Randal’s arrival triggered a search. After half an hour of wandering the Castle shouting for her the search moved to the grounds and everyone began to feel uneasy. “She’ll be up a tree,” said Randal with a sigh. Beth looked at him and wondered if he believed it. If Sophie was anywhere close to the Castle she would surely have heard her name being called. They were standing at the base of the terrace steps and Jane and Lord Wraybourne joined them there. In a moment, Sir Marius arrived, shaking his head. “Could she have ridden out?” Randal asked. “I checked the stables,” Sir Marius said. “No horses have left there at all today.” “What was she wearing?” Randal asked. Sophie’s maid reported that her mistress had dressed that morning in a green sprig muslin gown and silk slippers. No other clothes had gone, not even a bonnet. “She wouldn’t have gone walking without a bonnet and in slippers,” said her brother sharply, searching the rolling parkland with his eyes for the hundredth time.
