Chapter 100

Finn squinted his eyes to ease the sting of the aftertoon sun pouring directly into his face as he gazed down at Mendora from Winterborne Hall. A little over a week had they been graced with her presence and he had to admit to a change to the Viscount. Tristan became warmer, smitten by the presence of his sister. Protective too.

At present she was instructing him on the arts and what better way to do so than to have the lad in an immersive experience. Tristan was seated on the grass since noon and while Finn knew the boy to be unindulgant of the outdoors, he'd remained seated without a hint of boredom or frustration.

It was obvious to the eye that Mendora Angus Garrick was an asset to this house and it provided Finn with a sense of comfort. He'd been close to Elias Harley in the past five years. The man had aided Finn with his private business when his own family swore to disown him and leave him penniless. During that time, Finn had grown fond of Tristan and had promised himself to look after the boy.

Now that they've found his sister and she was absolute dream of a relative, Finn felt that his work was done. And yet, he found it difficult to disappear back into his life in the shadows.

By his very nature Finn was a curious man and once his interest had been teased it was difficult for him to walk away. As of now, the Viscount's sister captived every ounce of his curiosity, so much so that he barely had concentration to sort through the pile of requests sent to him.

a smile tugged at his lips as Mendora caught sight of him on the balcony, raising her arm upwards to give him an energetic wave. The sun's rays reflecting off her face and giving her an added glow. Moreso than how she appeared the night he'd found her.

Mendora returned her attentions to teaching Tristan the proper way to approach a landscape painting. No proficient herself but she'd recieved proper training and was fully capable of carrying a very dignified conversation of the arts with any man. "If all my teachers were this agreeable I should not have hid away in the library so much," Tristan teased as he attempted to move the brush in the precise manner his sister instructed.

"Or you'd quicker take advantage of their amiability," Mendora countered while Ginger smiled at the place sprawled out on the grass, face up to the sun.

"My own sister has little faith me," Tristan pretended to be appalled.

"Your sister is not easily fooled, now let me guide you better," Mendora covered his hand with his, guiding his brush strokes. The only variable that would make this better was if Teresa and Tristan could meet. Mendora felt that her hear would be full with that scenario. By the Gods she hoped it would full her enough to cover the gaping hole widening in her chest as the days elapsed.

No matter how much she wanted to feel purely happy she could not. Days were running past her and she'd not heard a word of Solaire. Her love was eaily turning bitter and there was nothing she could do is stop it.

***

His mind could not quiet itself and in its chaos he’d momentarily forgotten about Mendora’s change in whereabouts. Having returned to his home in a fit of anxiety, Solaire rushed in doors, shouting for another horse to be taken from the stables and to be ready in an hour.

“Goodness,” Williams proffered subtly as Solaire zipped past him. “how had your trip to the country been?” not a muscle twitched or moved, nor his intonation altered.

“Illuminating,” Solaire answered honestly. A lot had changed in those five days he’d been away. The heaviness weighing on his chest was lifted, his breaths steady and fulfilling. He knew what he wanted because the fear attached to attaining it had somewhat dissipated. Everything Mendora said that night was true. He was being shallow and selfish. And he now he would be sure to right those wrongs.

Even in his state of confusion he knew he wanted her. Barely able to come to terms with any solution that involved him ending their relationship and now he didn’t have too. Learning to put faith in his own life rather than searching for answers in others.

“Mendora has a cousin in the country,” he stopped immediately as he was half way up to his room to take a bath. Williams was already set upon carrying on his usual business when Solaire’s statement tugged him back, “find out where exactly,” he told the man, “oh, and Williams…”

“Yes, My Lord?” Williams waited for his master’s conclusion.

“Do so discretely,” he warned, not wishing for the family to have any heads up on the matter. Gone for five days and he already had not set eyes upon her for about eight, Solaire didn’t need for her to be tipped off by his intentions to call. With Mendora’s temperament, she might outright refuse to see him having too much time to anticipate him.

“As you wish, My Lord,”

***

Gemma Parsons had recently gotten married at the ripe age of nineteen. Leaving her family behind to join her husband at his country estate. An older gentlemen who had enough of London society and wished to spend his days in a change of scenary. As for the pregnancy that Lavinia mentioned, Solaire found no signs of the girl being a new mother. In fact, she was stunned when Solaire congratulated her.

"You are Miss Garrick's cousin are you not?" he'd enquired following her lack of forthcoming words.

"I am, My Lord but I can assure you that I have not given birth to any babe just yet," Gemma could not cease her incessent blushing. She'd heard the news that Mendora was engaged to the Marquess of Lansdowne but could have hardly believed it. Now that he was at her door, searching for said cousin, Gemma could no longer wish it to be untrue. "and my cousin has not yet visited me since my marriage a few months now,"

"My apologies, I must have heard wrong," He said, not at all willing to go past the threshold. He'd come for Mendora and she was not here. Perhaps, in his haste he must have overlooked a piece of crucial information.

Or more than likely, he'd been lied to. There was too much about the story that made Solaire inclined to think it false. His men were never wrong in their investigations.

Gemma Parsons was the only cousin recently married living in the country. Lavinia lied to him and he was yet to understand why but this realisation made his stomach queasy. It did not help that he'd need another few days to make the trip back. Time was wasting and he wanted to mend his wrongs as soon as possible.

***

“Is Mendora here?” Solaire had not waited for any formalities as he barged into the Garrick house unannounced. He'd not taken a respite home on his journey back and was much frustrated by the lack of sleep tormenting his mind. Teresa, sitting at her mother's side in the parlour while she had a supervised visit with Jonathon, winced at Solaire's tone, shooting a glance at her mother.

Lavinia, in turn, came to her feet instantly at the interuption, wincing at the mention of her daughter’s name coming forth so casually from the Marquess’ lips. A reaction that caused her to prolong her silence. “Is she avoiding me?” Solaire questioned through clenched teeth, "hiding somewhere in here perhaps?" and if she were he'd turn the entire mansion down until he found her.

“My Lord,” Lavinia chuckled nervously, placing the ball of yarn she'd had housed in her palms down on the chair, “I’ve told you some days hence that my daughter is at her cousin’s house tending to the new mother. I have not heard any news regarding her return else I would have imformed you promptly.”

“Madame," Solaire closed the distance, his arms hooked behind his back to reduce his temptation from wanting to shake the woman until the truth bled out, " do you presume me for a fool?” his voice deepened, eyes darkened.

“My Lord, I assure you I have the utmost respect for you.” Lavinia could not comprehend the hostility she'd seen born in his eyes. "I have no reason to lie." her smile feeling fake and fragile.

"If Mendora is not here and she is not at the Parson's country estate," he paused as he noted the the remainder of Lavinia's confidence wither away, "yes, I checked," a brief side track, "where the hell is she?"

"I-I..." Lavinia scrambled for another excuse. Not at all expecting that Solaire would choose to visit their cousins in search of Mendora. It seemed her plan had been flawed and terribly so. Unfortunately, she'd underestimated Solaire. Had staked her entire lie on the presumption that he barely cared for her daughter and would swallow whatever information presented wholesale with any due diligence.

"Mother, perhaps it is time to appraise the Marquess of the truth," Teresa interjected, not at all willing to condone this madness her mother was. Mendora was gone, and Teresa needed her sister back. The very sister who had confided that she was in love with the Marquess.

"What truth?" Solaire growled looking back and forth between the women.

"Mendora had strict orders not to involve you," Lavinia held her held her head high, a final resort to be rid of Solaire.

"I am her fiance, I do not care what she has told you I demand to know the whereabout of my woman,"