The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, Abigail Wilson [best value ebook reader .TXT] 📗

out to be a turbulent time for me.” The muscles twitched in his jaw. “Of course I do realizeexcuses are futile. I’ve not the ability to rewind time.”

And . . .

His letter about his responsibilities hadn’t been enough explanation at the time for ending our relationship. This was evenworse.

He ran his hand down his pantaloons, his focus vacant on the corner of the room. “You’ve probably heard, but I live a verydifferent life now, one of isolation. Believe me when I tell you, I never would have come home if I’d known you were here.”

My eyes widened.

He pushed to his feet and started for the door before stopping cold at the edge of the carpet, his voice hollow like a ghost from the darkest corners of Ceylon. “We’ll have no choice but to be in each other’s company over the next few days, and there is a part of me that is glad I got this chance to see you again, but I feel certain at some point you’ll understand me when I tell you, the past must remain in the past.”

Chapter 4

It wasn’t until late the next day that I got my first sight of Avery Cavanagh. Seated at the escritoire in the crook of thebow window in the drawing room, I’d painfully managed only half a letter to my mother when I saw him galloping up the long,central drive.

At first I thought he meant to ride on to the stables, but with a billowing puff of dust, he jerked his horse to a halt andmotioned to a servant. He swung his pristine riding boot over the horse and slid to the ground in one swift movement.

I stood to get a better view through the window, and I was not disappointed.

Everyone at Loxby had grown in the years I’d been away, but Avery had certainly changed the most. In place of the chestnut-headed,wide-eyed boy I knew as my childhood friend, a definitive gentleman waltzed up the front steps. Gone were the lanky clumsinessof youth and the red spots on his cheeks. In many ways he resembled Piers now, but—I narrowed my eyes—in others, he was quitedifferent.

He caught sight of me through the window as he approached, and I gave an enthusiastic wave. The easy smile I remembered so well flashed onto his face, and he hurried toward the door. Avery had always been a mix of impulsive excitement and good humor, the perfect foil to Piers’s brooding intensity. And as I stood there waiting for Avery to join me inside, I realized just how much I had missed him.

He passed his hat and riding crop into a servant’s waiting hands, then burst through the open drawing room door. “Charity.”

Dirt coated his superfine jacket and beige pantaloons, and we couldn’t help but laugh as he accepted my outstretched hands.“You’re a sight for sore eyes. Had a devilish few days, I’m afraid. When did you arrive?”

I stepped back a pace, reminded of the black cloud hanging over Loxby. “Shortly before Seline went missing. Please tell meyou’ve heard something of her on your journey.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wish I had better news. Rode to every inn within a day’s ride of East Whitloe. There’sno word of the happy couple. All I can figure is that they gave assumed names or paid off someone on the road. They’d haveto change horses somewhere.”

I frowned, and Avery dipped his shoulder. “Seline has always been a step ahead of everyone else, but there is still a sliverof hope. Do you remember our uncle Charles?”

“Not at all.”

He paused. “Well, that’s neither here nor there.” Then he gave a little laugh. “What I mean to say is the curst blunderbusshas decided to journey on to Gretna Green alone in hopes of intercepting the lovebirds along the way. I daresay he shall havea difficult time catching them. Miles Lacy knows his way around horses too well. He would not be so addlepated as to haveno plan. Granted, I would not put such a half-baked scheme past Seline, but Miles . . . I told Uncle Charles that from thestart. We’ll never come upon them, at least not until this little liaison is right and tight and preferably legal.”

My gaze clouded. Avery spoke as if he believed Seline and Miles Lacy had a longstanding plan to run away. That would mean she lied to me in my bedchamber the night she disappeared, which made no sense at all. We’d always trusted one another. It didn’t feel quite right.

On impulse I touched his arm. “Then you completely agree with the assertion that she left in the middle of the night—to marrya stable hand?”

“That is what her note said, didn’t it?” He ran his finger along his chin, his eyes focusing in on the far wall. “I will admitit doesn’t sound all that much like Seline, but . . .”

He meandered to the sideboard and poured himself a drink before turning back to face me. “Cor, but it’s good to have you back.It’ll almost be like old times around here with Piers in residence, and you”—he raised his eyebrows—“you look well. Dash itall, but you do! Piers is already here, right? Do you think, uh, I mean, has he said anything about me yet?”

“Said anything about you?” We were both a bit startled by Piers’s deep voice at the door. “I daresay we have bigger problems today than you.”

Avery crossed the room and embraced his brother, patting him on the back. “Ordinarily, I’d be relieved to hear you say so,old man, but not this time.”

Piers motioned for me to have a seat, and I eased onto the edge of the scrolled end sofa behind me. Of course my hasty selectiononly ushered in a bit of awkward footwork as Piers was forced to angle between Avery and me before slumping into an opposingchair. We both knew there would be no question of him joining me on the sofa. Not after his declaration yesterday.

Avery, clearly amused, watched us with a keen eye before crossing his