Page 34 of What the Lady Wants
‘Yes, my lady, I’m sorry to say, from Winter Manor, and the groom was asked to seek you out most particularly, only he was a little bashful and found me instead, as was only natural, him being my own nephew. There’s been an accident, seemingly, and I’m to ask you to come at once.’
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‘An accident? Involving Captain Winterton?’
‘Yes, my lady. I’m not to let you think it’s anything desperate, but apparently he’s hurt and is asking for you in particular. I don’t know any more than that. The groom’s gone back in case he’s needed there, to fetch a doctor and such, and Lady Irlam’s carriage is being prepared for you now. I’ve sent for your pelisse and bonnet, as soon as I realised what was afoot, and all those footmen standing around like useless great lumps with no idea what to do. Will you go, my lady?’
She pressed her hands to her temples. ‘He can speak, then? It’s not…’
‘I’m not sure exactly what’s happened, my lady, though I don’t believe he’s at death’s door, so don’t you be thinking it. But he is asking for you and begs that you’ll come, so he can’t be all that badly hurt, can he? Will you go?’ she asked again.
‘Of course I will!’ said Isabella, coming out of her trance with a start and jumping to her feet. ‘Has his mother been sent for?’
‘I believe so, but she’s walked out through the park with Lady Irlam and nobody’s sure exactly where they’ve got to, so it may take a little while to find them, and then for them to get backonce they’re found. I’m sure the carriage will be ready to take you now, and your warm things brought down to wrap up in.’
Isabella allowed the woman to shepherd her out into the hall, where a young maid was indeed waiting with her clothes. When she came to put on her pelisse, she found that her hands were shaking so much that she could not make them obey her, and Mrs Oldcastle tutted in a motherly sort of way and buttoned it up for her, and tied her bonnet ribbons securely besides. It was like being at home just for a moment, with her mama. She thanked her for her help with a tremulous smile and the woman said, ‘I know it’s a shock, my lady, but you be strong and I’m sure all will be fine in the end, you’ll see.’
A moment later she was in the carriage, staring out of the window as the wheels crunched out over the gravel drive. She’d never been to Winter Manor and could not recall, if she had ever known it, how far it was from the Castle – not too far, she hoped. Her heart was racing and she felt light-headed, but Mrs Oldcastle was right, she must be strong. He’d asked for her, he needed her, and she was going to him. However much she had hurt him, however angry he had been with her and still must be, he had asked for her. She could only hope that didn’t mean he was in a truly desperate case, wanting to share some final communication with her before… No, no, she couldn’t think like that. She had too much bitter experience of loss – she wouldn’t give rein to her worst fears and let herself imagine that Leo was going to be taken from her just as Ash had been. Life couldn’t be so unfair. Not again. It couldn’t.
Isabella closed her eyes and tried to still the fast, shallow breathing that was making her dizzy, but an endless procession of hideous scenes played themselves out across her mind – had he fallen from his horse? Been shot by poachers somehow? – and she opened them again, looking out with a sightless gazeat the bare trees and frosty, deserted fields as they rolled past. Could the coachman not go any faster?
Though in her agitation the journey seemed endless, it was in fact considerably less than an hour before the conveyance turned between two gateposts topped with pineapples and drew up outside a fine old house of soft pinkish brick with a white-stuccoed porch and two rows of regular sash windows. She had no eyes for any of its charms but was out of the carriage and at the door almost before the steps were let down. The Castle servant who had handed her down from the vehicle, or tried to, had to scramble to ply the doorknocker for her, and the elderly butler who answered his summons seemed a little taken aback to see them both. No doubt the shocking events of the morning had overset him. But when she asked breathlessly for Captain Winterton, unable to conceal her agitation, he merely bowed and opened a door for her, ushering her into a room off the hall and closing the door behind her.
She had expected, dreaded, a scene of frantic activity such as was all too familiar to her – a doctor, perhaps, hovering servants, disorder, distressing sights attendant on an accident, even blood. What she had not expected was to see Leo, to all appearances completely unharmed, though pale, sitting behind a desk and gazing at her in utter astonishment.
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Isabella leaned back against the door, suddenly unsure if her legs would continue to support her. She had not the least idea what was going on, and nor, it seemed, did the Captain. He had risen instinctively to his feet upon seeing her, and said, ‘Lady Ashby – Isabella! What are you doing here? I don’t understand. Are you unwell?’
‘There has been some inexplicable mistake,’ she replied weakly. ‘May I sit down?’
‘Of course,’ he said. His face was white and grim, but he was – she ran her eyes over his tall frame again to be sure of it – entirely unhurt. More than that, she realised as her wits returned with agonising slowness, he very plainly had not sent for her, nor had he expected her.
She sank into a chair that was set before his desk and said, ‘I was told that you had been injured, that you had sent for me. I was told that there was a message…’
He looked at her, frowning. ‘A message from me? I sent none. And as you can see, I am unharmed, there has been no accident or mishap of any kind. I don’t understand this.’
‘I assure you, nor do I.’
‘Was it a written message you received?’
‘No. I was told that one of your grooms had ridden over to the Castle in search of me, that you were hurt, but not so seriously that you were unable to ask for me. A carriage was put to and I came at once, in the gravest apprehension. But now I see that it was not true. I am so confused I can barely think straight.’
‘You came alone?’
‘Nobody else was present in the Castle. Lord Irlam has gone to London, Lady Irlam and your mother were out, Lady Carston is unwell and keeps to her chamber… It was Lady Irlam’s abigail who gave me the message.’
‘Kitty?’
‘Yes, that was her name. A tall woman with curly brown hair. I’d never seen her before.’
‘I think you have been tricked, Lady Ashby,’ said the Captain slowly.
She put her hand to her forehead. ‘That… How is that possible? Why would anyone do such a cruel thing?’
‘I think it must have been Cassandra,’ he said.
‘Good God, for what purpose?’
