Until You (27 page)

“It's Ashleigh, she’s gone.”

For a moment, Nicholas thought that the earl must have finally returned from his trip and he felt an odd mixture of relief and something else, something he refused to define.  However, as he looked at his grandmother's face he feared that his assumption was incorrect.  “What do you mean,
gone
?”

“She means that Ashleigh left this morning you miserable bastard,” Brendon muttered with barely concealed rage.

“Brendon!”  Madeline exclaimed, looking at her youngest grandson in surprise.

“I think someone should explain exactly what has happened,” Nicholas stated, in a voice that brooked no argument. 

Madeline cast Brendon a curious glance, and then explained to Nicholas about Ashleigh's note.  Just as Madeline finished there was a knock at the door, and a moment later Dalton was ushered inside to reveal what he had learned at
Glenbrooke
. 

“Was she there Dalton?”  Madeline asked anxiously.

“I'm sorry, Your Grace, Lady Ashleigh wasn't at
Glenbrooke
,” he replied with an apologetic shake of his head.

“Do you have reason to believe that the staff might have been trying to purposefully mislead you Dalton?”  Nicholas inquired.  If the servants at
Glenbrooke
were as loyal to their employers as the servants at
Sethe
were, Nicholas knew that it was quite possible that they would cover up for their mistress, even lie for her if they had been instructed to do so.

“I don't believe so, Your Grace,” Dalton replied, turning his gaze toward Nicholas.  “Several people stopped me to inquire about Lady Ashleigh and asked me to give her their regards.  They appeared to be sincere.  It didn’t seem to me that anyone at
Glenbrooke
has seen her recently,” he stated confidently.

“And the governess?”

“No one made mention of anything amiss in that regard, Your Grace.”

“I see.  And no one suspects that anything is awry?”

“No, Your Grace.  I was careful.  I followed his instructions to the letter,” Dalton replied, nodding towards Brendon.

“You did very well, Dalton, thank you,” stated Brendon as he made his way over to the older man’s side.

“If there is anything else I can do to help, please let me know,” Dalton said, as he turned toward the door.  “I pray that you find Lady Ashleigh safe and sound, and soon, for the weather outside is worsening.  It won’t be fit for man nor beast before long,” he murmured with a quick glance toward the window.

As soon as the door closed behind Dalton, Brendon turned on his brother.  “This is all your fault!” he ground out, his face flushed in anger.  “So help me, Nick, if so much as one hair on her head is harmed, you will answer to me.”  Even as he said the words, he was turning towards the door.

“Where in the hell do you think you're going?” demanded Nicholas.

“I'm going to find her,” Brendon stated, the tone of his voice daring Nicholas to try and stop him. 

“Fine, let's go,” Nicholas said, brushing past Brendon as he too moved toward the door.

Brendon clamped his mouth shut, cast a quick, reassuring glance at his grandmother who had remained silent for the past several moments glancing between he and Nicholas in shock and confusion, and then followed his brother out into the hallway.

As they hurriedly donned their heavy winter garments, they discussed the upcoming search.  It was decided that Brendon would travel to the east and Nicholas would travel to the west.  They agreed to meet back at the estate in two hours.  If neither one of them had located her within that time, they would then enlist the aid of all the able-bodied male servants at the manor.

Nicholas was getting frustrated.  He had been riding for over an hour and had found no indication that Ashleigh had traveled in that direction.  He had questioned every person he’d passed on the road and no one claimed to have seen the young lady he’d described, nor the unmistakable black stallion she was riding.  The snow had begun to fall in earnest, and despite his lingering anger from the night before, he was worried.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he wondered why he hadn't thought of it sooner.  Lady Tiffany Marlowe was Ashleigh's closest friend.  Could it be possible that Ashleigh had informed Lady Tiffany of her plans?  Even as he considered the notion, he wheeled his horse around, and then galloped in the direction of the Marlowe estate.   

By the time Ashleigh reached her grandfather's hunting lodge she felt as if she had been traveling for days rather than hours, for she was soaked to the skin and still felt ill from the night before.  It had been snowing hard for the last hour and she’d been forced to travel at a snail's pace due to the poor visibility and ice-covered roads.  With a sigh of relief she finally turned Raider toward the stable nestled just beyond the house, more than ready to get them both out of the harsh weather that surrounded them.  Blinking, she attempted to rid her lashes of the clinging snowflakes as she dismounted. 

Wearily, Ashleigh entered the stable, leading Raider into one of the stalls where she removed his saddle and then covered him with a heavy wool blanket.  She also made sure that he had plenty of hay, oats, and water to last him until morning.  Once satisfied that the stallion would spend a comfortable night, she made her way to the small stone building located some fifty yards away.

The snow was falling harder and the wind was picking up as Ashleigh cautiously shoved open the heavy front door.  She wasn’t surprised to find it unlocked; the lodge was so far off the main road that few people even knew it was there.  It also contained very little of value, so it wasn’t a prime target for thieves.  In addition, trespassing was no minor offense, so anyone who might have chanced to enter the house would have done so at no small risk.  However, as there hadn't been any animals in the stable and there was no smoke coming from the chimney, she was fairly confident that the dwelling was empty.  As she stepped inside, she was relieved to discover the lodge was indeed empty and seemingly in the same condition as she had last seen it.

The hunting lodge was comprised of only six rooms, but Ashleigh knew it would serve her purposes admirably.  Shivering with cold, she shed her sodden cloak and then walked over to the huge stone fireplace built into the far wall of the large front chamber.  There was a pile of wood stacked neatly on one side, but as she looked around, she didn't see anything to light the fire with.  Thinking to find some flint in the kitchen, she rummaged through numerous cupboards but found nothing.  She did find several candles however, but as she had nothing to light them with, they too were useless. 

In her search, she also discovered that the only food in the lodge consisted of a few rotted potatoes and a small sack of flour.  So much for dinner she thought ruefully, wishing she had packed a few more provisions.  Whenever her grandfather stayed at the lodge he sent servants ahead to prepare the place, but unfortunately, Ashleigh hadn’t been able to make any advanced preparations for her unexpected stay.  She would simply have to make do until Tiffany sent the supplies.

Knowing that her note would surely have been discovered by now, she could only hope that Madeline wasn’t too upset by her sudden disappearance.  She’d thought the note had sounded quite convincing, but she would send another missive through Tiffany's servant stating that she had arrived safely at her destination, to help corroborate her story.

Teeth chattering, she sat down upon the short leather sofa and pondered her future.  With a few minor improvements, she would assuredly be able to live quite comfortably at the lodge until her grandfather’s return.  Thinking of her grandfather, she knew that he would be shocked and upset by her condition, but she also believed that he would support whatever decision she chose to make regarding her future and that of her child.  Resting her hand upon the slight, almost indiscernible swell of her stomach, Ashleigh vowed to do anything in her power to see that her child was given the best of everything.  She would never let the stigmatism of being illegitimate harm the innocent baby growing within her womb. 

Feeling completely drained from the journey to the lodge, Ashleigh decided to take a nap and slowly made her way up to the second floor.  She chose the smaller of two bedrooms and was greatly relieved to find several blankets and quilts packed into a large chest near the foot of the bed.  By the time she had the bed made, her head was beginning to ache and she could scarcely seem to keep herself upright as she removed her sodden garments.  Wearing nothing but her damp chemise and drawers, she slid under the covers and fell into a deep sleep almost instantly. 

When she awoke several hours later, she was disoriented, her head throbbed and chills racked her entire body.  She struggled into a sitting position and the room seemed to spin and blur around her.  Her mouth tasted as if she had been chewing on damp cotton and her tongue felt unusually thick and dry.  She longed for a drink of water, but she didn't think she had the energy to make it down the stairs and back up again.  She closed her eyes and tried to put the thought from her mind but it did no good, she was completely parched.  Oh why hadn't she thought to fill a water pitcher from the pump in the kitchen and bring it upstairs with her?

Finally, her thirst nearly unbearable, she decided to make the trip downstairs.  Wrapping herself in one of the quilts from the bed, she swung her legs over the side of the mattress, and then gripping one of the wooden bedposts, she pulled herself to her feet.  As she stood up the room spun crazily before her eyes.  She took two tentative steps before she faltered, and then everything went dark as she collapsed in an unconscious heap upon the hard wooden floor.

Nicholas' mood was black when he strode into the Marquis of Melbourne’s front hall.  Identifying himself to the greying butler, he was immediately informed that the marquis had traveled to London the day before, and wasn’t expected to return for at least another fortnight.  

“Is Lady Ashleigh St. John here?” he demanded.

“Lady Ashleigh?”  The butler looked at him in confusion.  “No, Your Grace.”

“Is Lady Tiffany at home?”

“Yes, Your Grace, but…”

“I need to speak with her at once.”  Nicholas knew it was highly improper to request a meeting with Lady Tiffany when her father was not in residence, but propriety be dammed.  He needed to find Ashleigh.  Despite the flustered butler’s obvious misgivings, he was shown to the Marlowe's front salon while Lady Tiffany was notified of his presence.  He glanced briefly toward the nearest chair, but he was too agitated to sit.

When Nicholas noticed Tiffany Marlowe hovering near the doorway a few minutes later, he immediately stopped his restless pacing.  When she merely stood upon the threshold, staring at him in mute trepidation, he strode towards her. 

Tiffany took an automatic step back as he approached her, for his expression was ominous.  “Where is she?” he demanded, stopping to stand directly in front of her.

Tiffany opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out.       

“Answer me!”  He hadn’t meant his tone to be so harsh, but he was extremely frustrated with this entire situation.  He was going to wring Ashleigh's neck when he got his hands on her.   

“I-I d-don't know,” Tiffany stammered.

“Do not lie to me.  I know she told you where she was going,” he proclaimed brazenly, in truth not knowing any such thing.  He watched her face as he said the words however, and could tell by her expression that Ashleigh had indeed informed her friend of her intended whereabouts.  However, when she simply stared at him in silence, Nicholas decided it might be better to change his tactics.  “Do you have any idea what the weather is like outside, how cold it is?” he demanded.  “I know she took her horse, which means that she is traveling alone and virtually unprotected.  She could take a fall, lose her way in the snow, be attacked by thieves or murderers.  For God's sake, do you have any idea of the dangers she could be facing?  Do you want to see your friend come to harm?”

“I d-don't know what to d-do,” Tiffany spluttered, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. 

Once again, Nicholas changed his tactics.  Gently, he reached out and lifted her chin so that their eyes met.  “Please tell me where she has gone,” he implored, his tone softened.  “I have no intention of harming her.  I only wish to keep her safe, I swear to you.”

Tiffany chewed on her lower lip, her expression conflicted.  “The lodge,” she said finally.

“The lodge?”

“Her grandfather's hunting lodge, that is where she was going,” Tiffany admitted, concern evident in her anxious gaze.

“I know where it is,” Nicholas said, breathing a sigh of relief.  He was familiar with the area, as his own hunting box was located not too far away.  “Thank you.”

After requesting that Tiffany send a note to his grandmother, informing her that he had discovered Ashleigh's destination, Nicholas turned and left the room, exited through the front door and strode back into the swirling snow and icy wind.

When Nicholas arrived at the hunting lodge later that afternoon, he was cold, hungry and beyond infuriated at the worry and trouble one rebellious young woman had caused so many people.  Glancing about, he was a bit surprised not to see any smoke coming from the chimney of the building, and for a moment he feared that Ashleigh might not have come to the lodge after all.  Dismounting, he led his tired mount into the stable and was greatly relieved to see Ashleigh's stallion standing docilely in one of the stalls.  After stabling his own horse, Nicholas walked toward the lodge with every intention of paddling the little vixen’s behind black and blue.  This time she wouldn't be able to sit down for a week.