"Yes," Thomas said. "That is what he told me as well."
"You don't believe him?"
Thomas rose and began his familiar pacing. Meggie looked forward to the day when he wouldn't have to pace more often than, say, once a month.
"I don't know," he said over his shoulder. "He could have shot you, just like you said to me, but again, why?"
"My lord."
It was Barnacle. For once, there was no look of agony on his face. For once, he was standing straight, his shoulders squared.
Thomas was over to him in an instant. "Oh God, something dreadful has happened. Out with it, Barnacle. I can take it."
"I'm very sorry, my lord, but Teddy MacGraff is here. His daughter is missing."
Thomas just stared down at him blankly. "Jenny is missing? What is this?"
"That is all Mr. MacGraff said, my lord. His daughter is simply missing. This is a conundrum that will unsettle us all. Mrs. Black has done away into one of her silences, something she has not done in a very long time. Everyone knows there is something very wrong here, and now this. Jenny is much liked, my lord."
Thomas merely nodded. "Thank you, Barnacle. Tell Teddy that I will be down shortly and we will immediately start a search."
"Yes, my lord." Barnacle turned toward Meggie, saw that she was pale, and said, "You just ate some nutty buns and that is good. You must be certain my lady, that you must keep enough heft so it will help me when you walk on my back."
"I will have her walk on your back when she is carrying my child, Barnacle. Then we'll hear you yell."
"Aye, my lord, that you will. I will go stay with Teddy MacGraff."
Thomas nodded, then turned back to his wife. "I want you to remain here in bed, Meggie. I don't want you to rest, I want you to think about this. I am going to find William."
William was standing by the far wall in the drawing room, at least twenty feet between him and his future father-in-law.
Teddy MacGraff yelled so loud a crystal shepherdess nearly shook herself off the mantel. "Where is she, you little puke?"
"I don't know, sir, I swear it on my late father's grave."
"That old blighter? From everything I've heard about him, he was a rank one, the old lord. Kicked you and your mother right out, he did, his lordship and his mother before you. Aye, obviously the old earl was a grand one, he was, and you're his spawn, now aren't you? If I were you I would certainly swear at his bloody grave, but never on it." Teddy wanted to spit, but knew he couldn't, not in the drawing room of Pendragon. He was scared, more scared than he'd been when his wife had struggled so hard to birth Jenny. She hadn't made it the second time, curse him for his lust. Jenny, his pride and joy, now missing. Where? Someone took her, he knew it.
William took a very small step farther away. "Perhaps, sir, she didn't want to marry me, sir. Perhaps she's run away to Dublin."
"I don't think so, William," Thomas said from the doorway. "When did you realize she was gone, Mr. MacGraff?"
"She always makes me lunch at exactly twelve. I walk into our cottage on exactly the last stroke of the village clock and there my lovely Jenny is, smiling and leading me to the table. She wasn't there. There was no food."
"You've spoken to all the neighbors?"
"Of course, my lord. There was no reason for her to leave. She was whistling-whistling-last night, all dreamy-eyed because she was going to marry him, that little bastard." Teddy MacGraff took an angry step toward William.
"I didn't harm her, Mr. MacGraff. I swear it to you."
"Where were you last night, William?" Thomas asked mildly.
William looked down at his feet. "I was with Lord Kipper, sir. I fear I was a bit drunk."
"Will Lord Kipper tell me this is the truth?"
"It is the truth, Thomas. I wouldn't hurt Jenny. Really, I wouldn't. I like her."
"All of her clothes were still there, Teddy?"
"Mrs. Ezra said they were, my lord. I had her check Jenny's room and all her gewgaws that belonged to her dear mother. Everything were still there, and in place."
"We will organize a search immediately," Thomas said. "William, you will lead the search."
"What will you do, my lord?"
"I am going to speak to Lord Kipper."
An hour later Thomas was standing in Lord Kipper's drawing room, an elegant eighteenth-century array of gilt and white furnishings that dazzled the eye. Lord Kipper looked right at home amidst the fabulous beauty.
"What William said is true, Thomas. He was with me. I was trying to, er, reconcile him to his fate, not a bad one, I assured him. Perhaps a wife would steady him, that's what I told him."
"Did he get drunk?"
"Just a little. I don't like to see young men drink too much, Thomas, you know that."
"No, I don't."
"Well, it's a fact. William didn't leave until well after midnight. He returned this morning at about ten o'clock. I had a gift for him, a wedding present."
"What would that be?"
"A lovely epergne that belonged to my mother, to set in the middle of his table. Ah yes, I realize it will be, in fact, in the middle of your table, but it is nonetheless a lovely gift that his bride will cherish."
"That is very kind of you, Niles."
Lord Kipper just nodded. "Where do you think the girl is, Thomas?"
"I don't know."
"Ah, in case you're wondering, my man, Trupper, saw William arrive. He showed him in here. My servants don't lie, Thomas. As you know, Trupper was at Waterloo. The man wouldn't accept a lie from anyone."
Thomas knew it was true. He nodded.
"Where is the epergne?"
"William took it back to Pendragon. It was very well wrapped because he was riding and wanted it protected."
Now that he recalled, Thomas had seen a bundle set just inside the front doors of Pendragon.
Well, damnation.
Thomas returned to Pendragon. Teddy MacGraff said Jenny hadn't been found as yet. The search for her continued, William leading it.
Thomas went to see his wife, who appeared to be deep in thought. He watched her from the doorway for a moment, so grateful that she would be all right, so absolutely grateful to every power that be that she hadn't been killed, that he nearly shouted with it.
He said, swallowing, "Meggie."
She looked up, her brow clearing. "Did you find out anything?"
He shook his head.
She chewed her bottom lip a moment, then whispered, "Could you perhaps come here and hold me for a little while?"
He held her until she lightly shoved against his chest. He eased her back down against her pillow.
He told her what Lord Kipper had said.
"So William couldn't have anything to do with her disappearance."
"It appears not."
"Who, Thomas? Who could have taken her?"
He shook his head. He knew it was driving her mad. It was driving him mad as well.
Two days later Meggie was reclining on the once gold sofa, now showing as dismal grayish yellow in the sunlight that filled the drawing room, when her father and Mary Rose appeared in the doorway.
She started to jump up, realized if she did, it wouldn't be a good thing, and gave them her biggest smile.
Tysen felt a leap of love and relief at that beautiful smile. She was alive; she would be all right. He'd had to see her, see that smile of hers, to really believe she would be all right. He made it to that ugly sofa in under two seconds. He held his daughter gingerly, then more closely when he realized it was her left shoulder that was bandaged. He kissed her cheek and breathed in the rose scent of her.