15. Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

R uby helped Eliza peg out the washing in the stable yard. It was a windy day, perfect for doing the laundry. All the household except Charles and Nora were involved in the exercise, which required boiling gallons of water in the outhouse and vigorous agitation to release the dirt from the clothes and bedding. It was exhausting work, but Eliza and Mrs. Jenkins made little of it despite knowing they'd have to go home and do it all again for their own families.

Charles was finishing up in his consulting room and was due to go up to the navvy camp for his regular afternoon clinic. Nora was taking a nap upstairs while the rest of them battled with the sheets.

A horse and rider dressed in an unfamiliar livery came through the gate into the yard and dismounted in front of Ruby. "You." The rider pointed at her. "Fetch your master."

Eliza stepped in front of Ruby and wagged her finger in the man's face. "You speak to my mistress with respect, or I'll send you on your way with a flea in your ear!"

"I apologize, ma'am." The man bowed and offered Ruby a sealed letter. "I have an urgent message from the Earl of Nash for the doctor."

"I'll see that he gets it at once," Ruby said. "Would you care to step inside for a cup of tea while we care for your horse?"

"No thank you, ma'am. I've already secured accommodation at the Station Hotel stables. I'll wait there until I hear from Dr. Nash."

He turned, remounted his horse, and clattered off, ducking his head to avoid the low brick arch over the exit.

Ruby watched him leave and then turned to Eliza. "I'll just take this into Dr. Nash. I won't be a moment."

She went inside and through the internal door that led to Charles's consulting room. She paused until she heard him say goodbye to his patient then knocked and went in.

"What is it?" he asked.

"There's a message from your father." She held out the letter.

He took it, broke the seal, and read rapidly. "My mother is unwell. My father requests our presence."

Ruby touched his shoulder. "Both of us?"

"Yes. Can you make arrangements for Nora to be cared for?" There was no hint of emotion on his face. "There is a hired carriage awaiting us at the Station Hotel to take us to Nash Hall."

"I'll speak to Bridget," Ruby said. "And then I'll pack some essentials."

Despite Ruby's concerns, they were on their way north within an hour. Mrs. Jenkins, Eliza, and Bridget had assured her they could look after Nora and keep the house running for as long as Ruby needed. She'd taken a moment to scribble a note to Caroline, and the stable boy had taken it to Grafton Hall.

Charles had said very little, his expression hard to read, but she knew him well enough now to see his fear for his mother.

She risked a question. "Charles? Has your mother been ill like this before?"

He started as if she'd roused him from a deep sleep. "She… is somewhat prone to the symptoms of nervous collapse."

"What does that mean?" Ruby asked.

"Sometimes she becomes too tired and low to leave her bed for days, and on other occasions she is full of energy, and cannot sleep at all."

"Is there a reason for her illness?"

"Apart from being married to my father? I'm not sure. She can be fine for months and then suddenly relapse with no warning." He looked out of the window and said under his breath, "I just hope to God that she is all right."

"I'm sure she will be." Ruby sought his hand and found it clenched into a fist.

"My father wouldn't insist on my presence if things weren't dire." He swallowed hard. "In the past, he's threatened to confine her more closely."

"That's horrible," Ruby said. "We must find a way to help her."

He didn't reply, his gaze fixed on the approaching gatehouse. The gatekeeper had already come out, and the carriage went swiftly up the drive to Nash Hall. Ruby almost wished for less haste as she dreaded what they might find when they arrived.

There was no sign of the earl as the butler welcomed them into the house, but Miss Evans appeared promptly, her expression extremely agitated as she ran down the stairs, almost stumbling in her haste.

"Dr. Nash, thank God you're here. I don't know what to do."

Charles went over and took her hands in his. "How is my mother?"

"I don't know!" She glanced wildly up at him. "She's gone!"

* * *

It took Charles a second to recover from the shock and to hear Ruby's gasp of dismay behind him.

He gripped Miss Evans's hands and made her look at him. "Tell me what happened."

The butler cleared his throat. "If I might suggest you withdraw to the morning parlor, sir? There is a fire made up, and I've already sent for some refreshments."

Charles abruptly turned to blast the man's offer to oblivion, only to have Ruby step in front of him. "That's an excellent idea. Come along, Charles." She took Charles's arm. "There's no need to discuss such matters in the hall."

Miss Evans followed Ruby and Charles along the corridor, and the butler showed them into the charming room and discreetly withdrew.

"Now, tell me everything that has happened," Charles said, trying to pretend he was dealing with any patient but his mother.

Miss Evans gripped her hands together at her chest. She was very pale. "Yesterday morning the earl came to speak to Lady Lavinia in private. After he left, she was very agitated. I asked her repeatedly what was wrong, but she refused to confide in me. Eventually, she asked me to make her a sleeping potion and went to bed." Her voice cracked. "I put her bed, but when I went to check on her later, she wasn't there, and the sleeping potion hadn't been touched. I immediately searched the house and then the gardens but I could find no trace of her."

"Did you inform my father?" Charles asked.

"Not at that point. It's not the first time she has gone for a walk in the grounds and either lost her way or forgotten the time."

Charles nodded. He was well aware of his mother's propensity to wander. Miss Evans was being kind about why his mother might not have returned to the house.

"There are certain staff members whom I trust to search for Lady Lavinia with the utmost discretion. When I failed to find her, I sent them out but with no success." Miss Evans grimaced. "I felt obliged to inform your father when her ladyship hadn't been found by dinner time."

"And how did he take the news?" Charles asked.

"He…" Miss Evans struggled to speak and her eyes filled with tears. "He said that it would do her good if no one searched for her until the morning. I begged him to change his mind but he refused."

"Damn him to hell," Charles said softly as Ruby came to stand beside him.

"Early this morning the vicar came to see the earl and said his wife had discovered Lady Lavinia down by the stream when she'd taken her dogs for a walk. She was soaked to the skin and unconscious." Miss Evans visibly gathered herself. "The vicar arranged for Lady Lavinia to be taken to the vicarage as it was the closest house and next door to the village doctor."

"Then we should go there," Charles said, turning to the door.

But Miss Evans carried on speaking. "I walked down at lunchtime, Dr. Nash, thinking I would bring some of her home comforts and… She wasn't there anymore, and no one would tell me what had been done with her."

Miss Evans began to cry. Ruby offered her a handkerchief and a supporting arm around her shoulders.

"I am so sorry, Dr. Nash. I feel as if I have failed both you and your mother."

"No fault lies with you, Miss Evans," Charles said. "Your care for my mother has been exemplary."

The butler came in with a tray of refreshments and set them on the table.

"Is my father in, Benson?" Charles asked.

"I believe he has just returned, Dr. Nash. Shall I inquire if he wishes to see you?"

"No, tell him I'll speak to him in ten minutes in his study."