The Duke of Coldingham frowned. "What is it? What’s the problem?"
"I’m sorry to interrupt, Your Grace," the servant said, her voice shaking somewhat. "It’s just… Lord Warmley, Matthew, he is missing. We cannot find him anywhere. We have searched and searched, in case he is playing a game, but I don’t believe he’s in the castle."
The blood drained from the Duke’s face as he stood and roared, "What? How can this be?"
"I don’t know, Your Grace. He was in bed, and Nanny and I went to check on them both before turning in ourselves, and he was gone. Little Elizabeth doesn’t know where he is – or says she doesn’t. I don’t understand, I—"
"Well, stop dithering, we must find him. Fetch the Duchess."
She nodded. "Yes, Y-Your Grace."
"If you’ll excuse—"
Lord Aylesbury stood up. "We’ll help, Nathaniel, of course we will. Where should we start?"
The Duke looked as though panic was taking over his mind, and Ezra found himself stepping in. "The castle first, in case the maid is wrong, I would think. The boy is probably just hiding somewhere. The kitchens, maybe, to steal a treat? Or the stables – does he like horses?"
The Duke nodded. "Yes, yes, all of those places."
"Come. Let’s find the women, and split up," the Duke of Dunloch said.
???
When the maid rushed into the parlour, her face ashen, her eyes wide, she gasped, "Your Grace, my apologies – I need you to come with me."
"What is it?" the Duchess asked, her eyes wide.
"It’s Matthew," the maid said tearfully. "We cannot find him. We must search—"
"My goodness," the Duchess said, standing and swaying slightly. "Where have—"
All of the men came in then, their faces grim.
The Duke rushed to the Duchess’s side and steadied her. "We will find him. Come, we must search the castle."
"Lady Constance and I will search the stables," Ezra said. And although Constance wanted to help, she could not help but internally groan. She did not want to help alongside the Earl, and yet he had given her no choice. Of course, her irritation with him was nothing compared to a missing child – but still, she would have far preferred anyone else.
"Excellent. Dunloch, if you could check the west wing. Edward and Rachel, the nursery and the rooms surrounding it. The Duchess and I will start at the kitchens. Shout if you find him – one of us will hear. And Simmons, go and fetch any servants you can, and get them looking."
"Nathaniel, what if he’s gone down to the beach? You know how he loves it down there – and the waves…"
The Duke swallowed. "I don’t think he would go alone, would he? But nevertheless, Simmons, ask some of the men to go down to the beach and search thoroughly. Now!"
Chapter Eight
It had grown dark and rainy since they had arrived at the house, and the wind was starting to pick up. Constance followed the Earl out to the stables, wishing she had brought a cloak, for it was rather cold. The wind whipped at her hair, and she wondered whether her maid’s diligent work would hold up to such an onslaught.
"Matthew!" she called as they walked towards the stables. "Matthew! We should have brought a lantern."
"Yes," the Earl agreed. "Hopefully there’ll be one in the stables that we can take."
"Hopefully he’ll be there, and we won’t have to look any further."
"Have you met the boy?" the Earl asked.
"Yes – but he was only a baby. I doubt he knows who I am."
They searched the stalls, shouting the boy’s name, and although there were lanterns in there, there was still no sign of him.
