Page 51 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
David nodded. “Of course.”
“Would you go to his room and see what he is doing?” Her eyes were wide. “We really should start dinner. My cook has gone to a lot of effort, and she will be churlish if her food spoils.”
David was already on his feet. “I will do it now.”
He left the room quickly. Susannah turned back to the maid. “Tell Cook to delay. Hopefully, we will be ready to eat in ten minutes or less.” The maid curtseyed again, exiting the room.
Susannah turned back to Amy, frowning slightly. “I do hope that nothing is wrong …”
Amy smiled. “Oh, I am sure that Mr Stone has merely overslept! He had a very late night, after all. He will return with David at any moment.”
Susannah nodded. “Of course, that is all it will be.”
But her frown deepened. Restlessly, she got to her feet, walking to the dining room window and staring out at the grounds.
Twilight was upon the day, and the hills beyond were swathed in orange and purple. From here, she could only just see the back of the estate, leading towards the stables. It was already darkening rapidly. Within half an hour, she knew it would be pitch black.
She smoothed down the creases in her gown anxiously, as she gazed out. He couldn’t be out there, could he? He must know that wandering the grounds, as night was descending, was not a good idea. Not now, with what had happened last night. Not with Leonard Green still hovering at the edge of her life, intent on causing trouble.
She tried to shake away the cloying fear. He was just running late, that was all.
But as the minutes ticked by, and David still had not returned, her heart started to beat rapidly. Something was wrong, again. She just knew it.
Chapter 21
A full ten minutes had passed before the door opened again. Susannah turned around quickly, her face pale.
It was David. He looked grave.
“Mr Stone is not in his room,” he said slowly. “I knocked for the longest time, but there was no answer.” He paused. “Eventually, I decided to risk his displeasure and went in. He wasn’t there … but I know that he has dressed for the evening. I saw the clothes that you sent him when I went there earlier, lying on the bed. They are not there now …”
Susannah felt all the blood draining from her head. “If he is dressed for the dinner … then he must have been delayed before coming here.” She hesitated. “But he has sent no word. That is not like him, at all.”
“No, it is not like him,” said David frowning. “And I know how much he was looking forward to tonight, Mrs Drake.”
She suddenly felt nauseous. Jasper wouldn’t have just gone somewhere else, with no excuse as to why he was late. But where was he?
She took a deep breath. “Can you search the grounds, David?”
He nodded. “I was just about to suggest that. This does not sit well with me, either. Especially after what happened at the stables last night …”
Susannah nodded. “No, it is troubling.” She took another deep breath. “I will search as well, around the stables. You go in the opposite direction.” She was already heading towards the door.
“Susannah,” cried Amy, looking concerned. “I do not think you should be out on the grounds. It is almost dark …”
“Then come with me.” Susannah turned back, staring at her friend, a determined glint in her eye. “I cannot justsithere, waiting, while David does all the work! He is out there, somewhere. He must be. And I am scared …”
Amy got to her feet. “Very well, then. We shallalllook for him.”
Without another word, they rushed out of the dining room towards the back of the house. Before they left, Susannah grabbed some woollen coats, hanging on the back of a door, handing them out.
“It is cold out there, now,” she muttered, quickly slipping a thick, black coat on. “And we do not know how long this will take us. Take care, everybody.”
They both looked at her, not saying anything.
The next minute, they were out the door, heading into the darkening light.
***
