Jasper Sinclair, the Duke of Derby, halted his pacing by the hearth to scowl menacingly at her. She could feel his displeasure from across the room, but she continued toward him, her stomach wobbling.
“Howdareyou?” he snarled. “I specifically said to leave matters well enough alone, and you—”
“I’ve found her,” Maria cut over him.
He blinked. “You’ve…What?”
Maria stopped within arm’s reach and waved the parchment in her hand. “I’ve received a response from the advertisement.”
“And? What does it say, damn it?”
Maria read. “Dear sir or madam. I am not at liberty to interfere, but I believe that I have seen your missing person.” Maria lifted an eyebrow at Jasper before returning to the letter. “This missive describes Juliana precisely, down to the colour of her eyes. It goes on to say that she was found nigh starved and covered in blood by the lord of the estate after a carriage accident.”
Jasper cursed and resumed his pacing, and Maria flipped the parchment over.
“She was abed, sick with the fever for days before she became a governess to the lord’s niece.” Maria skimmed ahead, her stomach knotting as the servant hinted at debauchery.I would not write of such things, the letter continued,if you had not expressed such concern in your advertisement. “It is concluded with a warning that someone dangerous was in pursuit of Juliana when she left.”
The duke’s mien turned mulish. “What are you withholding?”
Maria huffed. “Nothing of import, Your Grace. Our attentions would be best served elsewhere. Juliana is alive but in danger. We must—”
“Wemustn’t do anything, Maria. I will search for her. Does the missive say in which direction she went?”
“I’m afraid not. But I shall inquire—”
“No.”
“But I—”
He sliced a hand through the air. “It is far too dangerous. I’ll not haveyourlife on my conscience, as well.”
Maria bit at her lips, her mind working. Jasper did not know of what she was capable and, therefore, could not trust her discretion and stealth. She, however, knew herself. She would simply have to find a way to aid in the search without riding uselessly about the countryside and speaking to innkeepers.
CHAPTER22
The carriage jostled in a rut, and Leonard cringed at the jolt of agony that seared up his spine. After days in the saddle, his body had only grown more pained. He was grateful for the respite of the carriage that morning, but he feared it was already too late to do any good for his body.
At night, they behaved as virtual strangers, eating their meals in the public rooms and renting separate rooms in which to wash and sleep. The loneliness fisting in his chest made him feel oddly hollow. He despised being so…exposed in the public eye, and now with Juliana’s silence, he felt even more isolated than he did at his estate.
He rolled his cinnamon drop over his tongue and tucked it into his cheek, savouring the sweet spiciness. The air in the carriage was cool, though not as crisp as the air out of doors. Snow coated the ground in a bleak curtain turned a hazy grey in the predawn hours. The trees dripped as the snow melted and fell. It was cold enough for the snow to remain, but nothing fresh had fallen in the past three-and-sixty hours.
Juliana shifted in her seat across from him, a yawn tightening her features. The silence between them was deafening. They’d agreed to hire a carriage, but the driver had wished to return home before luncheon, forcing them to depart in the middle of the night.
He glanced once more at the passing darkness, disappointment heavy behind his ribs.
“We are nearing London,” he said into the quiet. “Perhaps four hours more before you are returned to your brother.”
“This silence between us has gone on long enough.” Her voice was brittle, and her complexion pallid in the darkness. “Whether because of our evasive riding or some other fate, Miles has not approached us again on our journey. I am grateful for the respite, but we cannot become complacent. He might see you as a target, as well, and no matter what you think of me, I still worry for your safety.”
“Worry not.” Leo cleared his throat and scratched idly at his bare chin. “I have summoned Percy to London. I will await him at my house in town, and we will return to Nottingham together.”
She pulled her lips between her teeth and worried the flesh. “Very good, then.” She paused, tracing her fingers along the hem of her brother’s greatcoat. “I am sincerely sorry, Leo. For all of this. I need you to know that I truly did not identify Miles. He was a rather lanky child when I knew him, whose ears and square jaw had seemed over-large for his small frame. He grew into his features, to be sure…and I did not recognize him.”
Small lines of worry formed between her brows, and Leonard’s lungs deflated. Truthfully, the past days had rather subdued his anger into a melancholy. He wished that he could have reclaimed the easy camaraderie between them.
He inclined his head. “Thank you.”
She returned his nod with one of her own, a small smile curving the edge of her mouth.
