Ariella's Legacy by Sharon Milburn

Author:Sharon Milburn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2012-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Ariella felt slightly battered and bruised the next morning but not really that much the worse. Lady Fitzjohn had been suitably horrified when told the tale the night before, blaming herself entirely for the whole episode. Ariella had felt obliged to beg her not to be so absurd.

There was another battle over the breakfast table.

Lady Fitzjohn still looked as worried as she had been the night before. “I simply cannot leave you again, after such an experience. I will write to Mrs. Burrell and cancel my engagement with her today.”

“And offend one of the most fearsome of all the patronesses at Almack’s? You can do no such thing!” Ariella deeply appreciated the sacrifice her chaperone was prepared to make but it was out of the question. “I promise faithfully not to set one foot outside our own front door until you return home again. Barnes is to be trusted not to let any unsavory men into the house, after all. I will be perfectly safe.”

“Perhaps you should come with me. That might answer.”

Ariella shook her head. “No, it would not answer at all. You know perfectly well all the matchmakers are going to be making their plans at this gathering and there will be no other young ladies present. You cannot miss it and I cannot go. It is as plain as that.”

Lady Fitzjohn sighed. “You are right, of course but I cannot like it. Promise me you will be careful.”

“What on earth can happen? I shall be perfectly safe on my own practicing my new piece and finishing off Sarah’s portrait. You’ll see.”

Three hours later, Ariella had barely picked up her pencil to work on the background of the sketch when Barnes entered the room. Hot on his heels was none other than Lord Trent.

“Miss Gerrard, I must beg you to tell me if you have seen Sarah this morning! It is of the utmost importance that I find her and at once.”

“Oh, what has happened?” Ariella could only shake her head. “I know nothing of her whereabouts. We had no plans to meet until Thursday.”

His lordship gasped. “Richard, my brother, has been carried home with a blow to his head. He is not sensible as yet, only moaning and muttering Sarah’s name. They left home together after breakfast. According to the butler Richard was escorting her to visit you.”

“And there has been no sign of her since? Oh, dear God! What has become of her?”

A dreadful premonition sprang into her mind. “Surely you don’t think…Hugh?”

“It’s exactly what I think. Or that damned fellow Squeames. It would have taken two of them to overpower Richard in such a way. Probably they offered to take them up in the carriage, or some such thing and then disposed of Richard.”

“Oh, how could they? How could they! You must go after her.”

His voice sounded grim. “I have every intention of going after her. You will think me quite outrageous to ask this but would you accompany me? I must have another

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