Now Christopher watched as the man walked over to the women, two of his three roses and his cherished ward. He caught the way Lady Catherine glanced at Henry, gratitude and love in her eyes. He returned the gaze in equal measure.
Uncle Nestor, meanwhile, breathed heavily, the stress of the last few hours apparent on his face.
“Christopher, I failed you, I really did. I am ever so sorry. I ought not to have left her alone on the porch. I ought to–” Christopher placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Please, do not fret. Whatever happened, happened. What is important now is that we find her.”
His uncle nodded and looked toward the Burton family who stood congregated to one side with Betsy. The expression on Lady Hazelshire’s face was one of thunder and she continuously rubbed Betsy’s arm.
Christopher cautiously made his way toward them, followed by his uncle and Henry. Then, to his utter surprise, Lady Hazelshire did something complete unexpected and unheard of: she tore herself free of her family and rushed toward him, clasping his hand.
“Your Grace, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for Betsy. And you, Mr. Newmont. To think of what could have happened to her.” She frowned then. “What I do not understand is why Rowena did not confide in me about her discoveries. And Margaret. I shall have to have words with Margaret once she is out of her confinement and recovered. To know of such things and keep them from me.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“You do not put much value in gossip, Mama.” Lady Catherine said. Then, gently, she added, “And we all know how much you respect the values of our society.”
The comment, a thinly veiled accusation of Lady Hazelshire’s obvious desire to impress those in her circle, caused the woman’s face to pale. Christopher could not help but feel badly for her. He had seen his mother struggle with the balance between their position in society and what she felt in her heart was right.
“But you all know how much I care for Betsy.” She clasped the young woman’s arm. “And our dear Rowena. Our dear Rowena, to put herself in danger to save her and to take it all upon herself…we must find her.” Tears sprang into her eyes. “My darling daughter.”
“Yes, indeed. Where have your son and the Duke gone to search for her?”
The Earl shrugged. “They have gone to search the streets near your uncle’s home on horseback, to question whomever they can.” He appeared utterly helpless, shaking his head.
Christopher nodded, however, his attention was taken up by something else altogether. For off in the corner, he’d noticed Mrs. Wooster, the housekeeper. She was standing there with an anxious expression on her face, as though she had something, she wanted to say but did not dare.
“It may be prudent to question the servants,” he suggested. “I find often there is much to be learned. As we require them to be all but invisible, they do hear all.”
Lord Hazelshire gave a curt nod. “You are right, indeed. Perhaps it is prudent that I leave the questioning of my servants to you,” he looked from Henry to Christopher. “They may be more willing to divulge information to someone who is not in charge of their livelihood.”
“A very good idea, My Lord,” Uncle Nestor said. “In the meantime, you and I shall go and alert the constables as planned. Christopher, Henry, we will reconvene here at the top of the hour. Perhaps His Grace and the Earl’s son will have returned by then as well.”
The Earl bade his wife and daughter, as well as Betsy farewell and the three women departed toward the drawing room. Then he and Uncle Nestor made their way outside to the waiting carriage, leaving the brothers alone.
“I suspect I know who you’d like to question first,” Henry said, having noticed the older woman’s worried visage himself.
They did not need to approach her, however. For the moment the door closed behind the Earl, Mrs. Wooster came charging out.
“Your Grace, I must speak to you at once,” she said breathlessly. “About the Duke of Thornmouth. As concerned as he made himself out to be, searching for Lady Rowena and all, I think it was him.”
Christopher’s eyes widened. “Him? Him what?”
“Him who’s behind the disappearance of our dear Lady Rowena.”
The words hit Christopher hard. Why had he not considered it? Surely a man like Thornmouth would not take kindly to Rowena rejecting him, to allow his entire dastardly character to be exposed. If he was indeed behind it, Christopher would bring him down.
He shook his head, cleaning his mind. Then he motioned for the housekeeper to follow him into the dining room.
He forced himself to focus on what mattered most right now, and it wasn’t revenge.
If Thornmouth was behind the disappearance, he would sort him out later. But for now, there was only one focus. Rowena.
Chapter 30
Ajib-door! Rowena had not thought of the possibility of there being such a door in the room. They were fashionable for sure, but not generally found in servant quarters such as these.
She made a note of where the door was located and then focused on the figure that stood in the room. The light behind her illuminated the older woman. She held a large set of keys in her hand, which reminded her of Mrs. Wooster, who wore just such a bundle around her waist. Was she a housekeeper?
“Please I–”
