“We are an. . . item, Father. You understand that. I wasn’t about to leave her in town.”
Gregory didn’t add that he couldn’t have left her there.
Creditors had stopped by constantly to demand money he didn’t have. The pathetic situation had encouraged their servants to quit, but only after the spoiled group had created a huge scene by insisting their back wages be forked over. When he’d admitted he couldn’t pay them, they’d walked out.
Evidently, they’d gossiped about his penury because no other candidates had applied for their vacated positions. It was a predicament that simply couldn’t be tolerated, and he had to fix it, the problem being that he had no idea how.
He needed to beg his father for an infusion of funds, but from his dour expression, an advance wasn’t in the cards. Gregory didn’t dare suggest it.
“I haven’t seen Caroline since my failed wedding day,” Gregory said. “I thought you’d locked her in her bedchamber. Wasn’t that what we decided should happen? I thought you’d gotten control of her.”
“She escaped when I was out of the house!”
“A servant must have let her out.”
“None of them had a key that fit except for me. They couldn’t have helped her.”
“Well, she didn’t vanish into thin air, so I don’t believe their claims of innocence. They likely all conspired to aid her. We should line them up in front of Lucretia. She has a nasty way with intractable employees. She could pry out some answers.”
“Don’t mention Mrs. Starling to me again. It’s a mystery to me how you could be stupid enough to bring her back here. How could you imagine she’d be welcome?”
“Why shouldn’t I have brought her? It’s not as if Caroline is going to marry me.”
“I haven’t given up on the prospect.”
“I have,” Gregory said. “Why would I care if she’s angry about Lucretia? It hardly matters now. The wedding is off—permanently. Or have you stumbled on a vicar who’s a little less ethical than our local one? Have you dug up some reprobate who will perform the ceremony, despite her being so mortally opposed?”
“I haven’t a clue how to find a corrupt minister. I talked to a judge instead. He signed a commitment order, but when I arrived home with it, the bloody girl was missing. I’m sick at heart about the whole debacle. She doesn’t deserve to be sent to an asylum, and if she ends up in one, I’ll always blame you.”
“Don’t glower at me as if it’s my fault. I was in town the entire time. You were supposed to handle her.”
“Where could she be?” Samson asked. “Who would she turn to for assistance?”
“Why would I have learned any details about her paltry life? Ask Janet. She’d know Caroline’s secrets—if Caroline has any.”
“Janet ran away too!”
Gregory’s jaw dropped, then he laughed. “You’re joking.”
“No. I figure she’s in London. She was pestering me about moving there. I specifically informed her that she couldn’t, but she left without my permission.”
“Will you search for her?”
“London is a massive city. How would I?”
“Caroline must be with her. They have to be together, don’t you think?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it for a single second.”
“Perhaps you should hire an investigator. There must be people who saw them hire a carriage or buy a ticket on the mail coach. They can’t have flown off like a pair of birds.”
His father pondered the comment, then nodded vigorously. “That’s a good plan, and I swear to God, when I locate them, I will lock Janet in a convent for the rest of her days.”
“The better conclusion would be to shackle her to a farmer. In light of her peculiar views on matrimony, it would be a more suitable punishment.”
“It’s obvious I was too lenient with both of them.” Samson nodded again. “I will marry her to an oaf she’ll loathe. It would serve her right, and Caroline has to be locked away too. Before her birthday.”
“I would appreciate it if you could manage that small task. We can’t lose out on the money that’s vesting.”
“I know, Gregory! I know!”
“It doesn’t seem as if you do. You let her cry off from the engagement. You let her refuse to wed me. And now, you’ve let her run away. I should have Lucretia deal with this as well. You can denigrate her all you like, but she wouldn’t flail around like this. Not when there is so much wealth hanging in the balance.”
He stood and marched out, deeming it quite a pithy parting shot. He exited the room, but he snuck a final glance at his father.
Samson looked older and worn down, but Gregory wasn’t sympathetic. His father had made one blunder after another, and he simply wanted to complain rather than take constructive action.
Gregory couldn’t help him. He had his own difficulties to sort out. Most particularly, he had to shuck Caleb Ralston off his back. Of all the creditors harassing him, the fiends working for Ralston were the very worst.
How had Gregory ever assumed they were friends? It truly boggled the mind.
Caroline walked down the stairs in Caleb’s London house. It was early afternoon, so she’d definitely overslept. She was almost tiptoeing, feeling awkward in a way she hated. Caleb had suggested they meet for a late breakfast, but he couldn’t have planned on it being this late.
He’d crept out of her bed as he’d promised he would, so she hadn’t had to suffer the embarrassment of his being found with her. Yes, they were marrying, but they weren’t married yet. His servants would soon be her servants, and she couldn’t have their immediate impression be that she was very loose with her favors.
A housemaid had shown up to tend her, so she’d been bathed and dressed, and had had her hair pinned up. Then she’d been directed down to the dining room, with the assurance that the staff was waiting for her
