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“I will accompany you, Your Grace,” James said, clearing his throat. “I won’t rest until she is found.”

Thomas breathed slowly as he stared at James. Sophia had talked about her brothers at length and often, but she had especially said kind words about James—respect, trust, love, admiration. Thomas could see it now. James was a man of quality, and it warmed him a little to feel that he had gained some respect from the man in return.

“Thank you,” Thomas said quietly.

James cracked a small smile. “Don’t thank me yet.”

At that moment, William came hurtling around the side of the manor, running full-pelt towards the entrance.

“I just—” He caught himself when he noticed that the Kendalls were also congregating on the porch steps, or just inside the house. All of them.Allof them.

Unwilling to let anything else disrupt his progress, or lack thereof, Thomas asked, “What have you found, William?”

“Violetta is still missing… although she wouldn’t return here if she was lost, would she? Surely, she would try to reach our cousin’s residence instead?” William was clearly making an effort not to look at Samuel.

“Perhaps Sophia has ridden farther than she had to in order to escape something,” Charles chimed in. “No one could catch up to her on a fast horse unless she let them.”

“And Violetta is a very fast horse,” added William.

“She was fast enough to beat Lucille,” agreed Thomas. “And if someone had used violence to stop her, wouldn’t we have found something on the road? Signs of a fight? Blood, perhaps? But there was nothing in any feasible direction.”

“Well, isn’t it obvious?” It was Samuel again, intruding with his usual sarcastic demeanor. Everyone turned to look at him, though not with as much patience as before. “There wasn’t a fight.”

Charles humored him. “What are you implying, Son?”

“That Sophia must have stopped willingly. That she thought she was talking to a friend.” Samuel took a few casual steps forward and gestured to the Pratt family members, all of whom were now outside. “It must have been one of you.”

“Son, please don’t—” Lydia tried to intervene, but Samuel wasn’t having it.

“Oh, pish posh, Mother. You know their ilk. They all pretended to accept her into their house. They all pretended tolikeher?—”

“We do like her!” William snapped. “I was apprehensive at first, it’s true, but she grew on us. She’s a good and decent lady, even if she is a little brash. And she adores horses. Why wouldn’t we like her?”

The confession heartened Thomas, though he could not savor his brother’s acceptance of his wife. Not until she was back in his arms, safe and sound.

“I hate to admit it, but I think the young Kendall might be right.”

Everyone whirled around to stare at Harriet, who had stayed mostly silent so far. She had voiced her opinion with a furrowed brow and clasped hands, looking very uneasy, indeed.

Thomas narrowed his eyes at her. “What do you mean, Mother?”

“Are you absolutely certain you didn’t find any signs of a scuffle or a fight?”

“It would have been hard to miss a wounded or dead horse, that is certain,” Gregory pointed out.

Thomas nodded. “I didn’t miss anything, Mother. It was mostly daylight while I searched, and I am certain I didn’t miss something so significant.”

A long pause filled the atmosphere. Overhead, a couple of grumbles of thunder broke the silence, as if God himself was invested in this conversation.

Suddenly, Samuel seemed to have an idea and looked around himself, seemingly searching for something.

Lydia approached him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “What’s the problem, darling?”

“Mother… I…” Samuel looked genuinely distressed. “Oh no… Oh goodness, no.”

That last expression drew Thomas’s attention, as well as James’s, both men exchanging looks before moving closer to the youngest Kendall.

“What do you know, Samuel?” Thomas asked in a carefully strict voice. He recognized some of Sophia’s demeanor and mannerisms in her brother’s attitude.