Free Time After Time by Elizabeth Boyce Page B

father. “But wherever is Claire?”
    “I’m here,” said Claire, wading through the dogs to kiss Ellie.
    “Isn’t it exciting?” Snap said, yanking on Ellie’s trouser leg. “You get a new dress, and Mama says I can have a cage for my rat.”
    “A rat? When did you get a rat? One night away and I feel like I’ve been gone a week.”
    “Yesterday the Literary Club ladies were over,” Lady Albright explained with a pained sigh. “In the middle of the meeting, Snap asked for a bag to catch a rat. Well, we all chuckled like mad — a wee girl wanting to catch a rat. I made the mistake of telling her to ask Cook. A few minutes later she returned with a rat in a bag.”
    “I found it in a pipe,” Snap said.
    “Yes,” added Claire. “She’s named it … ”
    “Napoleon!” shouted Snap.
    “My, you’ve been busy,” replied Ellie.
    Peggity coughed. “Rats aside, we’re awfully glad you came home. The house party begins the day after tomorrow. We have so much to do before then.”
    Aghast, Ellie blurted, “So soon?”
    “According to Snap, our butler heard from Lady Davenport’s footman that you made a good impression on her son, Lord Hugh,” continued Peggity. “He’s notoriously shy around women.”
    “Ha!” said Ellie. “Not from what I saw.”
    “Be that as it may,” Peggity continued, “Lady Davenport wants us at Cowick Hill right away to capitalize on the attraction.”
    “How grotesque,” Ellie said.
    “Why, darling?” reasoned her mother. “Lord Davenport is handsome, rich, and a horseman. What more could you want?”
    “Someone who’s not a charlatan and a rogue, for one,” said Ellie.
    “But you will come?” Claire interjected, looking worried.
    “Of course, the house party will put me near Manifesto.”
    “That horse.” Peggity shook her head. “You’d marry the beast if it were legal.”
    “I would indeed.”
    “All that can wait.” Claire grabbed Ellie’s arm, pulling her upstairs. “You absolutely must tell me about your adventures with Aunt May .”
    • • •
    In the privacy of her bedroom, Ellie leaped on the quilt and lay flat in exhaustion. “Your head would spin if you knew what I’ve been through.”
    “Tell me everything,” Claire said, sitting on the bed and heaving an overweight cat onto her lap.
    Ellie lay motionless as pudding. Her lips were the only thing that moved as she told Claire about seeing Lank with Baron Wadsworth. “They’re in league together.”
    Claire gave her a skeptical look. “How do you know Mr. Lank wasn’t just trying to get the best possible price for Manifesto by bringing the baron to the sale?”
    “I just know it,” Ellie said, and banged her fist on the mattress.
    “Well, you absolutely cannot tell Papa about Mr. Lank now,” Claire said, alarm in her voice. “Papa believes you were at Aunt May’s. He’d be beyond angry if he knew you went to a horse fair unescorted, and Mama would be so upset after telling you to watch our reputation.”
    Ellie went silent. She had counted on her parent’s support. Now she was back to operating alone. “I know a way of getting Manifesto back without selling the necklace.”
    “Oh, thank Heavens,” said Claire, emitting a huge sigh of relief.
    Ellie nestled her head deeper into the pillow. “I’m going to bet the necklace on Manifesto to win the Haldon Gold Cup. I’ll get the pearls back after the race and the winnings should be enough to give the farm a new start.”
    Claire’s hands flew to her face. “But what if Manifesto doesn’t win? We wouldn’t even have the horse to assure our future. Mama would die without the Fitzcarry pearls.”
    “Ah, but Manifesto will win.” Ellie patted her pocket, and then bolted upright. She felt one pocket, then the other. Leaping to her feet, she jammed her hands in her breeches. “It’s gone!”
    “What’s gone?”
    “The necklace isn’t in my pocket. I specifically put it in my right pocket to keep it safe. Could I have