They reached the small gray stone church where the vicar waited. Nicholas introduced Carrie, Bella, and Scotty to him.
“What a blessing it is to our small society to have more young people amongst us,” Mr. Braithwaite said. “I trust you will enjoy my sermon.”
“I’m sure it will be most efficacious as usual.” Nicholas escorted them inside, where the sun, shining down through the stained-glass windows, colored the interior with pretty lights. He seated them in his family’s pew.
Carrie looked around. Penningtons were baptized and buried here. She intended to wander in the graveyard and learn more about those whose portraits she had inspected in the long gallery.
From the pulpit, the vicar cleared his throat and began.
Sometime later, they emerged blinking into the sunlight. Carrie stood as Nicholas shook the vicar’s hand. “A good sermon,” he said. “We shall gain much from it.”
Mr. Braithwaite looked pleased.
“I enjoyed how you drew your sermon from John 3:16, Mr. Braithwaite,” Carrie said. “I am always inspired by God has a plan for you.”
“Thank you, Miss Leeming.” The vicar flushed with pleasure and was about to elaborate on his theme when a lady came to his elbow and interrupted him.
Nicholas drew Carrie away. He introduced them to the parishioners milling outside the church. A gray-haired, late-middle-aged lady pushed through the group to reach them. A determined smile on her long face.
“My lord, how delightful to have those two children entrusted to your care,” she said. The look she cast Carrie seemed speculative. “If there is ever anything I can do to assist, please ask me. I have little enough to do these days except to look after Mother.”
“Thank you, Miss Carswell. That is very kind but entirely unnecessary. I wouldn’t dream of taking you away from your duties.” Nicholas replaced his hat. “Please give my regards to your mother.”
He offered Carrie his arm, and they walked back along the road, Bella and Scotty strolling ahead.
Carrie withdrew her hand when those ahead were out of earshot. “That was not kind, Nicholas.”
“What have I done now?”
“You should not have treated Miss Carswell in that manner.”
He met the appeal in her eyes with a slight smile. “And what manner was that?”
“You sounded condescending.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Condescending?”
She firmed her lips.
“If it seemed so, I apologize.”
“Perhaps you should apologize to Miss Carswell.”
“Dear God, you go too far, Carrie,” he remonstrated. “We’d have the woman poking her nose in the kitchen door annoying my chef. You know what trouble that might cause.”
He was making light of it. She wanted to laugh with him. It was most annoying. Carrie refused to return his smile. Even at his most disgraceful, he was so very appealing.
Bella walked back to them. “I am going to walk to the lake. Do you want to come with me, Carrie?”
“No. But don’t be long. It’s almost time for luncheon. And Jeremy will be here in a few hours.”
Bella turned back with a grin. “I won’t.”
An hour later, the meal was about to be served, and there was no sign of Bella.
“She might still be at the lake. Or the stables perhaps,” Nicholas said. “I’ll send someone to find her.”
The footman returned without Bella, and luncheon was left uneaten. It would have been impossible, for Carrie’s stomach was queasy with nerves. They had all gone out onto the drive to watch for her.
“I’ll ride out and search for her. She can’t have gone far.” Nicholas placed a hand on Carrie’s arm. “I’ll bring Bella back. Don’t worry.”
“I should have gone with her,” Carrie said, a catch in her voice. “Bella can’t swim.”
“Bella isn’t a child, Carrie, and she’d hardly enter the water,” Nicholas said firmly. “The bottom of the lake is muddy and cold this time of year. She has merely lost her way. Footmen and my gamekeeper will search the woods.”
Carrie shivered slightly and rubbed her arms as he headed off to the stables at a jog. What might have happened? Bella could be forgetful, but she was very much looking forward to seeing Jeremy, so why hadn’t she returned?
Chapter Seven
His jaw clenched, Nicholas rode straight to the lake. It couldn’t happen again. Life couldn’t be that cruel. Emerging from the trees, the dank smell of reeds, water, and mud assailed him. A slight breeze ruffled the lake’s surface where waterfowl swam serenely, while others gathered noisily on the bank. No sign of Bella. Allowing himself a small groan of relief not to find her in trouble, he entered the woods and rode Aquilo down the bridle path, yelling Bella’s name. His voice echoed through the trees and was caught up with the cries from members of his staff searching for her.
Growing more uneasy, he rode onward through the trees, the crackle of leaves beneath his horse’s hooves, the rustle of animals in the undergrowth, and the twitter of birds in the canopy overhead the only sounds in the quiet air. Still no sign of her. How far could Bella walk in a few hours? Could she have stumbled somewhere in the woods and hurt herself or fallen foul of a poacher’s trap?
He prayed they would find her before nightfall. It would be difficult to continue to search after dark. Determined not to return empty-handed and fail Carrie, he continued on. He understood Carrie’s fierce sense of responsibility. She would blame herself if her sister were harmed.
Earlier, in his riding gear, when he emerged onto the drive, Carrie anxiously searched his eyes. “You’ll find her, won’t you?”
Carrie trusted him, and he would not let her down. “We’ll have her back soon,” he’d assured her. But as time went on, his concern grew. Where had Bella got to?
The girl’s safety was his responsibility. He should have expected this, made her understand not to venture far from
