16. Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"I 'm coming with you," Ruby said as Charles finished his tea.

He strode toward the door, his expression cold. "There's no need."

"There is every need." Ruby went toward him. "You are angry about what has happened to your mother. If you immediately lose your temper, your father might not be very forthcoming about where your mother is."

"Then come if you insist, but allow me to deal with my father in my own way."

Inwardly, Ruby sighed. "As you wish."

She followed him down to the earl's study. Charles went in without knocking. Ruby was surprised to see that the earl awaited them.

"Ah, Charles. You arrived in excellent time. I thought it was difficult for you to get away?"

"If you didn't require my immediate presence, why did you write to me?" Charles asked, his tone as arctic as his father's. "Where is my mother?"

The earl sat down behind his desk. "She's in a safe place."

"Where?"

"That is hardly your concern."

"As her only surviving son and a practicing physician, it is very much my concern, sir. Please give me her direction, and I will visit her immediately."

The earl looked down at his desk and moved some papers around. "I don't think that would be wise. She was quite… manic. She had to be heavily sedated to prevent her from harming herself."

"She was found unconscious by a stream last night after you refused to search for her," Charles said. "She could hardly be considered dangerous."

"She became agitated when she woke up at the vicarage. Mrs. Theydon was frightened when she started raving." The earl's small smile made Ruby want to slap him. "She was quite relieved when I took Lavinia away and even thanked me."

"Why didn't you bring her here?" Charles demanded.

The earl sighed. "Because it is obvious that Miss Evans is no longer able to contain your mother's excesses." He paused to write a note. "That reminds me. I must dismiss her without a reference immediately."

Ruby stepped as close to Charles as she dared and took his hand. His fingers were shaking, but no sign of his agitation reached his voice.

"Please give me the address of the establishment where my mother has been taken," Charles said.

"I regret I cannot do that."

"Why not?"

"Because you, like Miss Evans, are not conducive to Lavinia's continuing health. She has been agitated since you left."

"I understand that she only became agitated after you visited her in her chambers, sir," Charles snapped. "Perhaps you might care to explain what you did to cause her such distress?"

"I had to share some devastating personal news with her about your wife." The earl turned to look at Ruby. "Perhaps you might care to leave the room while I discuss a somewhat delicate matter with my son?"

"I'm not leaving my husband, sir." Ruby met his gaze head on.

"Anything you wish to say to me can be said in front of Ruby," Charles agreed.

"I thought to spare you distress, Mrs. Nash, but so be it." The earl turned back to Charles. "I have some information about your wife that you might find distasteful to hear."

"I doubt it."

"It is one of the reasons why I fear I cannot allow you both to see your mother."

Ruby and Charles exchanged a cautious glance as the earl set his pen back in its inkwell.

"I thought, perhaps, that if I shared this shocking information with you alone, Charles, you could decide what you wanted to do about it, and whether you wished your wife to be allowed to see your mother."

"I must confess to be all at sea, sir," Charles said slowly. "Are you suggesting that you will give me my mother's location as long as I don't tell my wife or bring her to visit my mother?"

The earl inclined his head. "Exactly."

"That's… absurd."

Silence fell as the earl continued to stare at Charles. "You might feel differently when you know of her perfidy."

Charles squeezed Ruby's hand. "How about you tell me the address and then share your concerns about my wife, and I will decide what I intend to do next."

"I'm not stupid, my boy. The moment I give you that address, you'll be off with no thoughts as to the consequences to your name and the reputation of your family."

Ruby cleared her throat. "I am more than happy to withdraw if you wish your father to give you the address, Charles." She didn't care what the earl said about her, if Charles was able to gain access to his mother.

"I'd prefer you stay here." Charles stared at the earl. "Tell me what my wife has done then, sir."

"She has deceived you mightily." The earl produced a sheaf of notes and slid them across the desk to Charles. He made no effort to pick them up. "Until a year ago, she was living with a man who wasn't her husband." The earl waited but Charles said nothing. "Does that not disgust you?"

"Not particularly. Please go on."

"She had a bastard child." The earl looked at Ruby. "Can you deny that, ma'am?"

"No, I cannot."

"She obviously saw you as an easy mark, Charles." The earl sighed. "She abandoned her lover, and God knows what she did with her child in order to end up in Millcastle where she entrapped you into marriage."

Charles turned to Ruby. "Do you think he's talking about our Nora?"

"I believe he is." Ruby smiled up at him.

The earl sat back in his chair, his expression thunderstruck. "You know about this child?"

"Know about her? I tuck her into bed most nights and read her a story, sir. She's almost one now and such a delight. Now have you finished with your pathetic threats? We need to find out where you've put my mother."

The earl visibly gathered his composure. "Not from me."

"That was obvious from the moment we began this conversation," Charles said. "You staged this whole drama simply to get me up here to make me abandon my wife." He paused. "The fact that you used my mother's fragility to further your cause makes me sick to my stomach."

He turned toward the door and Ruby followed him, her head held high. It wasn't until they were in their bedroom that Charles spoke. "The absolute bastard ." He sank into a chair and put his head in his hands.

Ruby knelt at his feet and put her hand on his knee. "We will find her. He can't keep her hidden away forever. People will talk."

He swallowed hard, displaying a vulnerability she hadn't seen in him before. "He is so determined to punish me for being his heir that he's willing to hurt everyone I care about just to crush my spirit and bring me to heel."

Ruby had come to the same conclusion but kept her thoughts to herself so she could concentrate on helping Charles. "We should go and speak to Mrs. Theydon," Ruby suggested.

"I hardly think she'll help us if she was frightened out of her wits."

"I suspect your father claimed that was the case simply to justify his actions to take your mother from her care." She rose to her feet and put one hand on his shoulder. "We also need to speak to Miss Evans. If your father has dismissed her without a reference, she'll need somewhere to go."

"Miss Evans can come back with us," Charles said and rose to his feet. "Why don't you go and find her while I arrange our transport to the vicarage."

* * *

A grateful Miss Evans was dispatched to pack her belongings while Ruby and Charles took a gig down to the vicarage. A rather flustered Mrs. Theydon admitted them and offered tea. Charles hurried off to speak to the vicar in his study while Ruby went to sit with Mrs. Theydon. The unheated drawing room contained little except the necessary furniture and had large windows that rattled when the wind blew. Having grown up in households used to economizing, Ruby recognized the signs of an income pushed to its limits.

After a few minutes of polite conversation while they awaited the appearance of the tea tray, Ruby turned to the matter at hand. "We are so grateful for your care of the viscountess, ma'am. Charles was beside himself with worry when he was informed his mother was missing."

Mrs. Theydon pressed her hand to her bosom. "I almost shrieked when I discovered her on the river path, her hand trailing in the water, her dress soaked through from the rain." She shivered. "I thought she might be dead. I confess that a thousand thoughts crowded through my mind, making it almost impossible to act! It wasn't until one of the dogs licked her face and she made a small sound that I was able to go toward her and offer my assistance."

"Was she conscious at that point?"

"Not really, but I was simply relieved she was alive. I ran back to the vicarage as quickly as I could and got help to bring her up to the house."

"That was very well done of you." Ruby paused as the maid delivered the tray, and the vicar's wife poured them both a cup of strong tea.

"Lady Lavinia has always been very kind to me, Mrs. Nash. It was the least I could do when she was in such a terrible state."

"She is a very sweet lady," Ruby agreed. "It is a shame that on some occasions her nerves get the better of her. Miss Evans told me the countess went out for a walk yesterday afternoon. She must have got lost when it started to rain, mistook her way home, and ended up by the river. I know the staff at the hall were searching for her for hours." Ruby sipped her tea and studied Mrs. Theydon over the rim of her cup. "I understand that the countess behaved badly to you when she regained her wits."

"Anyone waking up in a strange bed would be confused and frightened." Mrs. Theydon pressed her lips together. "I took no offense."

"The earl described her as manic."

Mrs. Theydon looked anywhere but at Ruby. Eventually, after a glance at the closed door, she returned her attention to her guest. "I would not have described her in such a manner, ma'am."

Ruby held her gaze. "I suspect she only became agitated when the earl appeared."

Silence fell between them, until Mrs. Theydon cleared her throat. "My husband owes his living to the Earl of Nash."

"I can assure you that anything you tell me will not reach his ears," Ruby said. "We are simply trying to ascertain where the earl took the countess so that we can assure ourselves that she is in good hands."

Mrs. Theydon worried at her lip.

Ruby set her cup down and leaned forward. "Did anyone in your household hear where the earl planned to take her?"

"One of our stable hands carried the countess down the stairs into the earl's carriage. He was ordered to accompany the earl to provide assistance."

"Has he returned yet?"

"Yes, Michael came back early this morning."

"May I speak to him?" Ruby asked. "I can ask for him in the stables, and you need not be involved any further."

Mrs. Theydon made a face. "I'll probably be in trouble for saying anything at all if my husband finds out, but I cannot bear to see the countess treated so harshly." She paused. "She was so afraid of him it broke my heart."

Ruby rose to her feet. "Thank you. I hope we meet again in more pleasant circumstances. If the earl does accuse you of anything, just pretend you know nothing about it and that it was all my own idea to speak to your staff."

"I hate to lie, but in this instance, I think I will take your advice." Mrs. Theydon remained seated. "I will stay here and finish my tea and remain in blissful ignorance of where my guests are and to whom they are speaking."

"Bless you." Ruby smiled at Mrs. Theydon and left the room.

She found her way to the kitchen where a cook was stirring something on the range and the maid was busy washing up.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" the cook asked.

"I think I left one of my gloves in the gig. I'm just going to make sure it is there."

"Stables are across the courtyard, ma'am. I'm sure someone will be able to help you."

"Thank you." Ruby smiled at the two women. "If Dr. Nash inquires as to my whereabout, please tell him I'll be back very shortly."

"Mary was just about to take a pot of coffee into the vicar's study. She can mention it to Dr. Nash while she's in there."

"Thank you." Ruby went through the scullery into the courtyard beyond. The rain had stopped, and she took a few deep breaths before going into the hay-scented stable. There was a boy tending to their gig and she went over to him.

"Is Michael here?"

"Yes, miss." He gazed at her expectantly.

"May I speak to him?"

"Yes, miss." He ran toward the interior of the stable and yelled at the top of his voice, "Lady here wants to see you, Mr. Stones!"

There was a disturbance in the loft above and the sound of grumbling as someone came down the stairs, brushing hay off his shoulders. "I've been up all night, lad, I was just having a kip. Why are you shouting me bloody ear off?" He saw Ruby and came to a sudden stop. "Sorry, miss."

"Are you Michael?" Ruby went toward him. "I'm sorry for disturbing your rest, but there is something very particular I'd like to ask you."

* * *

Charles spent quarter of an hour with the vicar and learned nothing except that the vicar was too afraid of the earl to comment about anything, which wasn't exactly a surprise. When the maid came in and mentioned Ruby had popped out to the stables and that he wasn't to worry himself, he wondered what on earth he was supposed to do. Was there some hidden meaning in her message? Should he immediately join her? His dilemma was increased when the vicar suggested they take their coffee in the drawing room with the ladies.

He acquiesced and was somewhat relieved when Ruby joined them shortly afterward, her expression as composed as ever.

After another twenty minutes of polite conversation, he caught her eye and rose to his feet. "We should be getting back, my dear. We are due to leave this evening and we must say our goodbyes to my father."

"Of course." Ruby stood, too. "We just wanted to thank you for helping Lady Lavinia. It was such a relief for us to know she had been found and cared for."

"It was the least we could do," the vicar said. "I will pray for the countess with special intent tonight."

"Thank you." Ruby curtsied to the vicar and then to Mrs. Theydon.

Charles took her hand and they left the parlor. It wasn't until they were in the gig and driving back to the hall that Ruby spoke again. "I know where your mother is."

Charles almost dropped the reins. "What on earth?"

She smiled at him. "One of the stable hands at the vicarage had to help carry your mother into the earl's carriage. He ended up accompanying her all the way to the end of her journey."

"You have the address?"

"Yes. Now all we have to do is collect Miss Evans, avoid the earl, and get away from Nash Hall as quickly as possible."