Fortune's Daughter by Dilly Court

Author:Dilly Court [Court, Dilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2021-04-15T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

‘Hester, I think Patsy has run away from home,’ Rosalind said breathlessly as she leaned against the kitchen table.

‘The silly little maid. It’s obvious where she’m headed. I knew no good would come of her seeing the Yelland boy. He was always trouble.’

‘Do you think she’s eloped with Barnaby?’

‘Where else would she go?’

‘Maybe she went to Greystone Park. She was a bit upset that I refused Sir Michael’s offer of marriage.’

‘Quite right too, in my humble opinion, Miss Rosalind. You’m too good for him, even if he’s filthy rich.’

‘Money doesn’t come into it, as far as I’m concerned. I wouldn’t marry a man I didn’t love. I’d rather die an old maid.’ Rosalind looked up at the sound of footsteps and a shadow moved across the flagstones.

‘Is anything wrong? You sounded anxious, Rosalind?’ Piers entered through the door to the courtyard. ‘It’s such a beautiful morning I went for a stroll.’

‘You didn’t happen to see my sister, did you?’

‘The only person I saw was Abe and we had a chat about strawberries. Apparently the fruit is almost ready for picking.’

‘Never mind the strawberries,’ Rosalind said impatiently. ‘I think Patsy has run away.’

‘Where would she go?’

‘That’s what we want to know, sir.’ Hester poured boiling water into the teapot. ‘Have a nice cup of tea, Miss Rosalind. It’ll calm your nerves.’

‘Thank you, Hester,’ Rosalind said absently. She met Piers’ gaze with a steady look. ‘At best she might have gone to Greystone Park to see Christina, but I’m afraid she might be planning to elope with the blacksmith’s son.’

Piers laughed. ‘It sounds like something Aurelia would do.’

‘It’s not funny. Barnaby is engaged to Lucy Warren, the wheelwright’s daughter, and she’s in the family way, not to put too fine a point on it. If you think you might have a scandal on your hands you ought to understand why I’m so worried.’

Hester poured the tea and handed them each a cup. ‘Miss Patricia is under age. No vicar in his right mind would perform the service.’

‘Patsy was reading a novel where the hero and heroine eloped to Gretna Green. She’s very romantic.’

‘And very young.’ Piers placed his cup back on the table. ‘There’s only one solution. I’ll go after them.’

‘I’m coming with you,’ Rosalind said hastily. ‘Greystone Park must be my first call. I’ll have Ajax saddled and I’ll go there now.’

‘And if she isn’t there? What will you do then?’

‘I’ll think about that later.’

‘I have a better idea. I’ll have my tilbury made ready. It’s not as fast as the curricle, but I left that at Trevenor. If your sister isn’t at Greystones we’ll drive on and try to catch them up.’

Rosalind could see the sense of this argument and she nodded. ‘All right, if you’re sure?’

‘I’m quite sure.’ Piers hurried from the kitchen.

‘If I was a betting woman I’d put my money on Gretna Green,’ Hester said grimly. ‘Miss Patricia wouldn’t get much sympathy from Sir Michael. I reckon he’d send her home straight away if only to get into your good books, poppet.

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