“Which was where?”
“The adjoining gallery,” answered his valet. “I’ve checked there, and then decided to widen my search.”
The earl told himself there was no reason for alarm. It was late, and Hawk had likely been here for hours. He had probably fallen asleep somewhere in all this cursed greenery.
“How long did you leave him alone?”
Tyler gave a guilty grimace. “The head of the committee asked for my urgent help in setting up a scientific display in the pagoda for tomorrow’s reception. Some of the instruments had been damaged in transit, and it took longer than I expected to repair them.”
Wrexford swore under his breath.
“Hawk had his sketchbook and a sack filled with refreshments prepared by McClellan, including his favorite ginger biscuits.” A defensive note crept into the valet’s voice. “He assured me that he was quite happy to sit and draw until I returned.”
“Weasel!” called Wrexford.
The only answer was the muffled echo reverberating off the glass.
“We can split up and make a methodical search of this wing—” began Tyler.
“No, first we need to fetch Charlotte. She’s waiting in one of the study rooms.”
Tyler quickened his pace to keep up with the earl. “I thought the two of you were attending the gala banquet.”
“As did I. However, your friend Dr. Hosack had other plans for me.”
The valet now looked thoroughly confused. “You’re not making any sense. Is something amiss?”
“Other than the fact that you left the boy alone in here with a cunning killer on the prowl?”
“What!”The color leached from Tyler’s face. “I’m well aware of your peculiar sense of humor, milord. But that’s an unkind jest. As if I would ever knowingly place either of the Weasels in danger—”
“It’s no jest,” interrupted Wrexford. “One of Hosack’s colleagues was found dead a short while ago, and the doctor is convinced it was murder.” He ducked beneath a canopy of palm fronds. “However, you’re right—it was an unfair cut. I apologize.”
“To the devil with anything other than finding Hawk. You go on—I’ll keep looking.”
The earl grabbed Tyler’s sleeve. “It’s best not to run off helter-pelter. We’re almost there, and among the three of us, we can map out a methodical search.”
A grunt conceded the logic of his words. But a sidelong glance showed that Tyler’s clenched jaw was rigid with fear and remorse.
Damnation.The evening was meant to have been a celebratory occasion—the first public appearance for him and Charlotte as an engaged couple. That it had taken such a pernicious twist seemed . . .
“Wrexford!” Charlotte shot up out of her chair as he and Tyler entered the study room.
“Thank God you’re safe!” exclaimed the valet on spotting Hawk. He drew a shaky breath. “Though I should birch your bottom for disobeying my order to stay in the display of bromeliads.”
“There’s no need to ring such a peal over his head. No harm was done,” said Charlotte. “He simply wanted to try his hand at drawing a different specimen.”
“Oiy.” The boy hung his head. “I only moved to the adjoining display room, and I was wery, wery careful not to allow myself to be seen by any of the guests.”
“None of the scholars were supposed to stray from the main galleries. And as it was getting dark, and the committee needed my help, it seemed there was no reason why he couldn’t wait here in the conservatory,” explained Tyler to Wrexford.
“But one of themdidstray into the side galleries,” chirped Hawk. “However, I wiggled deeper into the grouping of potted plants when I heard him coming, and kept wery still—even when the glass he hurled into the specimens hit me in the head.”
The boy made a face. “It’shimwho should have his bottom birched. He damaged a valuableAsplenium ruprechtiifrom the wilds of the Orient.”
Wrexford felt his muscles tighten. A quick glance showed Charlotte had fisted her hands in her skirts.
“A gentleman threw a glass into the plantings, sweeting?” she asked.
