He got a message, I think, while he was sitting at
dinner, and he rode off as fast as he could go, across th' moor--it's
the nighest way to the castle, you know, my lady; though it ain't the
pleasantest."
Honoria grew very uneasy. What was the meaning of this sudden
departure?
"Do you know who brought the message from Raynham?" she asked the
groom.
"No, indeed, my lady. I don't even know for sure and certain that the
message was from Raynham. I only guess as much."
"Why did not Sir Oswald take you with him?"
"I can't say, my lady. I asked master if I wasn't to go with him, and
he said, 'No, he would rather be alone.'" This was all that Honoria
could learn from the groom. She walked back towards the marquee, whence
the sound of voices and laughter grew louder as the sun sank across the
broad expanse of moorland.
The ladies of the party had gathered together on a broad patch of
velvet greensward, near the oak thicket where the band was stationed.
Here the younger members of the party were waltzing merrily to the
accompaniment of one of Strauss's sweetest waltzes; while the elders
sat here and there on camp-stools or fallen logs of trees, and looked
on, or indulged in a little agreeable gossip.
Honoria Eversleigh made her way unobserved to the marquee, and
approached one of the openings less used and less crowded than the
others.
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