Page 38 of Entwined By Error (Madcaps of Mayfair #1)

Widow’s Hollow

“Sir?”

Daniel rubbed his eyes and then ran a hand through his hair as he pushed the book away. “How is it possible the estate needs so many repairs? Did we not attend to these items last year?”

“Heavy rains and strong winds will ruin the tenant farms every time.”

“I suppose you are right.” Daniel reviewed each entry once more. “Start repairs in the next few days. I wish for them to be done before the next heavy rain.”

“Very good, sir.”

He closed the book, stood, and then started toward the door.

They’d spent the entirety of the day reviewing improvements necessary to keep Blackbriar Hall in order.

It was necessary work, work he’d never begrudged—until now.

Any time spent away from Myra seemed wholly unnecessary.

It had taken all his effort to keep his thoughts focused upon the task at hand instead of her honey-blonde hair and her soft brown eyes as she teased him.

“Keep me apprised of the work.”

“Indeed, sir.”

He was only in the steward’s office, the backside of the stables, but it felt like miles away from Blackbriar Hall as he crossed the yard, anticipation at seeing his wife building in his chest. He would cancel all further plans for the rest of the week, if only it meant he could spend every waking moment with Myra.

As he entered the house, he threw his hat on the side table. “Melbourne, where might I find my wife?”

“Mrs. Northcott left on an errand over three hours ago, sir. I assume she will return shortly.”

“What sort of errand?” Daniel made his way to the study as the butler followed behind.

“She did not confide in me.” Melbourne quickened his step so he could open the door to the study before Daniel reached it. “I wonder, sir, has Mrs. Northcott apprised you of the visitors we’ve had?”

Daniel shook his head. “Visitors?”

“Lord Cartwell, Mr. Dresden, and Sir Ethan Powell.” Melbourne held out their cards. “They have been asking about Lord Southwood, and before their visits, the Duke of Shomberg was here while you were away on business.”

Daniel stopped walking, all thoughts of anything other than the four men instantly forgotten. “Is Southwood aware of their visits?”

“I am afraid so, sir.”

“And…Mrs. Northcott?”

“Quite disturbed by their questions. They seem to believe she knows of the viscount’s whereabouts.”

“Where is Southwood?”

“His bedchamber.”

Leaving the butler in the study, Daniel took the stairs two at a time as he rushed to his brother’s bedchamber.

He had put Southwood in a bedchamber on the opposite side of the house from the family rooms, hoping to keep him as far away from himself and Myra as possible.

But now it seemed ridiculous as he nearly ran down the length of the hall.

He chose not to knock, throwing the door open and inviting himself into Southwood’s chamber. “You need to leave, tonight.”

“I am aware.” Southwood pointed to the bag at the end of the bed. “I await Mrs. Northcott’s arrival with an item, and then I shall go.”

“You sent her to town? There are servants who could do your bidding.”

“Not town, Daniel.” Southwood stood and walked to the mantel. He lifted the small gold clock examining it as he shook his head. “She should have returned by now.”

“If not town, where?”

Southwood sighed. “It is nothing, Daniel. Just a few personal items I hid before coming to you.”

“Where are these items?”

“It does not matter; Mrs. Northcott agreed to retrieve them for me. When she returns, I shall disguise myself and leave Blackbriar.”

Daniel ran a hand through his hair as he slammed the door shut. “Where have you sent my wife?”

“Widow’s Hollow.”

“Pardon me?” Daniel’s voice was nearly a whisper, the words barely audible as he stood there in disbelief. Surely, he’d misheard.

“The cave,” Southwood repeated, far too casually for the ticking of the clock on the mantel, each minute taking them closer to high tide. “You know the cave. The locals refer to it as Widow’s Hollow due to the number of poor souls who have met their maker within the caverns.”

Daniel rocked backward on his feet, his head spinning as the blood drained from his face. “You are jesting?”

“Afraid not.” Southwood held his hands out and laughed. “Cheer up, Daniel. No need to fret.”

“This is not a laughing matter.”

Southwood waved his hand in the air. “She left with more than enough time to retrieve my satchel and return. Likely on her way home this very moment.”

“Yet, she has not returned,” Daniel snapped, his voice rising with the panic spreading through his chest. “High tide is in less than an hour.”

He didn’t have time to yell at his brother; that would have to wait for his return. In that moment, he knew there was only the shoreline between the rising sea and Myra’s safety.

Daniel turned on his heel and ran faster than he had ever done in his life. The wind howled off the cliffs, the haunting sound echoing in his ears as his heart hammered with every pounding footfall.

The hill was steep, treacherous, rocks slick with the salty sea spray whipping up with the wind.

Stumbling, he cursed as he caught himself on a jagged edge.

Wiping his hand on his breeches, he knew there was no time to pay heed to injuries.

Ignoring the pain, he continued forward, running like the devil was on his heels.

His legs burned and his lungs heaved as he ran toward his wife.

He couldn’t stop, not while Myra was in that cave.

The large rocks and the curtain of ivy did nothing to relieve his distress as the waves began to hungrily slap at the edges, the ebb and flow of the sea teasing its way into the cave and then back out again.

A new wave of dread passed through him, pushing his legs forward as he navigated the rocks and entered the cavern.

“Myra!” he shouted, crossing over the threshold as the water lapped around his boots, his shouts echoing until they were swallowed by the vast, dark cavern.

In his rush, he’d forgotten a lamp, but that would not deter him from the search.

He would either find his wife and guide her home, or he would perish in the attempt.

It had been years since he’d last been in the cavern, yet in this moment of need, his mind went back to his youth when he and Southwood had spent their summers exploring the many different paths through the cavern.

“Daniel, stop,” Southwood called out. He bent over, one hand on a knee as he tried to catch his breath, his other holding out a lantern. “You’ll need this.”

Before he could take the lantern, Daniel’s eyes fell upon a gathering of servants. The butler, footmen, stable hands—all of them stood before him with lanterns, ready to assist no matter the cost.

As Southwood stood, he pointed in one direction. “I instructed her to walk in a straight line. If she followed my directions, we shall find her in the great parlor.”

Daniel remembered the ridiculous names they’d given each room in this cavern.

He didn’t wait for any more delays; instead, he ran down the narrow passages, each moment that passed taking them closer to the moment the waves would crash into the cavern, swallowing everything and everyone as it pulled their floundering bodies out to sea.

“Myra!” he yelled. His throat stung with the chill of the night air, but he didn’t care. The waves lapped at his boots only to withdraw at once, slipping back into the bosom of the greater sea. He was ready to call out once more when he heard a faint, desperate sound from the darkened depths.

“Daniel?”

Relief nearly dropped him to his knees, but he knew there wasn’t time to rejoice just yet. “Darling, where are you?”

“Daniel, I fell in this awful hole.”

He followed her voice, navigating through a narrow passageway water splashing around his feet, until he found the hole.

When last he’d been in this cavern, there hadn’t been a hole.

He knelt beside it, holding his lantern aloft.

In the depths of the darkness below, he could see her movements, slow as they were.

“You came for me!” she gasped, her voice echoing in the cavern. He could see a slight movement as she tried and failed to stand.

Daniel crouched down, his eyes focused solely on his wife. His voice broke as he called out. “I shall always come for you, my love.”

She tried to stand again, pushing up from the ground, but he could see she was weakened from being in the hole. As the water rushed back in around his legs and poured down upon her, he waved to the men in his search party. “Tie that rope off. I need to get down there.”

“Daniel, please hurry,” Myra called out.

“Are you injured?”

“Only my ankle. I am afraid I cannot stand without losing consciousness.”

Placing the lantern at the edge of the hole, he was ready to climb down and carry her up on his back when Southwood and two footmen pulled him back. “Do not be ridiculous, Daniel. The rope is ready.”

“Lower me down. I shall carry her up.”

With the rope tied around his waist, Daniel climbed down with practiced care, each movement precise despite the rushing water following him from above making the stones slick and dangerous.

Reaching her side, he dropped to his knees.

Her dress was torn and muddied, her ankle twisted to the side.

He didn’t have time to examine the ankle as the salty sea water poured down upon them.

Lifting her from the ground, he assisted her as she stood. “You foolish, brave, impossibly wonderful woman,” he said as he brushed a damp curl from her bow.

“Oh, Daniel. I have been so frightened that you would never find me.”

“What could have possessed you to leave the safety of our home for this cave?”

“I was retrieving a satchel,” she said with a grimace. Her leg buckled as she put pressure on the ankle, and a slight smirk crossed her features. “Clearly worth dying over,” she added with a bit of sarcasm and a lilt of laughter.