Gracious Lady Read online

CHAPTER EIGHT

  'SO WHERE the hell is she?' Maximilian was white with anger as he glared down at Sophie.

  And nothing Sophie said was going to make him look—or for that matter feel—any differently! Because she didn't know any more than he where Jennie was. Although... she could probably take a not too inac­curate guess...

  Despite her forebodings, after Maximilian's arrogant issue of orders on Saturday, and Jennie's obvious re­bellious reaction to this autocratic behaviour, the rest of that day and Sunday had passed smoothly enough. Too smoothly, it now seemed, because it was only one o'clock on this bright and sunny Monday and Jennie was ap­parently nowhere to be found.

  And Maximilian was absolutely furious about it. With good reason, Sophie had to admit, even if she hadn't been particularly keen on the way he summoned her and demanded to know of Jennie's whereabouts, just as if she really were Jennie's gaoler, which she had no in­tention of being. But, to give him his due, Maximilian had issued few instructions for their behaviour during this week, only two really, the rule about telling someone if they left the house, and also that they should not be late for meals. And as they all knew lunch was at twelve-thirty, and they had already spent half an hour looking for the young girl when she hadn't come to the dining-room that time, Jennie had broken both those requests in one go. Because she certainly wasn't in the house either!

  Sean McKay had arrived this morning, and Jennie had greeted him ecstatically, obviously pleased to see again the man she called Uncle Sean. And Sophie had to admit he was a likeable man, in his early fifties, tall, with iron-grey hair that he kept styled short, with warm grey eyes set in a craggily handsome face. He had never married, Jennie had informed her, had made his work for Maximilian his life, and Maximilian's family his own. Which made Jennie's earlier fear, that he might have been replaced, more understandable. It was because of Jennie's obvious closeness to the man, who behaved towards her more like a grandfather than an uncle, that Sophie had believed the young girl when she'd told her earlier this morning that she was going down to the study to talk to Sean for a while. She obviously hadn't done any such thing, and, from Sophie's calculations of when Jennie had supposedly gone to see Sean, the young girl had been missing for over two hours!

  'You were supposed to be with her at all times,' Maximilian continued with hard accusation. 'Why didn't you—?'

  'Calm down, Max,' Sean cut in softly, smoothly. 'I'm sure none of this is Sophie's fault—'

  'Are you?' his employer and friend scorned. 'Nothing seems to have gone right since she arrived here! I—'

  'Sophie's arrival coincided with Jennie's own,' Sean pointed out reasoningly, shooting Sophie a sympathetic smile, obviously having no idea of the way in which Sophie and Maximilian had first met. 'And we both of us know how determined that young lady can be!' Sean added indulgently, shaking his head ruefully. 'I'm sure Sophie did her best—'

  'It obviously wasn't good enough!' Maximilian rasped accusingly, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he turned away frustratedly.

  Sophie felt awful for the obvious distress he was going through, and knew, too, that she was responsible. For all that she and Jennie seemed to have been developing a friendship, Jennie being absolutely fascinated by the 'poor Lady Sophie', Sophie herself had suspected that something like this might happen from the time Maximilian had issued the arrogant instruction about not leaving the house without telling someone first. Jennie's exemplary behaviour yesterday had obviously lulled Sophie into a false sense of security, the dis­traction of Sean's arrival this morning being all she had needed to make good her escape!

  'I believe,' she began tentatively, 'that Jennie may have gone into town shopping—'

  'Shopping!' Maximilian repeated incredulously, turning round from glaring stony-faced out of the bay window in the sitting-room, where they had all congre­gated when Jennie had failed to arrive for lunch as expected.

  Sophie winced at the cold glitter of his eyes as his gaze pinned her remorselessly to the spot. 'She suggested we go into town this morning,' she explained with an un­comfortable shrug. 'But I thought the afternoon might be a better time, and so I—'

  'You thought?' Maximilian repeated silkily soft. 'You aren't paid to think, Lady Sophie—'

  'Max, really, there's no need for that,' Sean cut in placatingly at the deliberate insult, his years with Maximilian, and their obvious friendship, giving him— he seemed to feel, at least—that right.

  Both Sophie and Maximilian ignored his reproach. 'I haven't been paid at all yet, Mr Grant!' Sophie glared at him, fists on her hips in challenge. 'And if not being allowed to think for oneself is part of the condition of working for you, then I think I would rather not bother!'

  'Not again!' Maximilian rolled his eyes expressively. 'You really are the most ridiculous young—'

  'I'm ridiculous?' she scorned incredulously. 'Your re­action to Jennie's having slipped off alone for a couple of hours shopping is really over the top,' she accused heatedly. 'Maybe if you hadn't issued that stupid order in the first place she wouldn't have felt the need to chal­lenge your authority! She hasn't run off with the gar­dener or anything,' Sophie shook her head impatiently. 'Good God, the man is seventy if he's a day! And those other "new employees" you told us about are all middle-aged.' She and Jennie had seen several of the men about the place, but they hadn't spoken to them, and, as far as Sophie was aware, Jennie hadn't spoken to any of them either. ‘That only leaves Paul,' she derided. 'Perhaps she's run off with him!' It was true that the other man wasn't in here with them now, but, to give him his due, he had been earlier when the search had first begun. But if Maximilian could behave in this ludicrously unreasonable way, so could she!

  He looked ready to explode. 'You—'

  'Max, tempers are becoming more than a little frayed,' Sean cut in softly. 'Maybe if you explained everything to Sophie she might—'

  'Yes—why don't you "explain everything to Sophie"!' She glared at Maximilian. 'Instead of acting like some Victorian father in a melodrama—'

  ‘I am reacting like a man concerned for his daughter's welfare!' he attacked in return.

  'Maybe if Sophie had known all the facts,' Sean began again placatingly—and it was easy to see in that moment how he had lasted so long as Maximilian's employee; he obviously liked and respected the younger man, and that liking and respect was reciprocated—otherwise Sean would have been sacked long ago for his impertinence in interfering in family concerns, tactfully as it was being done!

  'She didn't need to know anything!' Maximilian turned on Sean too now, eyes glittering coldly, dangerously so.

  'I'm probably not paid to know anything either, Sean,' Sophie sighed heavily. Her head was spinning from the tension that seemed to actually be crackling in the air. And it was Maximilian who was creating this totally out of context reaction. At least... she presumed it was out of context, although from the little that had been said between the two men there was obviously something that Maximilian wasn't telling her—that he had no intention of telling her either! 'Maybe if we all—' She broke off as the door burst open.

  But it wasn't Jennie who had entered, as they had all hoped it might be when they turned so eagerly towards the doorway, the anticipation quickly turning to disap­pointment when they saw it was only Paul who stood there.

  He didn't spare Sophie and Sean so much as a second glance, his face grim as he looked at Maximilian. 'Gracious Lady has gone too!' he bit out abruptly. 'I've just checked with Jenkins, and the horse's stall is empty. I can't emphasise too deeply how strongly I advised you that something exactly like this could happen—'

  'I don't think I-told-you-sos are in order just now, Wiseman,' Sean rasped harshly, his worried gaze returning to Maximilian's ashen face. 'Max only did what he thought was best. For everyone concerned,' Sean added with emphasis. 'The fact that it hasn't worked out that way certainly isn't his fault.'

  Sophie didn't know why they were still making such a fuss about this. It was
perfectly obvious to her what had happened now that she knew the horse was missing too; Jennie obviously loved the beautiful animal, had lingered in the horse's stall yesterday morning before they went riding, obviously itching to get up on the filly's back, prevented from doing so, Sophie had presumed, because the horse obviously belonged to Maximilian personally. But obviously today Jennie hadn't been able to resist the temptation, going off on Lady—Gracious Lady—without telling anyone. She couldn't tell anyone, had known she wouldn't be allowed to ride the horse at all if she did that. Why none of these men could see that, Sophie didn't know!

  ‘I realise Jennie shouldn't have been late back for lunch,' she began with rueful affection; obviously Jennie was so enjoying her ride she had completely forgotten the time. 'And I'm sure by now she does too!' Sophie grimaced. No doubt Jennie had realised by now that she had lost track of time and broken one of her father's two rules, and her initial panic would probably have turned to defiance by now too. Sophie only wished she could get to the young girl first and advise her that a contrite apology for her behaviour would probably get a sweeter reaction than rebellion. Although Sophie wouldn't guarantee it, not the way Maximilian looked at the moment! 'But no doubt she'll be here in a few minutes, and then we can all—'

  'What are you burbling on about?' Maximilian turned on her fiercely, a white line of tension about the firmness of his mouth, his jaw clenched in tight control. 'Haven't you realised yet that Jennifer hasn't just gone off on some shopping spree at all—?'

  'Of course I've realised that,' Sophie sharply inter­rupted his derisive scorn. 'But I don't happen to think her having borrowed your horse to go riding necessitates a lynch mob either! And anyone more like a lynch mob than you three I have yet to see!' She looked at the men with incredulity. 'Don't you think you should lighten up a little?' she attempted to cajole them. 'At least give the poor girl a chance to defend herself when she gets back—'

  'She may not be coming back!' Maximilian's voice rose with frustrated anger.

  Sophie frowned 'Of course she will,' she soothed. 'Jennie is a very good rider. I know Gracious Lady is obviously a spirited animal, but I'm sure Jennie can handle her.' The young girl was an excellent horse­woman. Almost as good as her father, Sophie had realised early this morning when she looked out of her bedroom window and saw Maximilian returning to the stable from his ride. But not on the back of Gracious Lady, she recalled now... And, considering what a beautifully spirited animal the horse was, she could probably have done with the exercise. Maximilian should really be thanking Jennie for saving him the trouble of taking Gracious Lady out, not berating her!

  'And just what would you know about it?' Maximilian demanded aggressively now.

  Once again he was deliberately insulting, and Sophie couldn't help bristling indignantly. ‘I realise you're upset about Jennie's disappearance, Mr Grant,' she began coolly. 'But I really don't think insulting me is—'

  'Oh, for God's sake don't start thinking again!' he scorned harshly. 'You don't have any idea what you're talking about—'

  'What's all the shouting about?'

  This time, it was Jennie standing in the doorway, when they all spun around. But there was no eager expectation in any of their faces this time; a rueful greeting in Sophie's, restrained relief on the part of Sean and Paul— and furious disbelief from Maximilian as he looked at his daughter with incredulity.

  And, from the defiant expression on Jennie's own face as she met his gaze, there would be no joyful reunion between father and daughter; in fact, the fur looked as if it was about to start flying!

  Jennie strolled completely into the room, dressed, as Sophie had guessed she would be, in her dark green riding-jacket, fawn jodhpurs tucked into black dust-covered boots, her long hair tied back at her nape with a dark green velvet ribbon, the golden mane cascading down her spine.

  'Did someone die?' she drawled when no one seemed in any hurry to answer her first question, her brows arched in derisive query.

  'No,' her father answered her softly. 'But "someone" is about to!' He took a threatening step towards her, only to have Sean put a restraining hand on his arm.

  The coldly furious glare he shot the other man was enough to make Sean remove his hand, but the few se­conds' delay in Maximilian's reaching Jennie had had the desired effect; he no longer looked ready to strangle his daughter without hearing. First he would get an ex­planation from her, then he would strangle her, Sophie realised with a grimace!

  'Where the hell have you been, Jennifer?' he de­manded to know with forceful intent, his hands clenched at his sides. Probably so that he shouldn't put them around his daughter's throat—yet!

  'Perhaps we should all leave and let you two—talk,' Sophie suggested helpfully, sure there was no need for them all to witness Jennie's humiliation. Because she didn't doubt for one moment that that was what it was going to be; Maximilian didn't look as if he was about to be talked round this time!

  'No,' he said now in a tone that brooked no ar­gument, Sean and Paul slowly turning back uncertainly from where they had been about to leave. 'We've all been sent on a wild-goose chase looking for this inconsiderate young lady the last hour, so we all deserve the expla­nation. And apology.' This last was added in a way that should have warned Jennie that that was the least he expected of her.

  Whether or not she chose to heed that warning was another matter entirely! From the rebellious flush that darkened her cheeks, Sophie didn't think so.

  There she went, thinking again! As if sensing her self-derision, Maximilian turned to look at her with narrowed eyes. Oh, dear, he looked ready to kill!

  He turned back to his daughter. 'Well?'

  'OK, so I'm a little late for lunch,' she began dismissively.

  'And you took Gracious Lady without telling anyone,' her father pointed out softly, dangerously so.

  'Ah.' Jennie chewed on her top lip ruefully. 'You know about that too,' she grimaced.

  'Of course we—' Maximilian paused to draw in a deep ragged breath, controlling his outburst with diffi­culty. 'And no matter what you might think to the con­trary, you aren't an experienced enough rider to handle a horse like Gracious Lady,' he grated. 'Anything could have happened!'

  Jennie's eyes flashed icy blue. 'You mean I may have damaged your precious horse with my inept handling of her?' she scorned defiantly. 'Well, she's safe enough. If you don't believe me, go out to the stables and see for yourself!' She ran to the door, her intention to flee from the room obvious to them all.

  'Jennie!' Sophie called to her encouragingly. 'I'm sure your father didn't mean that at all—'

  'Are you?' the young girl derided pityingly. 'Then you don't know him very well! I've always come way down on his list of priorities.'

  'Jennifer—'

  'What's the matter, Daddy?' She looked at him as if she really hated him at that moment—something Sophie knew just wasn't true. In actual fact, Jennie adored her father, looked up to him, and her constant goading of him was just a defence mechanism because for some reason Jennie believed her love wasn't returned. 'Don't you like having an audience to the truth about the way you feel about me?' Jennie challenged now. 'It's your audience, Daddy,' she scorned. 'You ordered them to stay here and listen to this. It's your own fault if you don't like what they're hearing! And the truth is that you couldn't really give a damn about me, that all you care about is your precious horse. After all, on a business level—the only level you function on!—she's worth a lot more money than I am!'

  'Jennifer, you're going too far!' Maximilian bit out in a perfectly controlled voice, but his face was pale none the less, a nerve pulsing in his cheek.

  Sophie was sure Sean and Paul were in agreement with that, as she was herself, but all of them seemed frozen in this cameo, unable to bring it to an end.

  'Because I'm telling you the truth but it's something you don't want to hear?' Jennie continued remorse­lessly. ‘I never wanted to hear the rows between you and Mummy when I was younger. I neve
r wanted to hear the words "boarding school," let alone be sent to one. And I certainly didn't ever want to hear the words "divorce" and "custody"!' Unshed tears glistened in her eyes as she hurled these painful memories at her father. 'But that last word didn't apply to you, did it?' Her anger returned, although her voice broke emotionally. 'You were quite willing to give Mummy custody of me—you just wanted both of us out of your life. What a pity for you that Mummy died before there could be a divorce!' She was breathing hard in her agitation.

  Sophie looked concernedly at Maximilian, could see that he was absolutely stunned by this outburst, that, probably for the first time in his life, he was speechless. And no wonder. Jennie had obviously been harbouring a lot of resentment towards her father for a lot of years, even before her mother had died by the sound of it. She had believed Maximilian didn't want her at all.

  Jennie must have her reasons for believing that, and yet Sophie was sure Maximilian genuinely cared about his daughter...

  'What a pity for you!' Jennie repeated scathingly when he gave no answer to the accusation, turning on her heel and running from the room.

  It was then that Sophie saw, that they all saw as they watched Jennie's departure with pained expressions on their faces, that Jennie hadn't returned alone, that she had brought someone back with her, someone Sophie recognised only too well—Brian! And he had just been witness to a very private conversation between Maximilian and his daughter.

  Private enough to give him a very good story to sell to a national newspaper...!

  But before Sophie could gather her scattered wits together enough to say anything—although quite what she could have said, she had no idea—Maximilian had crossed the room in long aggressive strides, standing over Brian now, much taller and broader than the younger man.

  'Who the hell are you?' Maximilian demanded, coldly furious at finding a complete stranger standing in the hallway of his home.

  Sophie couldn't exactly blame him for being annoyed. And he would be even more upset than he was if he knew Brian was a reporter...