Chapter Twenty-Six
Lady Eleanor, Duchess of Smythington
I exited the carriage before my London home after my third day of attending the Kensington Music Conservatory. While I was training under a master musician, I didn’t feel truly comfortable among the other students. All, save me, were Atticus’s and Anne’s age, fresh-faced youths just discovering life. Throughout my classes, I kept thinking about Flynn’s off-handed comment about the students being on the younger side. I had to keep reminding myself that I was accepted for my musical merits and I deserved to be there. Yet a tiny part of me whispered to spare myself the agony of uncertainty and simply quit. I knew I was talented, but everyone at the school was equally talented.
Despair threatened to wash over me, and I squared my shoulders, preparing to walk into a house empty save for the servants. In the days since our outing with Flynn, my relationship with Rex was even more strained than usual. He stayed late at Parliament, and when he was home, our conversation was stilted and strained. Flynn had been noticeably absent.
I walked through the door and was met with chaos. The butler rushed over to me, his harried expression sending chills of dread down my spine. My first thought was something had happened to Rex. “What is wrong?”
“I’m afraid Lord Harry is missing. His grace received a telegram from Lord Atticus saying Lord Harry left and nobody has seen him in two days.”
“Where is my husband?” I tore off my hat with shaky hands. What hell Atticus must have experienced. Anne was out to sea, blissfully unaware of what was happening at home. If she knew, she would be beside herself.
“Lord Rex is in the study with Scotland Yard, my lady. Chief Inspector Stark has sent out men in search of Lord Harry.”
My precious Harry was missing. The very idea hit me in the stomach so hard I could barely breathe. I knew it would be hard for him to be at school, but I never thought he would run away. Spots dotted my eyes as I rushed toward the study. I had to see Rex.
A gentleman of a similar age with a bowler hat and sandy hair was with Rex. Pen and paper in hand, he took notes while Rex spoke.
I rushed in, my stomach churning with fear. Meeting my stare with a stark one of his own, Rex held his hand out to me. I was at his side in an instant. My mind swirled with questions. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and brought me in tight to his side. Although he looked in control, he was shaking. By the grim look in his eyes, he was as afraid for Harry as I was.
“Is there somebody out there looking for him?” I asked. Harry was a resourceful boy. He was also impractical at times. Would he have the good sense to come in from the rain? Or would he spend hours in whatever field he came upon if he found some worms? My panic seemed to fluctuate between rage and despair and nothing in between. I needed to get hold of myself and think. Becoming hysterical wouldn’t help anyone. Nor was it in my nature to do so.
The man with the pad looked up and nodded at me. “My name is Chief Inspector Jonah Stark. My department is assigned to find young Master Harry.”
“Did the school provide any leads? Do we have any idea where he would go?” With Harry, I wasn’t sure. While eccentric, he was used to a routine. “Perhaps he went to our country estate thinking we were still there.”
“I have sent somebody to the country estate to investigate, my lady.”
I clutched my stomach, resisting the urge to vomit. “How long has he been missing?”
“Atticus stopped in today to check on him, and when the school went to look for Harry, his dorm mates said he’d left two days before.” Rex exhaled, his grip on my waist tightening.
“Two days? The headmaster must be called on immediately. This is unacceptable.” My knees were weak, and I fought the urge to move. This couldn’t be happening. It simply couldn’t. I had already lost two babies, I couldn’t lose Harry. “I think we need to go to the school. Atticus must be beside himself.”
I started to move away from Rex. He kept me immobilized by his side. His profile to me, I could read the terror in his face. He was leaning on me as much as I was leaning on him, so I remained where I was, our petty fighting gone in lieu of a united cause.
“I told him to stay there in case Harry returns.”
Harry had been gone for two days. The last few minutes already felt like a lifetime, and I didn’t know what to do if Harry was lost to me. “This is my fault, I had reservations about sending him to school. I ignored them and look what happened? He’s missing.”
Rex shook his head. “No, it’s not your fault nor mine. Harry is a certain age, and he needs to go to school. The fact he left school will be something we deal with once we find him.”
“We will find him.” I had to believe it.
“Yes, we will. I have faith in Harry’s abilities. He is a resourceful boy.” Rex’s assurances were comforting; however, he couldn’t guarantee a positive outcome.
Until I saw Harry with my own eyes, I wouldn’t rest.
The butler entered the study with Flynn trailing him.
I had never been happier to see him in my life.
Flynn took in the scene, staring at the chief inspector before catching my eye. “What is happening?”
