The Rescue (4 page)

“And what was it that you
had
to get done?” Marianne asked, a smile in her voice.

Lydia laughed again, and the women were still talking when they were joined by their husbands, Frank Palmer and William Jennings. The men kissed their wives and took seats, Palmer’s face rather sober.

“I’ve news from town,” Palmer told his wife with little hesitation. “Word is that Anne Gardiner was married yesterday and is now on her honeymoon.”

“Oh, Palmer,” Lydia said with great compassion. “What has the Colonel done now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where is she really?” Marianne asked.

“No one seems to know.”

“Who was this man?”

Palmer shrugged. “I wish I had more details, but I’ve told you what I know.”

The foursome, who knew Anne from church, stared at each other for the space of several seconds. All were silently praying, but any further talk would have to wait. The voices of the Palmer and Jennings children, all seven of them ranging in age from five to thirteen, could be heard as they approached, and, at least for the moment, thoughts of Anne Gardiner had to be put aside.

Brown Manor

“Mansfield?” Anne asked the morning of her third day. “I can’t seem to locate any polish, and I want to do those mirrors in the hallway.”

“I believe I can locate some for you. If not, I’ll put it on my list for London.”

“Benwick’s should have it—in Collingbourne.”

“I’ve not shopped in town yet. Is it on Main Street?”

“Yes, to the south in the center block.”

“If I do go to town, is there something I can get for you, Miss Gardiner?”

“Well, depending on when I’m finished here, I would like to go back toward town.”

“Are you from Collingbourne?” Mansfield asked in surprise, as this just now occurred to him. “Do you live around here?”

“Yes,” Anne told him with her sweet smile. “I live at Levens Crossing.”

“I would be happy to take you anywhere you wish, Miss Gardiner, at any time you wish. Indeed, we can leave this moment!”

Anne was surprised by his vehemence and didn’t answer.

Mansfield felt he must go on, albeit more calmly.

“Please do not feel an obligation here, Miss Gardiner. I’m certain that as soon as Mr Weston returns, he’ll ask me to begin hiring a staff.”

Anne shook her head. “Thank you, but I think I’d best finish.”

Mansfield said nothing. He knew that many a man in his position would look down on this woman who did the work of a servant when she was a lady by birth, but he felt only compassion for a woman who was obviously stuck in her circumstances.

“Would you look for that polish now?” Anne asked kindly.

“Of course,” Mansfield replied and went on his way.

Anne looked after him. She could see where his thoughts had been headed and knew he needed to be rescued. It was true she wasn’t able to live in the style to which she’d been born, but she wasn’t sorry for herself. Neither did she wish anyone else to be sorry for her. But more than that, she had to take her father into account. He may or may not remember her “marriage” when he saw her again, but if he did it wouldn’t do to have him see her too soon without the groom in attendance. Even if she finished her work at Brown Manor, she wouldn’t be headed for Levens Crossing; she’d be headed to the home of a friend where she could lay low for as long as she needed.

London

“Mother, did you hear me?” Weston asked after he’d explained what had happened.

“I did, Robert, but it’s just too fantastic to be real.”

Weston took a seat, his mind having had the same thoughts, but he’d lived it and it had been amazingly real.

“What will you do?” his mother finally asked.

“What I should have done in the first place, go back and calmly ask Anne what’s going on.”

“That’s her name—Anne?”

“Yes.”

“Anne what?”

“I think the justice of the peace said Garden or Gardiner.”

Lenore nodded but didn’t comment.

Weston caught his mother’s look and questioned her.

“What are you thinking?”

Lenore hated the tears that came to her eyes, but her compassionate heart overflowed.

“I’m sorry this awful thing happened to you, Robert, and if it turns out to be a huge masquerade, I’ll know I wasted my sorrow on this young woman, but I can’t help but think she was just as trapped as you were. More so.”

“I did think of that, but not until I was much calmer.”

“Why did you not go straight back?”

“In my panic, my first thought was to return to London to see my solicitor, something I decided not to do. On top of that, by the time I could think clearly I was almost here and wanted you to hear what happened from me before any word floated back this way.”

“I appreciate that, but I’m glad you’re going back. I so wanted you to fit in and enjoy that community.”

“I’m returning in the morning.”

“Would you like me to come with you?”

“Thank you, Mother, but I want you to visit under better circumstances.”

“Write to me.” She put a hand out and he took it. “Keep me informed, and when the time comes, invite me for a visit.”

“I’ll do that, I hope, very soon.”

Brown Manor

The fifth day had arrived, and Anne was nearly certain it would be her last. If walking back to the village was necessary, she might not be able to manage that until morning, but she was confident of finishing her work by bedtime. The 15-hour days were starting to wear on her, but she hoped the end was in sight.

“Miss Gardiner,” Mansfield said, interrupting her cleaning of the fireplace in the library, “I’m going to Collingbourne. Would you care to join me?”

“You’re leaving now?”

“Yes, unless you plan to join me and need some time. In that case I’ll wait as long as you like.”

Anne smiled at him.

“I’ll remain here, but I believe I’ll be finished today and on my way tomorrow.”

“As you wish,” Mansfield forced himself to say, wishing he could persuade her otherwise.

“You won’t forget more polish, will you?” Anne now questioned him.

“No, I will not,” Mansfield forced these words out as well, having learned in the last five days that he was not even able to stay in the room while she was cleaning. “Is there anything else?”

“I don’t believe so. If I had to stay longer I would need some things from home, but I do think I’m nearly finished.”

Mansfield bowed his head in answer and moved to the carriage he had waiting. He was not in the least put out about doing for himself when he was accustomed to ordering other servants about, but the situation with Miss Gardiner was almost more than he could tolerate. That she had kept her appearance fresh, her hair neat and out of her face, and her manner kind and congenial, was amazing to him, but it wasn’t enough. This woman was a gentle creature. She had no business cleaning anything.

Levens Crossing

Weston rapped on the door of Anne’s house for a full minute before going around the back. Fearful of meeting up with her father, he moved cautiously but found no one. The back door was standing ajar, and Weston took the liberty of checking inside. Completely missing his surroundings and noticing only that no one answered his calls, he slipped back out the way he’d come and into his carriage.

He had half expected to find someone at home and was let down over the outcome. It passed through his mind that the woman he supposedly married was still at Brown Manor, but that seemed too preposterous to be true.

Ah, well,
he thought silently
. I’m sure to have bridges to patch with the way I left, but I hope Mansfield can tell me where I’ll find the Colonel and his daughter.

Brown Manor

“Welcome, sir,” Mansfield greeted his master in the heat of the afternoon. “How was your trip?”

“It was fine, Mansfield. Are you alone here?”

“No, sir.”

Having dreaded that answer, Weston looked into the eyes of his servant.

“So she’s been here since I left?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Doing what?” Weston made himself ask, fearing the answer with all his heart.

“Cleaning,” Mansfield informed him, not able to keep the tensity from his voice.

Weston studied him.

“She’s not a maid, is she?”

“Not remotely, sir.”

But then why?
The question reverberated in Weston’s mind concerning several aspects of this entire ordeal, but he didn’t voice his confusion. The only person who could give him answers was inside.

Handing his hat to Mansfield, Weston went that way.