When an Earl Loves a Governess by Bowlin Chasity

Author:Bowlin, Chasity
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-03-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Much to Vivienne’s delight, she didn’t simply have letters to mail. There were a few waiting for her, as well. Effie had written, as had Sophie. She took a moment to sit down on a low stone wall near the church and read the letter from Sophie. They had shared a room for the longest time, growing up together at the Darrow School. And now Sophie was no longer simply Miss Sophie Upchurch. She was a viscountess! And as she read the letter, poring over her friend’s words, she realized that she was a very happily married viscountess.

After she’d finished, she considered opening Effie’s letter and reading it, as well. But ultimately, she decided to wait. Effie’s letter would not be the same sort of happy news that Sophie’s had been. Vivienne was well aware that complicated feelings had existed for a very long time between Effie and Lord Highcliff. She also knew that since Effie’s return from Bath with the young Alexandra in tow, things between Effie and Highcliff had been terribly strained. That was a letter she would want to read in private and with complete concentration.

Tucking the letters into her reticule, Vivienne rose and began the short walk back to Edgecombe House. It wasn’t so very far, but it was a deceptively steep climb. As she neared the top of the hill, she was slightly winded. Pausing to catch her breath, she could see a lone rider bearing down on her. It was Simon. She’d know him anywhere. He was riding at such a pace that she knew, without question, something was terribly wrong.

Without hesitation, she set out in his direction. While certainly he was moving more quickly toward her, standing idle in wait was not her way. By the time they’d reached one another, she was all but running.

“What is it? What has happened?” she asked.

Simon’s gaze locked with hers, his expression revealing a stark and terrible fear. “Emily is missing. She’s nowhere to be found in the house—I thought… no, I prayed, that she had made a sudden recovery and simply elected to accompany you or even followed of her own accord.”

Her heart was sinking. “She told me she wished to sleep. I would never have left her otherwise.”

“I do not blame you, Miss Alcott,” he denied hotly. “I blame myself. And I’m certain, in some fashion, the blame may be laid squarely at Mercy’s feet… but at the moment, I care less for who is at fault and more for finding my daughter.”

“You are perfectly right. I have no notion where to begin searching,” she admitted.

He held out his hand for her to pull her up onto his mount with him. Under any other circumstance, she might have focused on how scandalous it was, and also, how tempting. But given their present calamity, all she could think of was where Emily might be and if she was frightened or, heaven forbid, injured. Riding pillion with him, his arms about her, they sped off toward Edgecombe House once more.

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