‘The Rector won’t have much choice but to put him and the Archdeacon up at the Rectory, I’d have thought,’ Perry said, passing her a slice of roast beef. ‘We will hear something in the morning, I’ve no doubt.’
‘He’s got the sense to lock his door at night, I imagine,’ Theo said. ‘You are rather fond of our tame curate aren’t you, Laura?’
There was an edge to the question that made her look sharply at him. Jealousy? Surely not. What had he, the betrothed man, to be jealous of? She caught a momentary glimpse of his expression, of his eyes unguarded, and caught her breath.
‘Yes, I am. I like him a lot, he is a good man and good company,’ she said lightly. But her breath felt tight in her chest. She had thought that what Theo felt for her was desire, liking… But that look? There had been need and pain in those blue eyes. She was beginning to fear that she was in love with Theo Quenten and now she was afraid that he felt the same way. And there was nothing but pain ahead if that was in case.
‘Pass the gravy,’ Perry said and the moment was gone.
The day passed with no news. Theo found excuses to work in the library and avoid Laura. Avoid any more revealing slips like that irrational outburst about Will. It had been pure jealousy and the realisation that if Will did want to court Laura he was free to do so, unlike a certain viscount who had blundered into a betrothal without the slightest thought that might fall in love one day. Because I have, he admitted finally as he thought once more about the look he had seen on her face the day before. She had not been happy.
Wednesday’s luncheon had just been cleared away when Laura announced impatiently that if they did not hear something soon she was going to put on breeches and a false beard and go and find out for herself what was happening. She was only partly placated when Perry promised he would ride over to the Rectory later that afternoon.
Theo lounged over to the drawing room window to look at the weather. ‘Nice day. I might join – Hell and damnation! Laura, run, hide, it’s Sir Walter and Giles Swinburn coming up the drive on horseback, along with a carriage.’
To his relief she didn’t argue, simply turned and whisked out into the hall. He heard the service door to the kitchen wing slam closed as, with a jerk of his head to the other fireside chair, he sat down into the nearest one and unfolded the newspaper. The door knocker rattled before he had opened it.
‘They’re in the devil of a hurry,’ Perry said.
The knocker pounded again as they heard one of the footmen making his unhurried way to the door. Theo cocked his head and listened.
‘Good afternoon, Sir Walter, Mr Swinburn. Oh, Sir Alfred, I’m sorry, I did not see you there.’
‘Who?’ He mouthed at Perry.
‘Only Alfred I know is Sir Alfred Potter, Chief Magistrate for the district,’ Perry said, low-voiced.
‘I will ascertain whether his lordship is at home.’
‘He had better be.’
‘Sir Walter, please – If you gentlemen would just wait in the –’
‘Wait, be damned! Get Manners and his friend Northam out here now.’
‘I don’t pay Terence enough for this,’ Perry said, getting to his feet. He strode to the door, opened it and stepped out. ‘Sir Walter. Is something on fire or have the French invaded?’
Theo followed him into the hall. Terence had backed up and was effectively blocking the way to the service door, so he strolled round to cover the foot of the stairs.
‘Where’s my niece, you blackguard?’ Sir Walter was white with anger and the riding crop he held between both clenched fists looked ready to snap. At his shoulder Giles was set-faced and clearly spoiling for a fight and the slight grey-haired man behind him making futile gestures for calm must be the Chief Magistrate.
‘Miss Darke is missing?’ Perry asked, concern edging into the anger in his voice. Theo felt a fleeting admiration for his acting.
‘Of course Miss Darke. I don’t have any other nieces. Do not try and tell me you don’t know where she is.’
‘Of course I know.’ That produced a stunned silence, then Perry added impatiently, ‘She is in Bath with an old aunt or cousin, I don’t recall which. When I got home from Ireland Northam said that Lady Swinburn had told him – when was it, Northam?’
‘When I had dinner at the Manor, Sir Walter. Surely you recall it coming up in conversation?’ Theo said. ‘Never tell me something has happened to her?’
‘She’s not in Bath – and the pair of you know it.’
Sir Alfred burrowed his way to Sir Walter’s side. ‘Gentlemen, please moderate your tone, this aggression will not assist matters.’
‘My tone is perfectly moderate, Sir Alfred,’ Perry said coldly. ‘Which is a miracle considering that you and my neighbours here have forced your way into my house and Sir Walter appears to be making accusations against me.’
‘A misunderstanding, I am sure, but Miss Darke is missing and – ’
‘And that damned interfering Revenue man called this morning to pry about the place and said your housekeeper allowed him into your cellars when he called and I know perfectly well that you have no housekeeper,’ Giles Swinburn said. ‘The old one was pensioned off a month or more ago.’