The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson (grave mercy .TXT) 📕

good a friend you’ve been to my daughter. I’m afraid this will be a delicate matter for some time to come, but you’ve helped me understand what happened a little better today. If we can only find Seline and bring her home, this will all be forgot. So if you know anything, anything more . . . Mrs. Cavanagh is convinced they’ll return a married couple. I may very well be forced to send him money to keep him honest, but if Seline is able to come about in society, it will be money well spent.”

I wondered how much Mrs. Cavanagh had told her husband about the disappearance. Did he know about my concerns?

“It may be a bit difficult for the new couple at first; however, if she or Miles reaches out to you, let them know I planto stand their friend. They should go on as if there was never an incident in the first place. Attend parties, dance the nightaway. The scandal will fade away in time. It’s simply a matter of moving on.”

“I suppose so.” I sat there in silence for several seconds. I’d always considered Mr. Cavanagh wise, and he was probably rightabout society. Seline would come about. But what about inside the person? What about me? I’d changed so much since my assault,but what if I could find a way to go on as if nothing had happened? No one knew, after all. Could I, too, find my way backto some sort of normalcy? Capture the essence of the person I had been before? The girl with the whole world in front of herand an unending zest for life.

My heart lurched, and I sat up straight. Wasn’t that why I’d come to Loxby in the first place—to forget?

*  *  *

Strangely enough, Mrs. Cavanagh agreed to the dinner party with Hugh Daunt and Tony Shaw without even batting an eye. I don’t know what I expected her to say or do, but it certainly didn’t involve such a level of enthusiasm. She patted my cheek and smiled, adding rather sweetly that a night of conversation and cards might prove just the thing to turn her mind from her relentless fears about Seline.

It was Avery who seemed hesitant.

In fact, on the night of the occasion, I entered the drawing room to await the guests with the rest of the family, and hewas still making a fuss about the whole idea. He’d managed to corner Piers by the fireplace, and by the looks of his stiffposture the conversation had not been pleasant.

“Dash it all. Our time would be better spent elsewhere.” There was a sort of dig in his voice and he added a heavy sigh. “Wehaven’t even heard from Uncle Charles yet. These fantastical notions of yours could all just turn out to be a hum.”

Piers averted his attention from Avery as I approached, and he dipped his chin.

As if aware of an added presence in the room, Avery stepped back and spun to face me before running his fingers through hishair. “Oh, it’s you. Good evening, Charity.” He checked his sullen behavior, adding a bit too boisterously, “And what a gown!You do clean up rather nicely.”

Oh dear. I took a quick glance back through the door and let out a slow breath. Thank goodness Mrs. Cavanagh had not descendedthe grand staircase as of yet.

“Care for a drink?” Avery had always possessed a heightened degree of boyish charm, but after what I’d witnessed between himand his brother, the show felt unnatural.

I offered him a smile. “Thank you, but no.”

Piers didn’t move, regarding me out of the corner of his eye. At least I thought he did, but he was always so good at deflection—something about that restrained posture yet steely countenance. I pulled my arms in close. Avery and I were friends. Why should I care what Piers thought?

Piers had donned a silver waistcoat and black jacket for the impromptu dinner party. His black pumps gleamed in the firelight.We’d said nothing to each other throughout the day about Seline’s disappearance, but we both knew this party could prove vitalto uncovering where she had gone.

Avery checked his watch and held up a finger to Piers who had opened his mouth to speak. But Piers was already ahead of him.“I have one more thing to add, and then we shall put this conversation to rest. We shouldn’t hear from Uncle Charles for daysyet. If Tony or Hugh saw anything”—he shot a glance at me—“I should like to know straightaway.”

Mrs. Cavanagh bustled into the room, effectively stifling any response from Avery. She crossed the rug amid a flurry of purplesatin and gold trimming, her hand lightly caressing the base of her hair, which was swept up and pinned with a single ostrichfeather. She paused for a dramatic pose by the sofa and angled her chin. “I hope this will do. You will not be embarrassedby your mama?”

“Well done.” Avery went dutifully to her side and continued to lavish the praise Mrs. Cavanagh so evidently sought. I couldn’thelp but see the resemblance to Seline in her speech and mannerisms. Seline would have loved to be the toast of the eveningon such a night.

Mrs. Cavanagh took Avery’s outstretched arm. “What time are we to expect our guests?”

She had left the invitations as well as the preparations to me and Piers.

“Six o’clock, ma’am.”

She wrinkled her nose and turned to Piers. “I suppose Mr. Daunt was more than pleased to accept our kind offer.” She moved her hand to conceal her words but spoke loud enough so everyone in the room would be sure to hear. “For we all know his pockets are to let.”

“Mama!”

I was caught off guard by Avery’s outburst.

He ran a hand down his face, working to temper his tone. “It’s no secret that the Daunts have had a rough few years. Hughis doing all he can to keep Rushridge afloat.” He cast a curious glance at me. “Besides, we all know Tony Shaw is the bettercatch for any eligible young lady.”

I froze as a single pulse of dread