The Night of the Absentee Agent

Chapter 17

The Meeting

A couple of days later, two things happened. First, an announcement appeared in the Times, cancelling the engagement between Mr Artemus Gordon and Mrs Catherine Masters (nee Oakley). Second, Joshua Manning took a ride across the fields and into the woods between Mayberry and Oakley land. Like Artie before him, he found using the European style of saddle uncomfortable but he ploughed on, at a canter, intent on his mission.

He was on the same mare that Artie had ridden previously. Artie wouldn't need her as he had taken the carriage into town, early that morning and would be on the train for London by lunchtime. Josh knew, therefore, that he would be the only one in the wood except Cat who went riding every morning, as long as the weather was fine.

Josh brought his horse to a stop when he saw her, sitting on a tree stump while her horse drank from a nearby stream. He dismounted and led the mare toward her.

"Mr Manning!" she said, a little breathlessly, when she caught sight of him. He noticed her blush and it was obvious she hadn't been expecting to meet anyone.

"I'm sorry," he said, avoiding her gaze, "I didn't mean to intrude. I'll be on my way." 'What an idiot,' he thought, 'running after her so soon after the scene with Artie.'

"No... please don't go!" Cat said. "I would be glad of some company."

Once again, Josh heard the breathlessness in her voice. He looked into her eyes, wondering if she had been crying. Her eyes were sparkling but not with tears. 'How beautiful she is,' he thought.

"Let's take a stroll," Cat suggested. So they walked slowly through the wood, leading their horses, at first in silence, except for the sound of the birds and the stream.

Eventually, Josh, habitually a man of action, could contain his feelings no longer. "I just had to seek you out," he said. Then he suddenly realised that he ought to be upfront with her. "I have to tell you that I punched Gordon on the chin for what he said to you."

"Oh dear, poor Artemus." No wonder he hadn't followed her back to Stonehurst after their quarrel. "Is he alright?"

"Yes. But he deserved it anyway."

Cat stopped and laid a hand on his sleeve, sending a hot pulse up his arm and into his heart. "You mustn't take the quarrel between Artemus and me too seriously," she said. "I assure you there are no hurt feelings on either of our parts. We simply didn't suit and found it out mercifully early on."

"That's a wonderful thing for you to say. Do you want me to apologise to him." It was obvious that he didn't want to do any such thing but that he would if she wanted him to.

Cat smiled. "No, I think he understands."

"Anyway, he'll be leaving for America in a few weeks," Josh said.

"And what about you; will you be returning as well?" Cat asked, nonchalantly, as if her future happiness didn't at all depend on his answer.

"No, ma'am, I'm planning on staying to help Marsh and Sam with the stud. Clara's going to marry Marsh, you know, and I want to be there when my nephews and nieces appear."

"I commend your brotherly feelings," Cat said. "I hope all of you will feel free to visit Stonehurst, once you've settled in."

"You can be sure I'll take you up on that offer, ma'am," Josh told her.

"I do wish you'd call me Cat, all of my friends do. But of course I only live here in the summer. I have my own house in Wiltshire, in a village called Sutton Veney."

"Oh," Josh said, rather crestfallen. "Is that far from here?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it is. We wouldn't see that much of each other."

Josh wasn't slow to realise that Cat had brought matters down to between just the two of them.

"If I made a point of travelling to Wiltshire to visit you, would you mind?" he asked.

"It would please me more than anything," Cat replied and her look was not lost on him.

"Oh Cat," he said, on a sigh.

"Oh Joshua," she mimicked.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" he asked.

"From the moment I saw you," Cat replied.

Then she was in his arms and he was kissing her. Suddenly he pulled back from her. "Am I the reason you broke off your engagement with Artie?" he asked.

"I don't like lying to you," Cat said, "but please don't tell anyone. Artemus and I set up the argument because we never really wanted to be engaged in the first place. We were forced into it by the announcement my father put in the paper. Artemus was trying to save my feelings by not repudiating it."

"Now I really should apologise to him," Josh said. "I feel terrible for hitting him."

"You can do that later," Cat said, smiling beguilingly. "I have something else for you to do now." She grabbed him by the neck and bent his lips to hers. He didn't struggle.

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Artie arrived in London to find it busy, loud, and full of smells. The streets were narrow and the brick buildings seemed to crowd in on the people. He finally found his way to the United States Embassy and was ushered in to see a member of the Ambassadorial staff, as soon as he showed his identification.

"My name's Moresby," the young man said. "We have received your report and your subsequent correspondence. We have also received a communication from your superiors in Washington."

"Yes, I received your letter a couple of days ago. I came as soon as my leg was healed enough for me to make the journey to London. Have they caught Samuel Treadwell yet?"

"No. All passengers leaving New York have been checked out but he wasn't among them. It looks like he may have headed west. Do you know if he had a family he might be trying to reach?"

"I only met him once," Artie said. He didn't say anything to me."

"Yes, but when you were with his associate, was a wife mentioned?"

"No, I don't believe so, sorry I can't help."

"Never mind, at least they have The Magpie under lock and key."

"Yes, thank goodness for that," Artie said.

"And when do you expect to make the journey back to the United States?" Moresby asked.

"I've been told I'll be fit enough in about three weeks' time," Artie said. I sent a wire from Berkshire to let Colonel Richmond know. It should get there in a week or so."

"I will issue you with documentation and the money for your return journey," Moresby said. "You can pick it up tomorrow. Have you somewhere to stay in town? If not, the Ambassador has agreed that it would be appropriate for you to stay at the Embassy."

"Thank you, that'll be fine," Artie agreed.

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