From the Ashes

Chapter Twenty

Richard returned to his childhood home and entered the Manor like a typhoon in a teacup. "Mother! Where are you?"

Albert had come rushing over. "Lord Bentley, we had no news. We did not know you were due to arrive." Albert was in a panic as it is very infrequent he is ever caught unaware. He took Richard's cape and gloves from him. Richard was soaked to the bone but he did not care.

"My Mother, where is she?" Richard demanded, storming through the foyer.

"She is a... she is not here, sir," Albert said meekly knowing this would not be the answer Lord Bentley would wish to hear.

"WHAT?" Richard said he stopped so abruptly that Albert who was scrambling to keep up suddenly slammed into the back of him.

Richard whirled on Albert. "What do you mean, she is not here?" he said with a dangerous calm.

Albert felt like he somehow entered the center of a hurricane and but took this moment of peace to explain. "Lady Catherine was quite distraught over the news of Miss Cecilia's death. My condolences, sir. So she left on holiday the day after the funeral."

"Holiday?" Richard laughed without mirth. "Unbelievable! Well, I am in no longer doubt of her foul play. Her choice to escape will be short lived I assure you. She could not possibly show me her guilt in this matter any clearer than if she got down on her hands and knees and begged for forgiveness. I should have known that would not be her way, she once again chose herself."

Albert did not know what to say as he understood none of Richard's ranting other than to assume Lady Catherine was not on his good side at the moment and perhaps had something to worry about upon her return. So, in place of saying anything, Albert just stood and waited for the next instruction he knew would be coming shortly as Richard seemed to be thinking of something very intently.

"Albert, I am going to change. I am soaked through. I will not need any assistance but ask you to have Mr. Dooley meet me in the Library. I have some business I need to discuss," Richard said taking the staircase two steps at a time.

"Yes, sir," Albert said watching his retreating form at the bottom of the stairs, happy he was not expected to follow.

An hour later, Mr. Dooley stood before him. He too was wet from the rain and sneezed into his handkerchief. "You wished to see me, Lord Bentley."

"Yes, have a seat here by the fire and warm yourself. Thank you for coming so quickly. Albert, we will need some tea." Albert nodded and exited from the room.

Once the doors closed Richard turned his attention to Mr. Dooley once more. "I need to pull the funds that Mr. Chase has given us to secure the betrothal. I do not believe it is right to keep such a large sum under the circumstances."

Mr. Dooley frowned, "That may not be so easy, Lord Bentley. I have already begun making the repairs to the village you requested and I must say they are gaining you quite a following. Up until your appearance, I feared there would be little left for you to come home to as we were losing tenants and the land was being seriously underworked."

"I understand but I must stand firm on this point. We will find the resources some other way. Now that I will not be marrying Cecelia I wish nothing more than to dissolve this relationship so I may move on," Richard said.

The new maid, his mother hired to replace Juliana entered with tea. Juliana? He wondered how she was faring. Hopefully, Annabelle is keeping her busy planning their wedding. His heavy heart felt suddenly lightened by the thought. "I plan to investigate Cecilia's death. I want to have a resolution on this entire matter before I wed Juliana."