Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,41

but it was in the heat of the battle, so to speak. He could not condemn her for that, especially as he had instigated it.

“It’s up to you to be the best you can be for her,” Miles said quietly. “My, this is a large house for a school.”

“Isn’t it just?” Samuel said, hailing the gatekeeper.

“Captain Jones, good morning to you. Good to see you back. Hope you bring news of Miss Hardy,” the gatekeeper said as he swung the large iron gate open.

“Blast it. She’s not here,” Samuel said under his breath, the tightness in his chest increasing its hold.

*

“I am afraid there has been no word from anyone since you left, Captain,” Dawson said, having shown the two gentlemen into the drawing room.

While Samuel had been absent, the house had been put back to how it had been. All was in its rightful place, except its mistress.

“They didn’t arrive at Barrowfoot House, and we have checked every inn between here and Hampshire and there is no sign of them,” Samuel said.

Dawson still had his arm in a sling, but he instructed a maid to carry in a tray of refreshments. “I shall set your chamber up, sir, and one for his lordship?”

“Yes. I suppose,” Samuel said. “Where the devil do we look now?”

“Has she any family or friends?” Miles asked Dawson.

“No, sir. Her uncle was her last remaining relative.”

“What about Dunn? Or this Miss Bolton?”

“Miss Bolton’s family live in Sidmouth, and if they had been there, we would have known by now,” Dawson assured him.

“Dunn’s family is from Wales. I suppose they could have travelled there, but I have no idea why,” Samuel said.

“Let’s get something to eat, and then we can plan our next move,” Miles said, approaching the tray full of food.

“Do you ever forget about your stomach?”

“Not unless I am seriously ill, and I’ve never been that sick to date,” Miles said with a grin, taking a bite out of a large biscuit.

The two men ate and drank in silence once Dawson had left them. The brooding air emanating from Samuel was enough to convince Miles that he was not coming up with many possible avenues to explore once they were replete.

When the tray was empty, Dawson re-entered the room with a maid and instructed her to clear the cups and plates.

“Is Cook busy? I would like to say hello,” Samuel asked.

“She is keen to see you, sir.”

“Then I shall go to the kitchen directly,” Samuel said, standing. “Joining me, Miles?”

Miles followed, mute until they entered the stairs to the kitchen. “You are seeking out the cook?”

“Yes. She’s a formidable woman who did not falter when she must have been frightened half to death.”

“Are you some sort of twin to my long-time friend that I have known nothing about until now? For you are not the Jones I know.” Miles’s tone was incredulous, and his expression was that of a man looking at his friend as if for the first time.

“Was I so high in the instep that you would think this strange behaviour?”

“Without doubt, a resounding yes.”

“Then I was a fool,” Samuel said, stepping into the kitchen, a smile on his face.

Cook looked up and opened her arms in welcome. “Ah, there you are! Returned to us at last! What’s all this about Miss Esther being missing?”

“Cook, this is my friend Lord Longdon,” Samuel said, hoping to delay the inevitable difficult conversation.

“My lord.” Cook curtseyed. “You are as welcome in my kitchen as Captain Jones is.”

“Thank you,” Miles said meekly.

“It is nice to see you again, Captain Jones, but I admit, I am desirous to hear where my mistress could be,” Cook said, looking directly at Samuel. “What has gone wrong?”

“I wish I knew.” Samuel took a seat at the large kitchen table. “They seem to have disappeared into thin air.”

“That’s nonsense. Where have you checked?”

Samuel told her of the journey they had made and all the inns that had been stopped at and innkeepers questioned. “There is absolutely no sign of them. It seems impossible that there is no trace of them, but there isn’t.”

Cook looked at Samuel; she seemed to be assessing what to say to him.

Samuel was quick to pick up on her hesitation. “What is it? Have you had news?”

“No. What I tell you is not my secret to tell and I wouldn’t normally divulge it, but I think under the circumstances it makes sense that she would go there if in trouble.”

Miles and Samuel waited while the woman struggled