What had he done?
He needed to find Helen, immediately, and he decided to return to her chamber and see if she was indeed inside.
Just as he made his way to the grand staircase in the foyer, he caught sight of a veritable army of footmen carrying an assortment of trunks and valises outside to an awaiting carriage.
Starling wandered to a window, flicking aside the curtain to see who was quitting the party so soon.
On the front steps was Lady Caroline in deep discussion with Amelia Bennet, the renowned songbird. His eyes flicked to the carriage, and his heart stopped when he saw a familiar jawline and dark, luscious tresses.
No.Helen was leaving?
She was leaving without a goodbye, even after the perfection of their night together.
Steps sounded behind him, and Starling turned his head, catching sight of Lord Holsen at his back.
Of course.
The tedious man craned his neck, glancing at the scene before them. “I see Mrs Montrose has taken my words to heart and decided to decamp rather than spend another minute in your company.
Starling felt his heart kick in his chest, a rare surge of anger flashing through him.
He turned, grabbing the man by the shirt and shaking him, hard. “What have you done?”
Holsen sniffed, reaching up to shove Starling’s grip from his starched white shirt, smoothing a hand down his chest with affront. “I merely told her the truth.”
A dark bark of laughter fell from Starling’s lips. “I highly doubt that. No, you have said something to save your own hide, you weasel.”
Holsen stepped back, out of reach, then smiled maliciously. “I told her you were investigating her, that she is suspected of cheating at cards. It is the truth, is it not?”
God damn it. Why hadn’t he found her earlier?
If Starling had merely confessed his reason for being at the blasted house party in the first place, instead of playing games, the woman wouldn’t think him the most dishonest blighter in all of England right now.
He straightened his shoulders, flashing Holsen a furious look as he gritted his teeth against the desire to plant a fist in that smug expression.
“You will regret this,” said Starling, his voice dangerously soft as he walked away.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I need to see her,”growled Starling, standing in the middle of Amelia Bennet’s opulently decorated private parlour. “Is she here?”
Since that fateful morning Helen had disappeared, and despite his tireless search, he had found no sign of her in London. Her townhouse was empty, the servants ignorant of their mistress’s whereabouts and she had not set foot in any of the clubs she frequented these past five days.
Starling was desperate, and now he had come to the one person who might have some knowledge on the matter.
Although it irked him somewhat that the widow had run without even thinking to speak to him first, he was glad that she had at last one friend who knew how the world worked to look out for her. Even if he suspected Madame Bennet would guard that knowledge like a righteous dragon.
The woman raised one finely plucked brow in his direction, the burly footman shuffling on his feet in warning where he stood guard at the door.
“I’ve heard about you, Captain Starling. You have quite the reputation.”
She stroked the white silky-haired cat that occupied her lap with long, luxurious strokes as she examined him like a curiosity on display while he stood in the middle of her lavish savonnerie carpet.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Miss Bennet said mildly, dropping her head back against the upholstery of the chaise she occupied in a relaxed manner. “This might be the one thing you cannotfix, if I understand your business correctly.”
Starling counted slowly to ten, trying to keep the impatience from showing on his face.
“Has she heard the news? Lord Holsen has been exposed, and his debts called in. He is surely headed for Newgate even as we speak.”
