John fingered the necklace in his pocket. “I’ve already told you. If we cannot find her, I will trade my letters patent for her. You aren’t getting involved.”
The chit scowled. “But it will be hours before the banks open. Hours when Netta is trapped with that man.” She ducked her head, her loose hair swinging to hide her face.
John gripped the back of his neck. Comforting children wasn’t one of his many skills. But she was Netta’s sister. The person Netta loved most in the world. He inched up to her like she was a snake that could strike at any moment and patted her shoulder. “There, there. It’s all going to be fine.”
She shoved her hair behind her ear and glared at him.
Montague strode into the study, Sutton a step behind. “I’ve never heard anyone sound less reassuring.” He plucked a blanket from the back of a chair and wrapped it around Eleanor’s shoulders. He chucked her chin. “But itwillbe all right, dear. We’ll make certain of it.”
Eleanor gave him a tremulous smile. “Thank you, your grace.”
Sutton chuckled. “Your scowl outdid the child’s,” he said to John.
John turned his back and gripped the fireplace mantel. He couldn’t find Netta. He couldn’t comfort her sister. What the hell good was he? “Have you learned anything?”
The pregnant silence behind him said everything.
“London is a big city.” Sutton heaved a breath. “We’ll keep searching, but it might come down—”
“—to me turning over my patent.” He was resigned to losing his crowning achievement, but he agreed with Eleanor. There was too much time between now and the appointed exchange that evening. Too much time for Netta to be alone with the blackguards.
His knuckles went white. She was a courageous woman, but she had to be frightened. Wondering why he hadn’t come for her yet. He blinked, refusing to let the tears fall.
“I can’t believe you’re going to give him your steel formula.”
John turned. He hadn’t heard Robert enter. “What would you have me do? She’s worth…”Everything. He faced the wall once more. He felt as raw as an exposed wound. He wasn’t the sort of man to show his feelings, even to his friends. Wasn’t the sort of man tofeeldeep emotions.
Damn Netta. She’d done this to him. And now she’d gone and gotten herself kidnapped.
“What happened to your face?” Eleanor’s question was innocent, one only a child would ask so casually.
John gripped the mantel tighter. He looked in the mirror to catch his brother’s tense expression.
“Acid.”
Eleanor cocked her head. “Did someone throw it on you?”
Robert locked eyes with John’s reflection. “No. A miscalculation.”
“Enough!” Rage exploded out of John. He spun and advanced on his brother. “You’re holding onto your spite now? When a woman’s life is at risk? You have a scar on your face. Who cares? It’s well past time that you moved the hell on.”
Robert’s jaw dropped, stretching the puckered skin tight.
“While I applaud the sentiment and feel it long overdue, there are young ears in the room,” Montague reminded him, with a nod to Eleanor. “Language.”
John threaded his fingers in his hair and pulled until the sting helped him focus. Netta was missing and he was sure as shit that her sister wouldn’t care about his foul words. Nevertheless, he blew out a breath and nodded. “Apologies. Perhaps this is a good time for you to return to bed. I’ll wake you if we learn anything new.”
“Which is now.” Amanda hurried in, two older women following more slowly.
“Auntie May?” John ignored his grandmother. “What are you doing here at this hour?”
“It seems that everyone is here at this hour.” Mary bent her finger at her nephew and raised her face. “Which means you all know about Netta.”
Montague bent and kissed the offered cheek. “What do you know of it?”
“Only what Catherine has told me.” Mary bobbed her head at John’s grandmother. “That a man took Netta from the backstage of my club.” She pressed her lips into a hard line. “I’m sorry. My security will be improved immediately.”
John rushed to his grandmother. “Did he say anything? Any hints on where he was taking her?”
