Page 58 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
“I was journeying here to see her,” he said slowly. “I had purchased an Arabian stallion for her, to show how sorry I was. The thief stole it, when the carriage was held up. Otherwise, it would be in your stables now.”
Mr. Nott looked stunned, but he was trying to hide it. Mrs. Nott was stunned, too. Her eyes lit up, and a slow smile spread over her face. Miles could see that he was starting to convince her that he was being truthful in how much he esteemed their daughter.
“I will depart today, for my own country home in Dorset,” he said quietly. “But may I have your permission to call on Ara, while I am in residence?”
Mr. Nott frowned. He was just about to say something, when there was a sudden sharp rap at the door.
The older man’s frown deepened. “Come in,” he called impatiently.
The door opened. Miles turned, to see Ara’s younger cousin, Ruth, enter the room. The girl was pale, and her blue eyes were cloudy with concern.
She took a deep breath. “I am sorry to interrupt. But there is a matter of urgency which must be brought to your attention…”
“What the deuce is it, Ruth?” Mr. Nott’s voice was hard.
Ruth took another deep breath, glancing at Miles. “It concerns Ara, Uncle. You know that she was not present at breakfast, and we all thought that she had just slept in…”
“Yes?”
“Well, I went to her room, to rouse her,” she continued, in a tremulous voice. “But the room was empty. When I asked Mary, she said that she had already dressed her for the day. She had assumed that she was going to join us for breakfast.” The girl bit her lip. “I have searched for her everywhere, but she isnotin the house.”
Miles felt a shiver of foreboding fall through him.
Mr. Nott’s face was like thunder. “That girl! She promised faithfully that she wouldnotdo this anymore, especially in the current circumstances, with a rake on the loose, carrying a gun no less…”
There was another knock on the door, and the butler entered. “Sir, I have just had word from the stables that Miss Arabella’s horse is missing, as well as its saddle. It seems that she has gone out riding…”
Mr. Nott swore under his breath.
Miles’ blood ran cold. Ara was out there, riding Pem, with that blaggard still roaming the countryside. She was at risk. He had to go out and find her.
He glanced at her father. “Sir, may I have your permission to saddle a horse and search for her?”
Mr. Nott paled. “You are a good horseman, I take it?”
Miles nodded. “I am quick.” He paused. “I promise I will find her, and bring her back safely.”
Mr. Nott nodded slowly. “Please…do that. We will wait for you…”
Miles didn’t need any more prompting. He tore out of the house, running towards the stables. His arm still throbbed, but he paid no attention to it. Within five minutes he had saddled a horse, and he was heading out, riding like the wind beyond the grounds of Rudwick House.
***
Miles slipped down in the saddle. He clutched the reins tighter, willing himself to stay upright. His arm was aching, almost burning.
He sighed wearily. He had been hours in the saddle, searching for her. He had been down every narrow country lane and every dirt path. He had even headed towards the coast, staring down at the golden beach, his eyes scanning it desperately for a horse.
But there was no sign of her.
He took a deep, ragged breath, trying to stay upright. He should head back to the house. For all he knew he had missed her along the way, and she was there now, safe and sound. He couldn’t keep fruitlessly going over the same ground. At the very least, if she wasn’t there, he could change horses and have some restorative water before he headed back out again.
He felt his jaw clench. It went against all his instincts to stop searching, but there was nothing else for it. With a sigh, he led the horse back towards the house. He could just see it in the distance. Ara’s home. The home that she had pined for so much, when she had been in London.
A sudden anger overwhelmed him. What had she been thinking, riding out like that, without telling anyone, in the present circumstances? Why had she done it, when her father had claimed that she had promised faithfully that she wouldn’t venture out?
But suddenly, shame overwhelmed him. She had headed out like that because she was so upset about what had happened last night. He knew her. He knew that the only place that she could find comfort and peace when she was upset was when she was riding her horse. And the fact that she had been so upset that she had ignored the warnings and her promise said a lot, indeed.
And it was all his fault.
