Annie Burrows - Four Regency Rogues

‘Why would there be anything wrong? She is no doubt too busy organising the ball.’

‘Then you have answered your own question. However, it is not only the ball, but her business that keeps her. I have heard rumours…’

‘Rumours? What rumours?’

‘The Cartwright mill is having trouble keeping the looms supplied with yarn.’

‘Who told you that?’

‘Lady Brandon, who had it from her husband.’

‘Charlotte cannot possibly be in financial trouble, can she?’

His mother shrugged. ‘I would hardly think so. This ball of hers must be costing a fortune and she is too levelheaded to waste money on frivolities when it is needed elsewhere.’

‘You do not think it can be Browhill that is draining her resources?’

‘Who is to tell? If it is, you could put a stop to it in an instant. That is, if you want to. Or perhaps you would like to see her ruined.’

‘Of course not. Mama, how could you think it?’

‘Then give up this vendetta. I wish your papa had never started it.’

His mother did not wish it any more heartily than he did. He and Charlotte seemed to have established a rapport, but if her business failed, those who decried women trying to do the work of men would make a laughing stock of her. He realised quite suddenly that he would hate that to happen to her. But he could not believe the rumours were true—she was too well established. ‘I told Mountford an age ago not to proceed.’

‘Did you?’ she asked in surprise. ‘Have you told Miss Cartwright that?’

‘No, I left it to him to do so.’

‘He might have an interest in forgetting his instructions. He was your father’s man, you know, and he blames himself for advising your father to hand over the land. Perhaps he is hanging on, hoping to redeem himself.’

‘I had not thought of that. I might as well go and see Miss Cartwright now, though if I know her, she will pretend complete indifference and tell me she never doubted the land was hers and she intended to open that new level notwithstanding.’

He left Miles teaching Tommy and set off for Mandeville, where he was received by a worried Lady Ratcliffe. ‘I am so glad you came,’ she told him, rushing forward to meet him. ‘My great-niece has gone to Liverpool with no escort but the coachman. I cannot think that it is safe for her to go off alone like that, but she was determined and would not listen to reason. And by all accounts it is not the sort of place a lady should be wandering alone in, what with common sailors and all manner of foreign people who land there. You will go after her, won’t you, dear Lord Temple? I cannot think of anyone else I can trust.’ This was said in a breathless rush and she had put her hand on his sleeve to emphasise her words, but let it go to fish for her handkerchief in the pocket of her skirt and dab at her eyes.

‘Of course,’ he said, his head whirring with how it could be done. ‘When did she leave?’

‘First thing this morning.’

‘Then she has a good start. Do you know whereabouts in Liverpool she was going?’

‘To the docks. That is the worst of it. Her ship is overdue…’

‘Do not worry, my lady. I will find her and see she comes to no harm.’

‘Oh, thank you, thank you. That is such a relief to me.’

He took his leave and did not see her tears turn to smiles as soon as the door had closed on him.

He rode back to the Hall at a gallop, where he went over the route with Travers and sent him ahead to arrange the post horses, then he ordered Bennett to harness the coach and went in search of his mother. She was in the schoolroom, watching Miles teaching Tommy. He put his finger to his lips and beckoned to her. She tiptoed out. ‘What is the matter, Roland?’

‘I hope nothing, but Miss Cartwright has gone off to Liverpool on her own and Lady Ratcliffe is in a stew over it.’

‘So you are off to Liverpool after her,’ she said, following him to his room and watching as he stuffed nightwear and a change of clothes into a carpet bag. She took them from him and started to pack it properly.

‘Yes. I was planning to go in any case. We need new wainscot for the dining room. It is badly worm-eaten and there is no one locally who can provide the quality we need. If Miss Cartwright wants to know why I have followed her, I can say my being there is pure coincidence. If need be, I will rack up with Geoffrey.’

‘Rack up—Roland, what a common way of putting it,’ she said, laughing. ‘You can hardly call one of Geoffrey’s bedrooms a rack.’

His cousin, Geoffrey Temple, had made a fortune through the war providing uniforms for the army. He was also Roland’s heir. But that was the last thing on his mind as he kissed his mother goodbye and hurried out to where Bennett waited with the carriage.

‘Spring ’em,’ he told him, as he flung his bag on the seat and himself after it.

He would need at least five changes of horses if he was to make good speed and he hoped the corporal’s persuasive tongue and the hefty purse he had given him would ensure they were ready every time he stopped. Even then he did not expect to arrive before nine or ten that evening and Charlotte had half a day’s start on him; he would have to look for her the next day, though what he would say to her when he met her, he did not know. He did not think she would welcome him with the same degree of relief that Lady Ratcliffe had displayed; she was far too independent.

But supposing she were in trouble, supposing her stubbornness to cut that new level at Browhill had been done simply to pique him? If it was, then she was not the hardheaded businesswoman she pretended to be. Miles had said she was vulnerable and perhaps he was right. Roland felt a weight of guilt that made him realise their bickering was not a game and could have direful consequences. His one aim now was to find her and reassure her. The journey seemed endless.

Geoffrey’s mansion on the outskirts of Liverpool was a showcase for fine furniture, ornaments and pictures, but he was a good-natured man and received Roland enthusiastically, ordering supper for him and telling him he could stay as long as he liked.

‘Thank you, but I think one night will see my business done.’

‘Tell me about Amerleigh,’ Geoffrey said, watching Roland eat. He had had nothing since breakfast and was hungry. ‘How is your mama? I was there for the late Earl’s funeral. A sad occasion and the Hall in a sorry state.’

‘Yes.’ He could do nothing about Charlotte until the next day and had to curb his impatience to answer his cousin. ‘Mama is well and enjoying refurbishing the Hall.’

‘Good. Tell me what you have done and what about the people? They must have been glad to see you again.’

They joined Geoffrey’s wife, Elizabeth, in the drawing room and he spent the next two hours talking about Amerleigh and the villagers, and the longer he talked, the more he realised just how much it all meant to him. Everything. The Hall, the village, the people like the Biggs family, especially Tommy. And Charlotte, of course. He could not imagine life without her. Where was she? Would he be able to find her?

He rose early the following day and, leaving his carriage and horses in Geoffrey’s stables, took a cab to the docks. Liverpool had become a very busy port, beginning to rival Bristol in the number of ships that put in there, much of it down to slave trading, though now that had been outlawed, the ships carried manufactured goods and the only human cargoes were emigrants. The dock basin was a forest of masts and several ships were loading and unloading at the quayside. The Fair Charlie was well known and he soon learned that it was more than two weeks overdue. Miss Cartwright had been there the day before, he was told at the harbour master’s office, but they had no idea where she went after leaving them.