Mistletoe Seller by Dilly Court

Mistletoe Seller by Dilly Court

Author:Dilly Court
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780008199555
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-07-15T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter Fourteen

Eloise was adamant that nothing bad could have befallen Belinda either on Grantley land or in the village, but despite her protests Sir Eugene gallantly offered to join the search, and even Susannah had the grace to look a little worried.

‘But, Mama,’ she protested, ‘Belinda might have fallen and twisted her ankle, or she could have become confused and lost her way.’

‘Exactly,’ Sir Eugene said firmly. ‘I’ll join you, sir. We haven’t been introduced but my name is Westwood, and I know the countryside round here like the back of my hand.’

‘How do you do, sir? Percy Montgomerie, and it’s my sister who’s missing. I wouldn’t worry normally if she was a bit late back from a walk, but she left soon after breakfast and she’s unfamiliar with the area.’

‘In that case I suggest we start right way.’ Sir Eugene strode from the room and Percy hurried after him.

‘Well, really,’ Eloise said, falling back on the sofa and fanning herself vigorously. ‘This is too much.’

‘Don’t upset yourself, Mama.’ Susannah went to sit beside her mother. ‘I’m sure they’ll find her safe and sound.’

‘I’ll go with the search party.’ Angel left them grumbling about the inconvenience caused by Miss Montgomerie’s thoughtless actions, and she went to join Sir Eugene and Percy on the carriage sweep where they were discussing the best plan of action.

Percy looked up and smiled. ‘Are you coming with us, Angel?’

‘Yes, of course. I’ll do anything I can to help find your sister. Did Belinda say where she was going?’

He shook his head. ‘No, merely that she wanted some fresh air, but it’s not like Belle to wander off.’

‘We need horses,’ Sir Eugene said firmly. ‘On foot it will take hours and we could easily miss her.’

‘We’ll send the stable boy and the groom to comb the woods.’ Angel tried to put herself in Belinda’s place. ‘I’m trying to think where she might have gone.’

‘She was fascinated by the marsh,’ Percy said slowly, ‘but I doubt if she would have been rash enough to go there on her own.’

A shiver ran down Angel’s spine as she remembered the day when she had been lost in the mist and rain. ‘It’s quite treacherous, even in summer. I’ll take the dogs and walk that way.’

‘I don’t know, that sounds dangerous.’ Percy hesitated. ‘Why don’t you stay in the grounds and leave the marsh to us? I’ll enlist Atkins and Smith. They’re doing nothing while we wait for the blacksmith to finish his work.’

‘Surely she wouldn’t have gone so far? Anyway, we’re wasting time,’ Sir Eugene said impatiently. ‘Come on. The sooner we find your sister the sooner we can sit down and enjoy the excellent food that is always on offer at Grantley.’

Despite her worries Angel had to hide a smile. If only he knew to what lengths they had gone in order to provide the most basic meal, but Sir Eugene had been born to wealth and privilege and she doubted if he had ever experienced the gnawing pangs of hunger and the debilitating weakness caused by near starvation.



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