To Distraction (Bastion Club 5)

More gentlemen drifted in, followed by the older ladies in twos and threes. Audrey glided in; she paused and considered the table, then glided to the sideboard.

A few minutes later, he looked up to see her approaching. He rose to hold a chair for her.

Instead of immediately sitting, she paused beside him and laid a hand on his sleeve. “What have you done?”

Her tone was long-suffering. He fought back a scowl. “Nothing.” Before she could scoff, he added, “Something’s going on.”

She’d always been able to read him well; she didn’t make the mistake of thinking he was inventing something to distract her. Concern crept into her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Grim, he drew out the chair. “If I knew…”

She hesitated, patently thinking, then patted his arm and finally sat. As he resumed his seat beside her, she murmured, “Edith and I have every confidence in you, dear, so do get whatever it is sorted out.”

Feeling as if he were twelve again, he gave his attention to his plate.

At least outwardly; most of his senses were focused on Phoebe.

The older ladies continued to arrive in trickles. Luncheon was almost over when Lady Moffat, a female he’d labeled a tartar with a liking for histrionics, swept into the room, out of breath and transparently out of temper.

“Maria—Gordon!” Her hair straggling wildly, her gown obviously hastily donned, Lady Moffat appealed to Lady and Lord Cranbrook. “It really is insupportable! My maid has up and disappeared, and no one seems to have any idea where the ungrateful chit’s gone!”

“Good heavens!” Lady Cranbrook looked stunned, as did most others.

“What am I to do?” Lady Moffat wailed.

Deverell looked down the table at Phoebe. Displaying her customary calm, she was watching Lady Moffat with a detached, even critical, eye; she was certainly not surprised.

Not a hint of astonishment showed as she observed the reactions of the others—Lady Cranbrook, who had risen and gone to calm Lady Moffat, the other older ladies who were gathering around, Lord Cranbrook, who was ponderously getting to his feet.

She didn’t look at Deverell, but then she knew he was watching her.

Despite now knowing the identity of the female Phoebe had led into the wood, he still couldn’t fathom why.

One part of his mind had been following the exclamations and expostulations of the bevy of older ladies gathered about Lady Moffat. To his surprise, Lady Cranbrook, with Audrey beside her, turned to him.

“My lord, I wonder if we might prevail upon you to lend us your expertise.” Maria wrung her hands. “It’s really quite unsettling. This is the third female servant to go missing at a house party in recent months.” She paused, blinked, then hurried to assure him, “Not all here, of course. But among our circle.” She gestured to the other ladies, crowding behind her to bend appealing gazes on him.

It was hardly the sort of thing he had any experience of.

Lord Cranbrook came to stand beside his wife. “I’m the local magistrate, Paignton, but I have to say I’m not up to snuff with this sort of thing. Servants disappearing—well!” His lordship puffed out his cheeks. “I’d take it very kindly if you would lend me your assistance and look into the matter.”

What could he say? He met Audrey’s eyes and saw nothing but calm certainty that he’d accept Lord Cranbrook’s commission. Rising, he took Lady Cranbrook’s hand and bowed. “If it will set your mind at rest, ma’am, I’ll do whatever I can.”

With his lordship, he retreated to Lord Cranbrook’s study. There they interviewed the redoubtable Stripes and the housekeeper, an upright female, neither of whom could add anything to the tale that when Lady Moffat had summoned her maid at one o’clock, the girl, Jessica, had been nowhere to be found.

“Have you searched her room?” Deverell asked.

Stripes understood. “Her bed was slept in, my lord, and some of her things are still there.”

“Some?”

“Her uniforms and the like,” the housekeeper put in, “but not her brush or personal things, and there’s no bag. She had a bag with her t

hings in it when she arrived.”

Deverell nodded and stood. “I’d like to see her room.”

Aside from his own ever-increasing curiosity, there was Phoebe and her reputation to consider. He wanted to make sure there was nothing in the girl’s room that might link her to Phoebe or one of her servants.