And she knew where to start.
Half of her hoped she was wrong as she changed into the young servant man’s clothes she’d brought from her father’s house. She hadn’t known, as she was packing, why she was bringing them, only that something had compelled her to wrap them up and stuff them in the bottom of one of her trunks. Now she was desperately grateful that she had done that.
But please—let me be wrong about this. Let her not have been haunting gambling halls and gentlemen’s clubs all this time, trying to fit in amongst men and gain her freedom that way. I can’t bear to think of it.
She knew Levi would stop her if he saw what she was doing, so she slipped out of the house through the servants’ door and scurried furtively across the grounds to the stables. There she availed herself of a horse and mounted quickly, thankful that she was a strong rider and confident in her ability to ride without a saddle.
Her head was so foggy and muddled that she was downtown before she knew it, and she dismounted and tied the horse up to wait for her return. She would begin by searching several nearby establishments, even though it was still early in the day. Her sister might not be in any of these places, but maybe someone would have seen her, at least. Maybe someone would be able to tell her something about Prudence, and that would do for a start.
She decided to start with a small pub, the Hare and Hound, simply because it looked less intimidating than some of the other places. There were windows facing the street, and the clientele could be seen from outside. They weren’t raucous or wild, nor were there very many of them. She took a deep breath, then let herself in and went up to the barkeep.
He was a grizzled man, likely in his sixties, with a thick beard and a neutral expression. He looked her up and down as she approached, and Caroline had to remind herself that he wouldn’tbe seeing a woman. “What do you want, boy?” he asked. “You’re a bit young to be in my establishment, are you not?”
“I’m of age,” Caroline said, deliberately pitching her voice lower than normal. She sounded ludicrous to her own ears, but she held out hope that the bartender wouldn’t make much of it. After all, he didn’t know her normal voice. “I won’t linger, sir. I’m here looking for someone.”
“And who might that be? I’m not in the habit of telling tales on my clientele.”
“I’m not asking you to,” she said. “I’m merely searching for…” She paused, almost asking for her sister before remembering that Prudence would have been in disguise. “For my brother.”
“Your brother?”
“My younger brother. A few years younger than myself.” She didn’t know how to estimate how old she looked, dressed as a boy. She knew it made her look younger, probably closer to Prudence’s true age, and that therefore Prudence would likely look younger still. “Brown hair the color of mine, and the same hazel eyes as well.” She gritted her teeth, knowing that by offering this description she was inviting the bartender to look at her more closely. What would happen if he realized she was simply masquerading as a boy?
But he didn’t seem to. “No one like that in here lately,” he said. “We don’t see a lot of boys that young in this place. If one came in, he’d stand out, I think.” He paused for a moment, mulling itover. “I Could keep an eye out for you,” he said. “If he comes in, I could take him aside and keep him until you have the chance to come back for him. Put him to work, maybe. Could use some extra hands.”
Caroline frowned. “I don’t think that will be necessary. If you do see him, please just let him know that his family is looking for him. And please know that if any harm should befall him, my family would go to great lengths for retribution against the person responsible.”
She couldn’t say for certain whether the man believed her, but something in his face went hard, and Caroline decided to get out of the pub. She didn’t breathe easier once back on the street, though. This was only the first place she had looked, and already things were going badly.
Maybe I should have told Levi what I was doing. Maybe I should have asked him for help.
But he wouldn’t have helped. Or rather, he wouldn’t have permittedherto help. Had she told him, she’d be cooped up in her bedroom right now, waiting for news. That might be safer, but it would be unbearable.
She turned toward the gentlemen’s club across the road, squared her shoulders, and marched over, determined to see to it that she discoveredsomethingworthwhile today. Even if the only thing she learned was that Prudence hadn’t been to any of these places—at least that would rule something out. At least it would give her a place to start her search in earnest.
Entering the gentlemen’s club was more intimidating than going into the pub had been. Even if no one else was aware, Caroline herself knew she wasn’t supposed to be there, and that was enough to turn her stomach. At any moment, she might be found out.
There was also no bartender to approach. Men at tables looked up at the sight of her moving by them, but they didn’t speak to her. She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was going to have to go up to someone, to ask them if they had heard anything about Prudence. She might have to sit down at one of these tables and join a group of men, find out what they had to say about the matter, try to blend in?—
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The voice was both reassuringly familiar and filled with an ire that sent a chill down Caroline’s spine. She knew what she would see—who she would see—before she turned around, so it was not a surprise.
But the rage on his face was.
In all the weeks they had spent together, Levi had never looked at her likethatbefore. He seemed as though his eyes might catch fire with anger. He took her by the arm, his grip just barely firm enough to shock her, and she let out a gasp of shock at his roughness.
His face shifted. Perhaps he realized he had startled her. His grip loosened. But he did not let her go.
“You have a fair bit of explaining to do, he told her darkly, and Caroline felt the words like a shiver of ice in her veins.
CHAPTER 11
“Here now—what’s going on?”
Levi was so angry that he didn’t think any manner of distraction would have the power to crack his rage, but Gregory’s appearance at his shoulder did pull his focus momentarily. He didn’t look over at his friend, but he felt as if his anger at his wife had been muted.
“Go back to the table, Gregory,” he said. “This doesn’t concern you.”
