Page 84 of A Winter Scandal

Thea picked up the rudimentary map, and she and Gabriel went into the sitting room to continue their discussion. Gabriel poked the coals into life and added another piece of wood to get the fire blazing. He stood for a moment, staring moodily down into the leaping fire.

“You must not blame yourself,” Thea told him, going over to him.

He turned and smiled at her sadly. “I think the worst part is that Jocelyn does not want to see me. I thought she brought Matthew here and ran away, and I tried to accept that she felt humiliated or ashamed or afraid to face me. I thought she had intended to come to me, but at the last minute could not work up the courage. I thought later she would regret it or see that I welcomed the baby, and perhaps she would come back. Or at least write me a letter—give me some way of reaching her. But this … to know that she has been here for the past weeks, hiding from me!”

Gabriel turned and wrapped his arms around Thea, holding on to her tightly and leaning his head against hers. “Thank God you are here with me. I should hate to face this alone.”

“Of course I am here.” Thea encircled his waist with her arms and returned his embrace. She would not have cared at that moment if half the village had walked in and seen her in Gabriel’s arms. All she could think of was his need for comfort. “I will do anything I can to help you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You do more than you could know. Thank you.” She could feel his smile against her hair. “I should very much like to kiss you now. Properly, I mean.” His lips brushed her hair again, and he sighed and set her aside. “I have to find her. I cannot be at ease until I at least speak to Jocelyn about all this.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Obviously, Jocelyn is willing to live in much less comfort than I had assumed. If it’s unlikely that she’s staying in the village, I think I should search the area surrounding the village. Perhaps there is an abandoned cottage or a barn or other outbuilding where she and Hannah might have sought shelter. I cannot think that she would be staying outdoors in this weather, but there must be some out-of-the-way places or huts or something in which she could live temporarily.”

“That will be a long and difficult task.”

He nodded. “I know. But I think my friends will help me search. I will divide the area up and search it methodically. I think she must be staying within walking distance of the village if her maid is going back and forth to Chesley, so that will curtail the area a good deal.”

Thea nodded. “I wish I could be of some help to you.”

“You already have been. Just keep an ear out for any news about strangers in the village. You and your housekeeper are bound to hear if there is any gossip.”

“True. That is one of the things that is so peculiar—that all this has happened yet no one seems to have noticed any strangers in the village.” Thea paused. “I cannot help but wonder what the man who abducted Matthew has to do with your sister and her maid.”

“I know. ’Tis a complete puzzlement to me.”

“Do you think—could he be Matthew’s father?”

Gabriel looked at her, startled. “I suppose he could be. It would make sense if the man was connected to Matthew.”

“Perhaps he did not want your sister bringing the baby to you or seeking your help. Maybe he tried to steal it from her, and that is why she is hiding.”

“You are kind to come up with reasons for my sister’s avoidance of me that do not include her disliking or fearing me.” He smiled at Thea. “But if that is the case, why would Jocelyn hide from me, too? I would think she would come to me for help against the fellow.”

“It does not make much sense.”

“Nothing about this whole affair makes much sense,” Gabriel responded drily.

“There must be a reason; we simply cannot find it.”

“I applaud your faith in rationality. I hope you are right. But I should go now. I need to talk to the others so we can start looking tomorrow.” He took Thea’s hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it rather more warmly than was customary in departure. “I fear I will be out riding most of the day.”

“Of course.” Thea was determined not to show her disappointment at the thought of not seeing him the next day.

Still holding her hand, Gabriel moved a step closer. Thea turned her face up as he bent closer. At that moment, they heard Daniel’s voice in the hall, speaking to Sally. With a muttered oath, Gabriel stepped back.

“If there is any news …” Thea said, primly polite.

“I will come as soon as I can,” he promised. With a quick bow and a last glance at her, Gabriel left the room.

Gabriel spent the next two days crisscrossing the land around Chesley with the help of his three friends. He managed, though, to find the time to visit Thea each evening after they had finished searching. Unfortunately, the first evening was spent in a stilted, all-too-brief formal call, for not only was Thea’s brother, Daniel, in the sitting room when Gabriel arrived, but also Mrs. Cliffe and her two oldest daughters as well. Thea had to cover a smile when she saw the flash of horror in Gabriel’s eyes as they lighted upon the Squire’s family, and she was not surprised when Gabriel left after twenty minutes of meaningless social chatter.

The next evening, he hesitated outside the door when she answered, casting a wary glance down the hallway behind her. Thea laughed and reached out to take his hand, pulling him inside.

“There is no one here. My brother has gone to pay a visit on old Mrs. Brenham. And Mrs. Cliffe is safely at home—I sincerely hope.” Thea led him back toward the sitting room. “Come in and tell me your news.”

“I have none to report, really. Or at least, nothing but failure. We have searched every foot of land around here, I think, and none of us spotted any sign of Jocelyn or Hannah.”