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Authors: Victoria Holt
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if sh is not found by tomorrow. “
“She was under Papa’s care,” said Sybil.
“It is dreadful fo him. I do hope nothing is wrong. We thought she might havi confided in you. She was always more friendly with you that with us.”
“She confided nothing,” I said, and I thought of th osi occasions when I had been sure I had seen secrets in he eyes. I should have asked her what was happening. I belie vi she might have wanted to tell. Margot was not the sort t( keep secrets.
“Is there anything we can do …” I began.
“We can only wait,” replied Sybil.
As I was about to leave, one of the grooms came into th hall, dragging a young boy from the stables who looked scare out of his wits.
“Miss Maria,” said the groom, “I think I should have a won with Sir John and no delay.”
“Is it about Mademoiselle Fontaine Delibes?” asked Maria “The French young lady, yes, Miss Maria.”
Sybil ran off at once to search for her father while Marii pulled the bell rope and sent a servant in search of him. Fortunately he was soon found and came hurrying to the hall. ;
knew that I had no right to stay but I was so concerned about Margot that I stubbornly remained.
The groom burst out: “Tim here have something to say, Si) John. Come, Tim. Tell what you know.”
“It’s our James, sir,” said Tim.
“He haven’t been ‘ome. Hi have gone off with the French young lady, sir. He said he wer< going but us didn’t believe ‘im.”
“Oh my God,” muttered Sir John under his breath. He hall closed his eyes as though to convince himself that this was no really happening.
I remembered James. He was the sort a young man one would remember tall and startlingly hand some-a rather swaggering, arrogant young man who st outstanding looks appeared to have given him a good opinion of himself.
Sir John became brisk. He looked straight at the stable boy and said.
“Tell me everything you know.”
“I don’t know nothing but that he be gone, sir. I only know he said he were going to marry into society, like …”
“What 1’ cried Sir John.
“Yes, sir, he said as he were going to run away to a place in Scotland. He said they’d get married there and he’d be gentry after that.”
Sir John said: “There is no time to lose. I must go after them. I must bring her back before it is too late.”
I returned to the schoolhouse for there was no reason why I should stay. I fancied that both Maria and Sybil were inclined to think that I had played some part in Margot’s wickedness, for they were convinced that she would have confided in me. I should have to assure them that this was not the case, but Margot herself would do that when she was brought back.
I sat in the sitting-room and thought about Margot who had become involved in this foolish adventure. What if she really did marry the groom? What would the reactions of the Comte be to that? He would never forgive us for allowing it. Margot would doubtless be cast off, for could the proud Comte accept a groom as his son-in-law? How could Margot have done this? She was only sixteen years old and she had a passing fancy for a groom! How like her! No doubt she thought it amusing at first. She was quite childish. But what would the outcome of the affair be?
Mrs. Manser came over to see me. She had brought some eggs but the real object of the visit was the desire to gossip. She sat at the table, her eyes round with excitement.
“What a how-do-you-do! That little madam … going off with James Wedder. My goodness gracious me! They’ll never get over this at the Manor.”
“Sir John will bring her back.”
“If he’s in time. James Wedder was one for the girls always. He’s got a real fancy for himself, that one. Mind you, he’s a fine figure of a man. They say that far back he’s connected with the Derringhams. Sir John’s grandfather was a bit of a rip, I believe. Ladies and serving girls … it didn’t matter much to him and that meant that there was a
“She was under Papa’s care,” said Sybil.
“It is dreadful fo him. I do hope nothing is wrong. We thought she might havi confided in you. She was always more friendly with you that with us.”
“She confided nothing,” I said, and I thought of th osi occasions when I had been sure I had seen secrets in he eyes. I should have asked her what was happening. I belie vi she might have wanted to tell. Margot was not the sort t( keep secrets.
“Is there anything we can do …” I began.
“We can only wait,” replied Sybil.
As I was about to leave, one of the grooms came into th hall, dragging a young boy from the stables who looked scare out of his wits.
“Miss Maria,” said the groom, “I think I should have a won with Sir John and no delay.”
“Is it about Mademoiselle Fontaine Delibes?” asked Maria “The French young lady, yes, Miss Maria.”
Sybil ran off at once to search for her father while Marii pulled the bell rope and sent a servant in search of him. Fortunately he was soon found and came hurrying to the hall. ;
knew that I had no right to stay but I was so concerned about Margot that I stubbornly remained.
The groom burst out: “Tim here have something to say, Si) John. Come, Tim. Tell what you know.”
“It’s our James, sir,” said Tim.
“He haven’t been ‘ome. Hi have gone off with the French young lady, sir. He said he wer< going but us didn’t believe ‘im.”
“Oh my God,” muttered Sir John under his breath. He hall closed his eyes as though to convince himself that this was no really happening.
I remembered James. He was the sort a young man one would remember tall and startlingly hand some-a rather swaggering, arrogant young man who st outstanding looks appeared to have given him a good opinion of himself.
Sir John became brisk. He looked straight at the stable boy and said.
“Tell me everything you know.”
“I don’t know nothing but that he be gone, sir. I only know he said he were going to marry into society, like …”
“What 1’ cried Sir John.
“Yes, sir, he said as he were going to run away to a place in Scotland. He said they’d get married there and he’d be gentry after that.”
Sir John said: “There is no time to lose. I must go after them. I must bring her back before it is too late.”
I returned to the schoolhouse for there was no reason why I should stay. I fancied that both Maria and Sybil were inclined to think that I had played some part in Margot’s wickedness, for they were convinced that she would have confided in me. I should have to assure them that this was not the case, but Margot herself would do that when she was brought back.
I sat in the sitting-room and thought about Margot who had become involved in this foolish adventure. What if she really did marry the groom? What would the reactions of the Comte be to that? He would never forgive us for allowing it. Margot would doubtless be cast off, for could the proud Comte accept a groom as his son-in-law? How could Margot have done this? She was only sixteen years old and she had a passing fancy for a groom! How like her! No doubt she thought it amusing at first. She was quite childish. But what would the outcome of the affair be?
Mrs. Manser came over to see me. She had brought some eggs but the real object of the visit was the desire to gossip. She sat at the table, her eyes round with excitement.
“What a how-do-you-do! That little madam … going off with James Wedder. My goodness gracious me! They’ll never get over this at the Manor.”
“Sir John will bring her back.”
“If he’s in time. James Wedder was one for the girls always. He’s got a real fancy for himself, that one. Mind you, he’s a fine figure of a man. They say that far back he’s connected with the Derringhams. Sir John’s grandfather was a bit of a rip, I believe. Ladies and serving girls … it didn’t matter much to him and that meant that there was a
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