“Coal,” Calder said before Mungo could stop him. “Our great-grandfather found it on our land. We run a mine.”
Bram’s eyes went to him and then returned to Calder, and he knew what his friend was thinking. He’d promised to keep no more secrets from him, and this was a large one.
“Yet another thing I do not know about the man who has been my friend for many years.”
“I don’t like to speak about myself like you Nightingales,” Mungo muttered.
“Which is a poor excuse,” Bram added.
“He was silent as a bairn, and that never changed,” Calder said. “I need to get out there and start searching for my daughter, but do not know London as I’m sure you do, as you live here,” he said, looking at Mungo. “Where should I start?”
He knew his brother was likely a good man, he’d just not allowed himself to see it all those years ago when he was young and blind to everything but his own needs. He also knew that Fenella was a lovely young lady, and that had to come from being raised by parents who had done their best for her.
It went against everything inside him to acknowledgethat, like him, his brother had changed and grown with age. The young man Mungo had been was not the man he was today, and while he hadn’t exactly mellowed, he understood there were usually two sides to most stories.
“Her maid is missing too,” Calder said.
“Polly,” Mungo added. “I met her when I saw Fenella.”
Calder shot him a searching look before he continued. “If they are not after money, then why take Fenella? I wondered if their disappearance was to do with the maid, who was recommended to me by the Holton Agency here in London.”
“Because a Scottish one would not suffice for you?” Mungo’s tone was filled with disgust.
“I’m not discussing my reasons with you, Mungo. Our focus is on finding Fenella.”
He was right, of course. Just thinking about his niece out there somewhere terrified him.
“Elspeth Duncan told me that her maid had no family and was happy to be with such a nice one like the Frasers,” Calder said. “She could find no reason for either of them to have disappeared.”
“Two women do not simply disappear,” Mungo said. He knew the nefarious underbelly of evil and criminal people who lurked in London, and thinking of Fenella and Polly in their clutches made him feel ill.
“We hired Miss Downing through Holton Agency,” Bram said suddenly. “We need to ask her if she knows this Polly. What is her last name?” he asked.
“Watts,” Calder said.
The door opened, and in walked Bud with a tea tray. She looked Calder over and then nodded before leaving. There was no doubt in Mungo’s mind that she, and likely everyone in the household, knew who had arrived. He’d add that all the Crabbett Close residents would be aware soon too.
Bram and Leo asked multiple questions then as theycircled round and round, trying to find a reason for Fenella’s disappearance. Mungo wanted to simply pull on his coat and leave the house.
“I need to find my daughter,” Calder said, as if hearing his thoughts. “I must do something.”
“We will, but there is no point walking endlessly around London with no understanding of what location we should search,” Bram said. “This is hell for you, I understand that, but let us formulate a plan, and to do that, we need my family.”
“Was she happy in your household?” Mungo asked the question that had been plaguing him.
His brother instantly bristled, even getting to his feet and stalking toward Mungo. He rose to meet him.
“What are you asking?” Calder demanded, inches from his face.
“Well, if I had doubts that these two are related, seeing them at each other’s throats would clear those up.”
Mungo turned to watch Ram, Flora, and Charles enter the room. It had been Ram who spoke.
“Clearly you are brothers with the same winning personality,” Flora added.
“Answer the question, brother,” Calder snapped.
“Back off,” Mungo snarled.
