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Chapters (44)
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. A word about the author...
  44. Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

John turned and beamed. “Hello Papa. Miss ’Mena’s taking a holiday. Have you seen Miss Smith? She’s in Miss ’Mena’s room.” He came to the door and whispered in his father’s ear. “She smells funny.”

Hugh put his arm round his son. He must not give up hope. Philomena was out there, somewhere, on her own. He would find her. He needed her and so did John.

For many days, Hugh searched fruitlessly for some trace of Philomena. He found no clue. He left the Hall to scour the country. He took the train once more to Bristol but achieved little beyond offering delicious encouragement for the wagging tongues of that city. They found great entertainment in the spectacle of a handsome aristocrat on such a wild goose chase, asking constantly after an unknown woman.

Martin, saddened by his master’s loss of interest in hunting, faithfully reported all the information available from the servants’ hall. This was little enough, beyond a description of Joseph, culled from the single visit to the back door of the Hall. That was the only clue Hugh had. He turned it over in his head, but try as he might he could find no help in it. The appearance of a strange man searching for Philomena simply deepened the mystery.

Slowly, reluctantly, Hugh realised he must waste no more time searching. He had neglected his duties at Thatcham Hall for too long. For the moment, he would wait, but he would never give up. One day, somehow, he would solve the mystery that was Philomena.

The year drew on. At last, the cold, February winds became only a memory. The fields around the Hall blossomed with a spring in their step. The snowdrops from the path Hugh had walked with Philomena were long gone. Crocus, daffodil, and tulip took their place, in the long progression of the seasons. Hugh spoke coldly but politely to the Dowager, and she left the Hall on the long-delayed visit to her friends, taking Selena with her.

The time was fast approaching when Selena would enter into society. Hugh promised to join her at his London house as soon as was reasonable and pay for a ball in her honour. She threw her arms around him. “You are the kindest brother in the world. We will have such a merry time in London that you will soon become happy again, I promise you.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six