“That’s what I wondered myself, but I suppose there’s only one way to find out.”
Lord Sussex walked out of the alley with another runner as Alister dismounted. “What are you doing here? I thought you were with Talon.”
“He’s fine. Believe me, my servants are waiting on him hand and foot.” He rolled his eyes. “When Thompson arrived to tell me about Elise, there was no way I was going to allow such an opportunity to pass by.” He gestured to the boardinghouse. “But I’m not sure we’re going to have much luck here. We’ve been here for a quarter hour investigating the area and there hasn’t been any evidence of recent activity.”
Alister eyed the exterior with a critical eye.Could it be that they’d been sent on a merry chase?He withdrew a pistol and checked to make sure it was primed and ready. “I’m not leaving here until every stone has been unturned. Thompson, you and Gray head up the back entrance while Drayven and I go in the front.”
Once the other men had checked their weapons, they split up.
Inside, all was silent except for the occasional creak of wood, the scurry of a frightened mouse heading for cover, and their own soft boot tread. Drayven gestured with his hand, indicating that the room they were in search of was supposed to be at the top of the stairs.
Once they reached the door, Alister gave a nod as Drayven reared back and kicked it in. They instantly rushed inside, but unfortunately they found the room was just as empty as the rest of the house.
“Bloody hell,” Drayven murmured, and Alister could only echo his crude statement.
“Look around. See what you can find that might be useful in figuring out where she’s headed.”
As they tucked their pistols away and set about their task, it wasn’t long before Alister held up a hand. “Did you hear that?”
“What—” Drayven began—right before an ominous crack sounded and the floor gave way beneath them.
* * *
Lyra did her best to fall asleep that night, but when all she could do was toss and turn and stare at the ring on her finger, she eventually got up and shoved her arms in her robe.
Quietly, she walked down to the kitchens. Everyone was already in bed, even the servants. She got some milk from the larder and set a kettle on the stove, carefully lighting a fire as she did so. It wasn’t until she took a teacup down from the cupboard that she recalled a night very similar to this, when Alister had joined her for a late night chat.
She was just getting to know him at the time, unaware of his work at the Home Office or the fact he had been tasked to investigate her for treason. All she knew was that he scared her, not because he was so very fearsome, but because he made her want to feel things that she’d thought long buried.
She glanced down at her palm where a slight scar yet remained. She had shattered a cup in her hand that night, and as Alister had bandaged it up, she had known, somehow, that her life would never be the same.
When the kettle on the stove began to steam, she took it off of the heat. She took a seat at the servant’s table, tried a sip of the warm milk, and gave a weary sigh.
She wondered what Alister was doing at this very moment and if he was thinking of her, for she was certainly thinking of him. It was as if a part of her was missing when he was gone. She’d never imagined it was possible to love someone so much that you didn’t feel whole when they weren’t around. Granted, she’d witnessed the power of such an emotion whenever she looked at Roarke and Mara, but some jaded part of her had never believed it truly existed. Her parents’ marriage certainly hadn’t been without its strife. In the end, her father had paid the price for his sins with his life.
And Margaret…she assumed her sister was happy, although she hadn’t seen or heard from her in weeks, ever since the birth of her firstborn son.
“You couldn’t sleep either?”
Lyra glanced up as her mother walked in. She offered a smile. “Do you want some milk?”
Lavinia seemed surprised. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
As Lyra got up to get another cup, the dowager took a seat across from where she’d been sitting at the table. When she set the cup down in front of her, Lyra said, “Here you go, Mama.” Once Lyra had resumed her seat, she was taken aback to see that her mother had tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, I’m just being a weepy old woman,” Lavinia returned as she wiped at her eyes. Then, more quietly, she added, “It just touched me when you called me Mama just now.”
Lyra couldn’t help but grin. “Well, you are.”
“I know, which is why I’m being silly.” The dowager sighed heavily. “Actually, I’m glad that we have a moment to talk in private.”
Lyra couldn’t help but stiffen slightly. “Oh?”
“Mara tells me that you have some important news to impart, but that I should ask you to tell me.”
Lyra hesitated only a moment. “I suppose she means the fact I’m with child.”
“That’s wonderful! I couldn’t be happier for you and the duke.” Lavinia exclaimed. But then her excitement dimmed slightly. “Have you seen a doctor yet?”
