From the Ashes

Chapter Forty-seven

Juliana and Richard left the ballroom with much fanfare and climbed into the coach. Juliana leaned out and waved goodbye as they traveled down the road. She knew it would be expected.

Soon enough though she settled back. "Mind explaining what is going on?"

Richard smiled, "First, I must apologize. This is your wedding day. I hope to make this up to you someday. Now for the proper answer, Clara is missing as you already know but I learned from Lily that it is Mr. Chase, who Mother named in her letters."

"Mr. Chase!" Juliana exclaimed her blood ran cold thinking she had just been dancing with him in the ballroom just moments ago. "But he is still at the party and Clara is not. How can he be the one who made her disappear?"

"I do not know if he is."

"Richard, you are making little sense," Juliana stated, frustrated by the entire situation.

"I left you in the ballroom because Benjamin McAllister had shown up on our doorstep looking for Clara."

"My God, he must be out of his mind with worry. Where is he now?"

"He has gone after her. He has his own resources and reason to think he may be the why behind Clara's disappearance. I do not know if the incidents are connected but I do know that if I wish to get any answers, I have to get to Mr. Chase and find out what he knows."

Juliana frowned there was something she took note of that she did not care for in Richard's explanation. "Why did you say YOU have to get him? IF you think for one moment Richard Charles Bentley, that you are going anywhere without me, you had best think again!"

"Juliana, even though I know you took a vow to obey, I certainly am aware by this point in our relationship it is far better for me to keep you where I can see you." Richard laughed.

At that moment the carriage came to a halt. Juliana looked out the window and there was a stable hand waiting with two horses. The fact that there were indeed two horses proved that Richard's words were true.

Richard jumped out of the coach and found the clothes that Albert made certain were packed. He joined her once more in the carriage handing her a much more sensible traveling frock. "Do you think you can manage?"

"Yes," Juliana said, "if you could just undo these few buttons." She turned her back to him and Richard made quick work of the four buttons trailing down her back. As he slid the garment from her shoulders, he could not help but sigh wishing he were doing this for far different reasons.

Juliana slipped out of the gown and gingerly placed it aside. She so hoped nothing happened to it as it was the loveliest creation she had ever seen and it belonged to her. She quickly donned her travel clothes, and as she done so Richard made quick work of his attire as well. Juliana could not help but steal a glance at him, memories of their night together flashed through her mind bringing color to her cheeks which did not go unnoticed by Richard when he looked up from buttoning his shirt.

He stopped and knelt in front of her. "Soon my, Love," and he kissed her soundly. "Soon we will put all this ugliness behind us, and we will be together again, as we should, as man and wife. Are you ready?"

Juliana nodded and he helped her from the carriage. He looked at the coachmen, "Take the carriage to the first inn you find and park it there for the night."

He tossed the man some coins to cover his stay. You may return in the morning." The coachmen pocketed the coins and nodded before riding on.

The stable hand looked at Richard expectantly. "Shortly a rider will come down that hill with news of which way Mr. Chase has taken. I expect you to stand by the road and wait for him, and retrieve us as soon as you have word. The rider can take you back to the Manor, and we will ride on."