“Yes—”
“Where’s Dawes?” She spun to face Sir Preston. She must have looked crazed, because the physician’s eyes widened and he took a step back from her. “Dawes. Where is he?”
“Mr. Goldsten’s surgery. He’s taken it over—where are you going? My lady!”
“Young people—so rude!” Dr. Carter sniffed.
“Lady Sutcliffe—wait!” Sir Preston hurried after her.
“I don’t have time to wait.” Still, she paused long enough for the old man to catch up. “I have to find Dawes and send a message to my husband,” she said as they began walking again.
“Why? What is this about?”
“Dawes is Vivaldi.”
“What?”
She blew out an annoyed breath. “I don’t have time to explain.”
“I shall accompany you, and you can explain on the way.” He hailed one of the apprentice’s striding down the corridor. “Mr. Quayle, run out to the mews and tell my coachman to bring my carriage around immediately.”
Irritation flashed in the young man’s face, but he nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“I have a carriage,” she retorted as they approached the stairs.
“My coachman will instruct yours to deliver the message to your husband. It’ll save time, as your man knows your address. Could you please slow your pace a bit, madam? I realize you are in a great hurry to speak to young Dawes, but he’s not going anywhere.”
Kendra shot him an impatient look. “Sir Preston, this is an emergency—”
“Is someone in risk of imminent death?” He took her arm and smiled at her.
Short of shaking him off, she was forced to slow down.
“Everything is an emergency for the young.” He made a tutting noise. “When you reach my age, you begin to—”
“A girl has been kidnapped,” she snapped.
Sir Preston’s eyes widened. “Good heavens. What does this have to do with Mr. Dawes?”
“He’s involved.”
“No.”
“Yes. Sir Preston—”
“I’m coming with you, my lady.” His tone took on a steely edge. “I’ve known that boy all his life. I went to school with Andrew’s father. I’ll not let you accuse him falsely.”
Kendra was still stunned that Dawes was Vivaldi, but her mind was beginning to clear. Her mistake, she realized, was assuming Isabella’s Vivaldi was the leader. There was no way the apprentice was the one spearheading the experiments. He was a follower.
But she was beginning to think she knew who he was following.
Chapter 41
Once the carriages were arranged, Kendra lowered herself into the seat of Sir Preston’s, where the old man joined her a moment later. Laying his cane across his lap, he regarded her intently as the carriage jolted forward.
“Now, madam, tell me what this is about, and why you think Andrew is involved in kidnapping a girl.”
“The girl is an eyewitness to Lady Westford’s murder.”
