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

What possible motive could he have to silence his sister? Unless he feared the ramifications of another scandal in the family. He wasn’t the heir; however, he would lose something else he so desperately clung to—his mother’s affections. She could never forgive him if he betrayed her too.

I was still hashing through the possibilities when I crossed the landing the following morning. I knew Piers would be goneon his morning ride, and part of me was glad he’d be absent. More had passed between us the previous night than simply theinvestigation. He still cared for me, one way or another.

I had always been like a member of the Cavanagh family. And of late I’d hoped Piers could find a way to look upon me likea sister. But after a night spent crouching in his arms, I knew it could never be, not for either of us. My skin would alwaystingle. My fingers would ache to touch him. And the dreaded question of what would happen next might forever hang in the airbetween us. I stopped at the head of the grand staircase, my gaze drifting to the alcove, then to the carpeted steps at myfeet.

As soon as we discovered what happened to Seline, it was time to begin my search for a governess position. Loxby Manor couldnever be a place of refuge for me. I’d been fooling myself since the moment I came back. Even after he left the estate, PiersCavanagh would haunt the halls of the house as well as my heart.

The breakfast room was quiet, and at first I thought I was alone, but as I took in the whole of the room I found Mrs. Cavanaghbrooding over a plate of ham.

I tried a smile. “Good morning.”

She returned a nod, but I could tell it would be one of her sullen days when conversation would be difficult to manage, andI wasn’t all that certain I would be up to the task after the night I’d had.

I secured a plate of food, some bread and cheese and a cup of coffee, then took a seat at her side. Mrs. Cavanagh had a pewter visage—ashen face, cloudy eyes, the long stare of days of worry and pain.

I took a sip of coffee, my attention drifting to her meager plate of food, which looked untouched. “Have you been able toeat anything today?”

She shook her head. “It all tastes bitter in my stomach these days.”

“Even a few bites would help. You must keep up your strength.”

Her focus slid across the table, but she didn’t make a move for her food. “I’ve been pondering what you said the other day,about the tooth powder. I think you may be onto something. I don’t believe Seline would have left without it.”

So that was the reason for the black mood. Mrs. Cavanagh was finally coming to understand the mystery surrounding Seline’sdisappearance.

She rested her forehead on the palm of her hand. “If Seline did not go to Gretna Green, then where is she?” She took a quickpeek at me from beneath her fingers, and I could almost feel the imperceptible pull, her thirst for my answer.

“What do you know about Seline’s relationship with Hugh?”

She perked up at once. “I won’t deny they’ve a history. Hugh’s been in love with her since he could put two words together.”

“And they’ve remained close?”

“Seline revels in his attentions. She loves flattery and Hugh is one of the best, but she has no real intentions where heis concerned.”

I took a bite of bread. “Do you think he fully understood the status of their relationship? He showed me the other day wherehe’d like to build a folly on his estate. He mentioned how much Seline would like it.”

Mrs. Cavanagh coughed out a laugh. “What a fool that boy has always been. Everyone knows Seline would never stoop to marry someone like him.”

A twinge brought the hairs on my neck to attention. “But everyone was so willing to believe she had run off with Miles Lacy.”

Mrs. Cavanagh shifted in her seat, her fingers scurrying to the handle on her cup. “We didn’t know what to think. Mark myword, I never believed she’d kiss him in the stables either. In daylight, no doubt! Where anyone might see. And here I thoughtshe was clever all this time.”

“What about Tony Shaw? He did propose at one time.”

“That was merely to appease his grandmama. He’d been caught in a rather delicate indiscretion, and she demanded a proposal.I daresay he picked the only girl who would satisfy his relations and whom he was equally certain would refuse him.”

Mrs. Cavanagh tapped her fingers on the white tablecloth. “What are you getting at with these questions?” Her voice soundedalmost eager. “Do you believe Tony or Hugh could have something to do with her disappearance?” She added with a sly whisper,“A secret marriage perhaps?”

I supposed a marriage to either gentleman would be preferable to Miles Lacy, but I didn’t share her rosy conclusions. “AllI know is four gentlemen were the last to see Seline before she vanished, and it’s high time we figured out what happenedthat night.”

Her eyes took in every detail of my face in her controlled, detached way. Then they opened wide. “I’ve never been more glad of your visit to Loxby Manor. You’re right of course. One of those boys must be hiding something, and Avery is far too close to them to decipher the truth.” She took my hand in hers. “I’m counting on you to expose their lies—to find Seline.” She gripped harder, driven by an overwhelming wave of emotions, no doubt. “Wait . . . You said four gentlemen. Was Lord Kendal also there that night?”

*  *  *

I was forced to seek out Piers that same day. We needed to make plans for what was next to be done. Lord Kendal had to beinvestigated of course, but how? Piers would never be received at Whitecaster Hall, and I could hardly go there myself.

Mr. Baker pointed me to the library where I found Piers deep in the process of searching out a book. He