Where Love Has Gone Read Online Free PDF

gentle consideration of other people’s
feelings. Always cool and calculating as spies must be, he would
seek the truth almost as eagerly as she did. But until she knew him
better she was not prepared to provide the entire truth as she knew
it.
    “Let me begin my investigation at once,” said
Desmond, as soon as he took the seat at her left side. “Do you know
of anyone here at Warden’s Manor, or on the entire island, who
dislikes your sister, or who might wish her harm?”
    “No one dislikes Aglise,” Elaine responded,
perhaps too quickly, for she saw the way his gaze sharpened. But
she couldn’t tell him everything – at least, not yet. Not until she
could be absolutely certain he wouldn’t ruin Aglise’s good name. It
was possible he could find Aglise without ever learning…
    “Did she have any particular friends?”
Desmond persisted, breaking into her troubled thoughts.
    “She had me,” Elaine said. “I am my sister’s
very best friend.”
    “Then, you will no doubt be of great help to
us.” The look he gave her was too intense for Elaine’s comfort.
    “If you plan to begin by riding over the
island in search of her, I know Jersey fairly well,” she said, “and
I will gladly show you all the places Aglise liked to visit. If, of
course, Lady Benedicta will grant me leave to accompany you.”
    “I believe I can convince her.” A faint smile
curved Desmond’s mouth, as if for some private reason of his own he
was pleased by her suggestion.
    For the next hour Elaine listened with
growing respect to the scrupulously polite way in which Desmond
dealt with Lord Bertrand and Lady Benedicta. He offered subtle
hints that the sooner he and Cadwallon set about their
investigation, the sooner they would both be gone from Jersey,
leaving Warden’s Manor and its lord and lady in peace. Not by a
single word or glance did he suggest that he thought either of them
was withholding knowledge about Aglise.
    So effective was Desmond that when the meal
was over and Elaine followed her foster mother up the stairs to the
solar, Lady Benedicta did not stipulate any course of action to
Elaine, only noting that she ought to be circumspect in what she
revealed to the two men.
    Elaine fought the impulse to state bluntly
that she would never say anything to Aglise’s detriment, for she
understood some things were better left unspoken. As was her habit,
she bit back the words she knew would be unwise, and meekly bowed
her head, and thanked Lady Benedicta for her permission to ride out
with the men the next morning.
    Elaine slept well for the first night since
Aglise had vanished. Royce’s men, merely by their presence, had
removed some of the burden she had been carrying for more than two
months.

Chapter 3
     
     
    Early though Elaine was in reaching the hall
the next morning, Desmond and Cadwallon were there before her.
Desmond was pacing around the hall with an air of impatience while
Cadwallon, looking completely relaxed, was sprawled on a bench
chewing on a hunk of bread and occasionally drinking from the cup
of ale he held in one hand. He glanced with approval at Elaine’s
cloak, ankle-length skirt, and sturdy boots.
    “Have you broken your fast?” Desmond asked
her, frowning.
    “I am ready to leave,” she responded crisply.
Indicating the linen-wrapped bundles she carried, she added, “I
stopped in the kitchen. I’ve brought bread and cheese, raisins and
dried apples, and a flask of wine, so we won’t have to return at
midday. We can stay out until dusk if you want.”
    “Good thinking, my lady,” said Cadwallon,
grinning at her. He set down his cup and rose to take the bundles
from her hands. “Riding always makes me hungry. I’ll just slip
these packages into our saddlebags and then we can be on our
way.”
    The squires had saddled the horses and stood
waiting in the bailey. Elaine rode astride, her hiked-up skirt
revealing the heavy woolen hose she wore to keep her legs from
chaffing.
    “Clever