Nicholas would have his perfect life. Hisperfect wife.
ChapterNineteen
“Where is she?” Nicholas raked his fingersthrough his hair.
“Who are you talking about?” said theDuke.
The captain hurried down the gangplank andhanded a Nicholas a letter. “This was left in her cabin andaddressed to you, Lord Rutland.”
He ripped open the note and forced his eyesto the missive. Alexandra’s elegant scrawl confirmed the worst ofhis suspicions. “She’s left. The fool woman deserted me.”
“What woman?” Lady Susannah huffed.
Nicholas spun around, scanned the crowdedport. “She was kidnapped with me.”
Lady Susannah narrowed her eyes. “You meanto tell me you were alone on an island with a woman. When were yougoing to inform me?”
Nicholas pushed aside the driver, scrambledon top of the Rutland coach, his blood pounding, eyes darting. Shehad just been there. She couldn’t have gone far. But…why? He curledhis hands into fists. Why did she leave him? “Alexandra, come back.Right now.”
Lady Susannah gasped. “Nicholas stopshouting and come down. People will think you’re a lunatic.”
Nicholas jumped to the ground. Wide-eyed,the Duke stared. Anthony raised an eyebrow. His wife, Rachelsmiled.
“Your behavior is appalling,” Lady Susannahsaid through her teeth. “Nicholas, think of the scandal you maycreate…yelling and screaming on the docks, acting like an ape fromthat wilderness where you were stuck for so long.”
She was right. No doubt they all thought hewas mad.
He grabbed his brother’s arm. “Anthony, helpme. It is too dangerous for her on the docks. Who knows whatunsavory hands she may fall into?”
The Duke tipped his hat back. “Nicholas,slow down. Give me her description. I will have my men comb thedocks.”
“She’s golden-haired, blue eyes, the mostbeautiful woman in the world. I’m not leaving until I findher.”
“You must look for her,” Lady Rachel Rutlandconcurred.
Lady Susannah glared at her, turned on herheels and steamed toward her carriage.
“Alexandra,” Nicholas shouted, bumping asideone person and then another as he pushed through the throngs, hisbrother and father keeping up directly behind him. If he wasn’t sofrightened for her well-being, he would have thought it absurd hisbehavior, and the fact his father and brother broke decorum,following him was equally absurd.
* * *
After several hours of searching the docksand nearby streets, darkness fell and his father convinced him togo to the townhouse.
In the library, Anthony and Rachel satopposite him, silent.
“Oh, no.” Nicholas shot to his feet. “Abby.I almost forgot. We must arrange a prisoner exchange for her. TheGovernor-General in the Bahamas said she was kidnapped by thedangerous privateer, Captain Jacob Thorne during an invasion by theColonials. We must free her of those cruel ruffians.”
Rachel laughed.
He glared at her. “I don’t see what is sofunny. I can only imagine what Abigail has suffered at the hands ofthose uncivilized savages. I will kill Captain Thorne if he touchesher.”
“There will be no killing, and all is wellwith your sister,” said the Duke.
“Is she back in England? I must seeher.”
Anthony winked at his wife. “I takeexception to you calling my wife an uncivilized savage. Rachel is aColonial and Captain Jacob Thorne’s cousin.”
“What madness is this?”
