Her three daughters exchanged uneasy glances. As oldest, Jane usually spoke for all three, so she said, "Truly, Mama, Eliza didn't tell us anything." Remembering the conversation of the afternoon before, she went on, "But yesterday I told her how we had seen Lady Sara, and how her ladyship is staying in town with her father. Eliza was awfully interested."
Anne, the youngest, piped up, "Eliza has told me several times that she really wanted to see Lady Sara, to tell her that she wasn't angry with her even though her father was."
Lady Batsford bit her lip indecisively, thinking that it was exactly like Eliza to slip off to visit Lady Sara, whom she idolized.
She sighed with exasperation. Though she was very fond of her husband's niece, there was no denying that the girl had a willful streak. Lady Sara would have brought the chit back immediately if she suspected that the visit was illicit, but Eliza had a quick tongue. She might have convinced Lady Sara that she had her aunt's approval.
Charles Weldon would be furious if he found out that his daughter had called on his former betrothed.
Better not to notify him that his daughter was missing unless she was still gone at dinner. But Lady Batsford did not expect that; likely Eliza and Lady Sara were having a fine time together. She herself thought it cruel of her brother-in-law to forbid the acquaintance, though she understood his hurt pride.
Lady Batsford was an easygoing woman, not inclined to expect the worst. With no particular sense of urgency, she sent a note to Lady Sara to ask if Eliza Weldon was at Haddonfield House, and if she was, to please send the girl back by the end of the afternoon.
* * *
Sara was exhausted when she returned to Haddonfield House in mid-afternoon. Though she was keeping busy in the hope that activity would save her from breaking down, trying to behave normally was an overwhelming strain.
Ironic that she had consciously chosen to marry Mikahl in the belief that she was strong enough to survive the inevitable pain. Obviously she had badly overestimated her own strength, for her present anguish was greater than anything she had ever known.
The butler gave her two notes when she came in, and Sara carried them up to her room to read. The first was in her father's hand. She expected that he was only informing her that he would dine at his club or some such. He did say that, but went on to write that her husband had called and was most desirous of speaking with her. The prince had asked her to notify him when she came in. If he did not hear from her, he would call again.
Shaken, Sara sat down. So Mikahl wanted to see her. She reread the note, but her father gave no hint of her husband's mood.
She shut her eyes, praying that Mikahl wanted a reconciliation as much as she did. If he was willing to try, surely something could be worked out? She didn't expect him to turn into a plaster saint, simply not to commit murder. To stop heedlessly wrecking people's lives.
Sighing, she rubbed her temple with numb fingers. Perhaps that was too much to ask of a man who had lived for revenge.
"Is something wrong, Lady Sara?" a concerned voice asked.
Sara opened her eyes to find that her maid had entered the room. "Nothing's wrong, Jenny."
Fingers trembling, Sara refolded the paper. Wanting to cover her emotions, she opened the second note. She frowned. "This is odd. It's a note from Lady Batsford, Charles Weldon's sister-in-law. Apparently Charles's daughter Eliza has been staying with her aunt, and Lady Batsford is under the impression that Eliza might have come to visit me. It isn't very far. Do you know if a little girl might have called here today?"
Jenny had been folding Sara's shawl, but at the question she looked up, startled. "What time would she have come?"
Sara glanced at the note. "This doesn't say. Sometime this morning, perhaps. I believe the butler said that Lady Batsford's message had arrived earlier in the afternoon. Do you know if Eliza came and was turned away?"
Ignoring the questions, Jenny asked urgently, "How old is the girl, and what does she look like?"
"She's eleven, a little tall for her age, with light blond hair. About the same height and coloring as you."
"This morning when you were eating breakfast, I saw a girl on the street who looked like that. Then a couple of men took her away." Jenny's hands worked nervously on the shawl. "It seemed strange, but I didn't exactly see what happened, and they were gone before I could think of doing anything."
Sara was beginning to feel alarmed. "Do you think that the men might have abducted Eliza?"
Jenny bit her lip. "I thought there was something familiar about the bloke I saw, but I wasn't sure. But I just realized that I saw him once at Mrs. Kent's house, acting as guard when the regular one was sick."