A Scot to the Heart (Desperately Seeking Duke #2) - Caroline Linden Page 0,97
His back strained and ached at the motion, and he thought longingly of lying on the comfortable bed under the eaves. Instead he lowered himself into the chair and pried off his boots for the first time in two days.
His friend hesitated. “It’s not gone well for her, in town. The sheriff thinks she must know something. He sent his men to search her house, which led the whole town to believe she’s an accomplice. The rumors are licking like bonfire flames at her feet.”
Quietly he swore. “Agnes?”
“Has been to see her,” confirmed Duncan. “Including just today. She had to argue her way into the house and declares she practically shoved the butler aside to gain entrance. She thinks Mrs. Ramsay is about to flee town herself, to find her father and bring him home to prove his innocence.” He cleared his throat. “And, coincidentally, escape the gossip, I imagine.”
Drew rubbed his face with both hands. “Damn.” He glanced up. “Agnes is sending you word, eh?”
Duncan flushed. “She turned to me for advice in your absence, and she’s the only one Mrs. Ramsay will speak to. I offered Mrs. Ramsay my support and assistance directly, which she politely declined. But I’ll tell you this—she’s frightened, and with good reason.”
Drew nodded. “Thank you.” He levered himself up and went to the desk. “Take one more note to Agnes for me, and I’ll be in your debt.”
The carriage was waiting early the next morning. Mr. MacLeod took out her trunk and helped the driver stow it. Ilsa, who had not slept, pulled up the hood of her cloak, hugged her white-faced aunt good-bye, and stepped outside, eyes down. It was the first time she’d left the house since that horrible day Liam intercepted her, and she felt exposed and vulnerable just descending the steps.
“Ilsa! Ilsa, wait!”
She flinched. There went her hope to leave quietly and unnoticed. Why oh why hadn’t Agnes respected her wishes?
“Have you come for Robert? Thank you,” she said as Bella St. James, the fastest of them, flung herself in front of the carriage.
“Wait, please,” the girl begged as her sisters dashed up, out of breath and, in Winnie’s case, hatless. “You can’t go off like this, you can’t!”
“I must,” she said in a low voice. “Please keep your voice down.”
Oh, but they did. Ilsa had Mr. MacLeod send out a boy to buy all the papers, and there was rampant speculation that Ilsa and perhaps Jean, too, had urged Deacon Fletcher to flee. The St. James girls must know it. She looked at Agnes in reproach, feeling betrayed.
“It’s not right—it’s not fair!” cried Bella.
“Life seldom is.” Her voice sounded brittle to her own ears. “Go home, please.”
“Drew is back,” whispered Bella urgently. “If you’ll only wait—”
God help her. “I have to go,” she tried again.
“We worry for you.” Agnes, the turncoat, stood an arm’s length away, pale but composed. “We don’t want you to race off into danger.”
She lowered her voice even more. “We discussed this yesterday, and nothing has changed for me. Can you not do me the courtesy of trusting me to know what I must do and not do? Have you no faith in me?”
Agnes was blinking hard. “We have faith in you,” she said, her voice quiet but trembling with emotion. “We are your friends, and we don’t want you to get . . . hurt.”
Ilsa swallowed. Arrested, was what Agnes had almost said. Their concern made her eyes sting, but they didn’t understand. How could they? They probably didn’t notice the faces peering from neighboring windows, but she did; she was used to them now, because she’d seen people stop outside her house to gawk and whisper. She’d seen the sheriff’s officers stroll up and down the street several times a day, casting watchful eyes upon her door. She knew Mr. MacLeod had disposed of numerous items left on the steps, though he never would tell her what they were.
She was glad her friends didn’t know about all that, but it reminded her that she couldn’t let them dissuade her from the only course of action open to her. “Thank you for taking care of Robert. He would be so lonely with only my aunt.”
Agnes bit her lip and glanced at her sisters. Tears slipped down Bella’s cheeks. Winnie’s gaze flitted from Agnes to Ilsa and back, as if begging one of them to relent. Ilsa’s heart ached. She didn’t want