Oh, that she had listened to Charles when he warned her! But no, she was too headstrong, too intent upon what she wanted to do. Charles's only concern had been to spare her reputation, yet she had repeatedly embroiled him in one scrape after another. And now look what she'd done! She'd made a pig's breakfast out of everything!
To extract her from this bumblebroth, Charles would have to make public all the details of their entanglement and risk compromising himself, as well. She would be well served if he left her to suffer on her own.
But whatever he did, Louisa resolved, she would neither do nor say anything to implicate Charles in this affair.
Unaware of these noble sentiments, Charles returned to the inn in a hurry-and without Miss Wadsdale. He would have been back much sooner if that troublesome lady had not played him along for so long.
At first she gave the impression of one who wished to be persuaded; and to that end, he had done his utmost to overcome all her tiresome objections. But, gradually, Charles came to realize that it was attention she wanted and that she had no real thought of accompanying him to London.
The importunities of a marquess could only enhance her sense of worthiness and give her a degree of consequence she had hitherto lacked in Lady Conisbrough's household. As soon as Charles detected that the object of her play-acting was her ladyship and not himself, he calmly bowed, politely excused himself with tightened lips and, gratefully turning his back on the whole Conisbrough ménage, left the estate.
At the inn door he was greeted by all the Spadger family.
Nan had the look of someone who had been gulled and did not care for it. Echoes of her feelings were reflected in Sammy's eyes.
Jim held Eliza and scowled as if he might throw her in Charles's face. Either that, Charles reflected with a sigh, or plant him a facer. It seemed obvious that Louisa had done something to disgrace them again.
Charles pressed his fingers to his eyes.
“Very well,” he said, letting his frustration show in his voice, “precisely what has my cousin done now?"
“She's been arrested, that's what!” Nan Spadger replied. “And what we're ta make of it, I do not know!"
“Arrested-good God!” Charles's heart almost stopped beating. His throat narrowed, and he forced himself to speak. “What do you mean?” His eyes darted towards Jim. “How did you let this happen?"
“Now, yor lordship-” Of them all, only Sammy seemed to feel that, perhaps, there was room for discussion. “Tha’ mustn't go blaming t’ lad. He did what tha’ said, but tha’ wouldn't expect him ta go against law, I hope?"
Charles bit back his anger, but his heart was still beating queerly. He could only think of Louisa in trouble-serious trouble this time, it seemed-and he wanted to bash someone.
“No, of course not,” he said, gaining control of himself. “It couldn't be Jim's fault. But you must tell me quickly what happened and where I can find her!"
“She wor took for thieving!” Nan cried, dismay in every word.
Jim said sullenly, “She did say as how tha’ might want to go along ta London wi'out her."
Suspicion hung in the air. Charles could feel it and see it in their eyes, even as a million thoughts flitted inside his head. How well did he know her? Just because she had told him she was General Davenport's niece, did he know it to be true? What if…?
A warm passion took hold of him, and he spoke sharply, “That's ridiculous! To say anything of the kind, she must have been quite upset. Louisa is heedless at times and… a little impulsive. But you all know very well she is no common criminal!"
The relief in his heart as he said this was like a spring bursting from beneath a rock. Of course he knew Louisa. She was a beautiful, infuriating nitwit, and it would give him great pleasure to strangle her. But she was no thief.
The thought of her sitting in a gaol somewhere tore at his chest; but he would see her out of this scandal if it was the last thing he did-before he resigned from the government.
Charles said more calmly, “There has been a mistake. Jim, you must tell me at once what the bailiff said."
Jim shrugged and scratched his head; but it was plain Charles's calmness had lightened his sense of ill use. “I can't say that I knows, yor lordship. Sommat abowt her bein’ a thief. But I wor that flummoxed-"
“Did he say what she had taken?"
Jim shook his head. Charles could see the episode had rattled the boy. But he was rattled now himself.
“Think, lad. He must have said something about it-he couldn't have just taken her without more reason than that."
A memory flickered across Jim's face, but he remained silent. Charles thought he must know something, but for whatever reason was hesitant to say.
“It's all right, lad. We've nothing to hide."
Embarrassed, Jim rubbed a hand on the back of his neck and said, “Bailiff Hoggins did say sommat abowt Miss Conisbrough an’ how her-"
“Miss Conisbrough!” Charles's hope soared. “But my cousin has never met Miss Conisbrough."
But Jim was nodding. “Aye, she did that, sir. Out in t’ road, wi’ t’ carolling, she did. Miss Conisbrough stopped her carriage."
“Did my cousin present herself?"
“No, sir. It wor his lordship's sister what talked to her. Sommat about her pelisse."
Jim blushed when he spoke of the lady's garment, and Nan interjected, “For all that his lordship's no better than he should be, his sister's no a liar then, i’ she?"
But Charles knew the answer now, and with relief washing through him, he broke into a smile.
“Damn Ned!” he said through his teeth, surprising all the Spadgers. But the patent ease of his anxiety cheered them and was quickly reflected in their faces.
“This is all his lordship's fault,” he said, and then improvised slightly, “He lent my cousin his sister's pelisse and sent it along with her baggage. Then he clearly left home without informing Miss Conisbrough. She must have seen it on a stranger and jumped to a faulty conclusion.
“But, enough of that. Where is my cousin, Jim? Where have they taken her?"
The Spadgers’ relief was evident. The report that they had harboured a criminal had overset them. But now that they knew it to be false, they were eager to help.
“Bailiff Hoggins'll have her o'er at t’ gaol in Selby, sir,” Nan volunteered.
“I did say as how I couldn't believe it of her, sir,” Sammy added. “T’ lass has a good heart."
Charles felt a deep warmth spreading inside him, but his urgency to be off overcame all other feelings.
“Jim, tell my coachman I shall need him at once. And give him directions to Selby, will you?"
“Yessir. Does tha’ want ta take t’ dog, yor lordship?"
Charles noticed Eliza for the first time in many minutes. Louisa's plight had driven her from his mind. But now she was struggling in Jim's arms to reach him, and he patted her head absently.
“No, keep her here for us, please. I'm not certain how long it will take to clear this mess up.
“And, Mrs. Spadger, prepare something special for our dinner, will you? I'm afraid that if I succeed, my cousin will be in need of a little sustenance."
Chapter Eight
An hour's drive brought him to Selby, and after a few inquiries, Charles found himself at the door of the gaol.
The warden, he found, was a man who took his calling seriously. None of Charles's representations could persuade him to free Louisa immediately. It appeared that unless Miss Conisbrough could be brought to drop her charges, and the magistrate's approval could be obtained, Louisa would spend Christmas in gaol.
The warden would, however, permit Charles to see her; so, after a futile and heated argument, Charles followed him through the heavy portal to the cell where she had been placed.