benefactor should her current lover grow tired and move on.
“Your name is Knight?” Miss Asprey said with mild amusement. “As when the sun has set, or as in the medieval heroes we love to read about in tales of olde?”
Christian frowned. “As in those charged with defending a maiden’s honour.”
“Splendid.” Miss Asprey clapped her hands together. “Now, before we sit — and I recommend we do sit as the matter calls for a calm, logical approach — we must express our gratitude for your help at Morton Manor.” She coughed once into her clenched fist.
“Then please take a seat.” Christian gestured to the chairs in front of the desk. The ones regularly occupied by Taylor and Wilmslow. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the manor is but a mile from Everleigh. I came as soon as I saw the smoke.”
“And we are grateful you brought Dr Taylor.” Stanton waited for his companion to sit before dropping into a chair. “With his assistance, Miss Asprey has made a speedy recovery.”
“I trust your stay at The Talbot Inn is proving satisfactory.” Christian sat, too. He suspected they had no desire to pass pleasantries and wished only to address the matter at hand.
Miss Asprey nodded. “Mrs Parsons has been most attentive.”
After a brief silence, Lord Stanton cleared his throat. “We are here to discuss a matter of some delicacy. I don’t know you, Farleigh, but they say you’re a fair and honest man.”
Christian braced himself. This was the moment they demanded the return of their maid. “I try to be. Unless I believe the cause is something worth fighting for.” He’d not give up so easily. Besides, Rose hadn’t signed a contract, and was under no obligation to go with them.
“We’re looking for someone.” Stanton shuffled in the chair. “A woman with golden hair and a bright smile to be exact.”
What an odd way to describe a servant.
“Her name is Rose,” Miss Asprey added.
Christian’s stomach performed numerous flips. “You speak of the missing maid?” It was better to come straight to the point.
Lord Stanton frowned. “I think we all know the lady in question is not a maid.”
“Indeed.” Rose was an angel sent to aid him in his hour of need.
“Look, this isn’t easy to say, and so I'll go out on a limb and hope I can rely on your discretion.” Lord Stanton sighed. “I’m looking for my sister. Lady Rose Darby. She was staying at Morton Manor and left to go to London but never arrived.”
“Lady Rose Darby?” Christian’s throat grew tight. A dark cloud descended. He blinked and tried to clear his vision. There had to be a mistake. Surely the earl spoke of another woman, not his Rose.
“Yes,” Miss Asprey began. “We’ve been out of our minds with worry. She left determined to reunite with Lord Cunningham, but no one has seen her since.”
“Lord Cunningham?” Again, he knew the name, not the man. “Is he a relation?”
“Heavens, no.” Stanton gave a mocking snort. “She believes herself in love with him, though heaven knows why. The gentleman is a pompous fool who’s happiest when in front of a looking glass.”
Christian sat back in the chair and covered his mouth with his hand for fear of cursing. How could Rose be so caring and intimate with him when she loved someone else? A cold chill swept through him. Frost formed around his heart. Soon it would be a thick casing of ice — a barrier against all liars and deceivers.
An uncomfortable silence ensued.
“Well, Farleigh?” The earl narrowed his gaze. “Am I right in thinking you have a lady here by that name?”
Oh, he had a lady in the house called Rose, but clearly, he didn’t know who the bloody hell she was.
“The woman you speak of came here five days ago.” His voice held no hint of emotion. He kept an indifferent expression, despite nausea crippling him from within. “Mrs Hibbet, my housekeeper, mistook her for the maid I’d hired, even though she was not due to start for another week.”
Stanton sat forward. “I suspected as much. My groom, Peters, saw Rose outside The Talbot Inn yesterday and followed her here.”
The Talbot Inn? Rose never mentioned leaving Everleigh. But it seems there were a lot of things the lady chose not to mention.
“He said she’d cut her hair,” the earl continued in a tone brimming with disapproval. “Hence the reason he took his time before coming to me. Peters spoke to the doctor who confirmed Rose works here.”