She glanced at Prudence. “Where’s Tesham? It’s not familiar.”
Prudence looked helpless. “I don’t know.”
“A small village just outside Aylesbury, I think,” said Elvina. “It’ll be a two- or three-hour drive at this time of night.”
“However long it takes, we must go. Woodleigh, would you ask Mr Tadson if he’s up to it? And if so, have him put the horses to the travelling carriage. We’ll need something comfortable for his Grace if he’s still not well when we get there.”
Her hands were trembling, but her voice was steady and already maids were hurrying up and down the stairs.
Elvina and Prudence tugged her into the parlour and made her drink some of the hot tea prepared for their return.
“It will be all right,” fussed Prudence. “I know Uncle Colly’s strong backbone. And with you two taking care of him, I just know everything will be all right.” Then she sat down and burst into tears.
“Oh darling, don’t,” said Ivy, sitting beside her. “We’ll be back before you know it.”
“No you won’t. But I’ll be counting every second.”
Elvina sat on her other side. “We’ll send a message as soon as we get there, love. You’ll know everything, I promise.”
“Pardon me, your Grace. Tadson is putting the horses to and will be ready within ten minutes.” Woodleigh remained in complete control. Only a slight twitch in one eye betrayed his discomposure. “Cook is preparing a basket with some food for your journey and also some things that might tempt his Grace should he be hungry upon your arrival.”
“How thoughtful,” Ivy looked up at him. “I commend you all, Woodleigh. Please tell everyone how very grateful I am, for myself and for his Grace.”
“I will be happy to,” he answered, then turned as there was a tap on the front door.
“That may be Tadson,” Elvina said. “I must fetch my coat.” She kissed Prudence on the cheek. “Try not to worry, my dear girl. I know you will, but remember we are on our way and will take good care of your Uncle, no matter what the situation.”
Hugs were exchanged, and then the door opened to admit both Rose and Lydia.
Ivy jumped up. “Good God, that was fast.”
They looked at Elvina. “We got your message.”
Ivy frowned. “You sent them a message, Elvina?”
“I had a feeling, Ivy. A very strong feeling. At worst, it would have postponed their rest for an hour. As it turns out…they’re here where they’re needed.”
The situation was rapidly explained, Rose and Lydia went to Prudence and took her hands in theirs, vowing to stay right where they were until matters were settled.
Messages would be sent, footmen would flit around town like nighttime moths, and Prudence wouldn’t be alone.
It was all happening terribly quickly, but not quickly enough for Ivy, who was fighting the dread that slowly swelled in her gut.
On their way at last, she leaned back in the carriage and looked at her companion.
“Is he dead, Elvina? Tell me. I know you can sense such things.”
Elvina closed her eyes for long moments. “No,” she said finally. “He is not dead. But he is very weak. He needs you, Ivy. He’ll need your strength; as much as you can give him.”
“He can have whatever he requires,” she answered, her voice steady, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
“You love him that much?”
She turned to her companion and managed a little smile. “Yes, I love him that much and more.”
Chapter Nineteen
The journey seemed to take weeks.
Which was quite absurd, since Ivy was well aware they were in a carriage, driving through the night to the little village of Tesham. If more than a day passed, there would have been daylight. This she knew, but her heart refused to acknowledge it.
Time crawled, much too slowly for her liking.
“He will be happy to see us,” said Elvina, her hand on the strap inside the carriage. “And I will admit I’ll be happy to get there.”
Ivy nodded. “I’m trying to keep thinking the same thing. But of course my mind is wandering down paths that lead to disaster.”
“His note says he is unwell. Taking that at face value, he might have eaten something that disagreed with his constitution. He wasn’t travelling as the Duke, was he?”
“No. He felt it better to have his identity concealed. If he was to learn anything about these rumours and how they had implicated him, he obviously couldn’t just barge in as the Duke of Maidenbrooke. But he hoped being simply Mr Hartsmere would suffice to keep his anonymity.”
“In that case, it is most likely to be something quite ordinary,” replied Elvina. “Travelling the road in the guise of a simple man probably exposed him to a variety of circumstances that could have resulted in an illness. Bad mushrooms, or fish that was none too fresh…any of a number of things a Duke would never have to deal with, but Mr Hartsmere might find troublesome.”
“I shall cling to your words,” said Ivy, struggling for a smile. “But God, I am worried about him.”
“As you should be.” Elvina tapped the basket tucked beneath her feet. “But I have brought most of my most effective herbs and potions. So no matter the nature of the ailment he suffers, I am confident we can cure it.”
“You always know the right things to say,” she sighed. “I don’t know how I would have managed to survive this far without you, Elvina.” The need to touch this amazing woman drove Ivy to reach out her hand.
Clasping it tightly, Elvina closed her eyes for a moment. “Not much longer now.”
Heat flowed between them, settling Ivy’s nerves, reminding her she wasn’t alone, and that if anyone could help Colly, it would be this stalwart companion with
