“How long have you been here?”
“Only a minute or two. I really came to search for Grant Atherwald.”
“Atherwald? What would he be doing here?”
“He disappeared an hour or so ago,” revealed Penny. “The servants have been searching everywhere for him.”
“He disappeared?” the gardener repeated incredulously.
“Yes, it’s very peculiar. Mr. Atherwald arrived at the estate in ample time for the wedding. But after he read a note which was delivered to him he walked off in this direction and was seen no more.”
“Down this path, you mean?”
“I couldn’t say as to that, but he started this way. I know because I saw him myself.”
“Atherwald didn’t come here,” the gardener said with finality. “I’ve been working around the lily pond all afternoon and would have seen him.”
Penny’s fingers closed tightly about the white gold ring which she kept shielded from the man’s gaze. In her opinion the trinket offered almost conclusive proof that the bridegroom had visited the locality. Because she could not trust the gardener she kept her thoughts strictly to herself.