“All right, if that’s the way you want it.” He jerked her away from him, yanked the carriage door open and tossed her in as if she weighed only as much as Penny.
Penny threw herself on Maeve, her tiny arms threatening her airflow. “Oh, ma’am, they hitted Niall. Me thinks he’s dead.” The tears flowed down her cheeks.
The carriage bumped into motion.
“Let me up, dear.” Maeve crawled up onto the seat and peered out the window. Fat lot of good it did. The windows were so grimed up, she barely recognized Hyde Park’s Corner. The carriage didn’t slow even when the door crashed back and Mr. Jervis jumped in.
“Well, don’ this beat all,” he said.
Chaos was in full form when Harlowe located his wife’s picnic. “Where’s Rory?”
Disgust covered Baird’s face. “He went after the carriage. It was old, nothin’ distinguishable about it. A’fore I could stop ’em, Niall took off after the bloke and was knocked on the head. He ain’t in no shape t’ drive the imps back to Cavendish Square. So I was stuck”—he jerked his head in the direction of the two girls—“actin’ as nanny.”
Panic tangibly choked Harlowe. Fear made him dizzy. The urge to beat Baird to a bloody pulp had his hands shaking. His gaze went around the small circle.
Mary’s and Melinda’s hands were entwined tightly together. Niall leaned against the nearest tree, his elbows resting on his knees, holding his head within his palms. Baird’s hands splayed against his hips, obviously furious with himself.
Harlowe breathed deep. “We just need to take a moment to think things through.” Difficult words to say through a voice cloaked in emotion. He went down on one knee before Mary and Melinda. “Start from the beginning. Tell me what happened.”
By the time Mary had related the events with Melinda crying, silent tears streaming down her face, it was clear Harlowe had to get the children home. “We’ll find Penny and Lady Maeve,” he told them, stunning himself with his calmness.
“Baird, help me load up Niall. I’ll go—”
“Beggin’ yer pardon, milord, but where exactly will ye be goin’? No one knows where they went.” Baird’s feet shifted.
“Is there something else, Baird?”
“I did happen to see that feller her ladyship went on the drive with the other day.”
A cold chill went through Harlowe. “Dorset?”
“Yessir.”
“I see. It appears your duties as nanny are still required. Get them home.”
After securing Baird’s horse to the back of the carriage, Harlowe kicked his own mount and cantered, illegally mind, through the park for Dorset’s home near Portman’s Square. It was close to Hyde Park but was in the complete opposite direction of Hyde Park’s Corner. Still, it was the only lead he had at the moment.
Traffic was almost non-existent in the park, and Harlowe was able to make excellent time. Within minutes he was pounding down Dorset’s door.
“But, Lord Harlowe, I don’t know how to make it plainer, Dorset went for a ride and has yet to return.” The butler’s stoic demeanor was beyond maddening.
The smart thing to do would be to await word from Rory at Cavendish Square. “What clubs does he usually frequent this time of day?” he demanded.
The butler’s face flushed under Harlowe’s insistence. “The usual, my lord. White’s and Boodles. On occasion, er, uh, the Widow’s Salon.”
“What is going on?” A young woman appeared at the top of the stairs. One of Dorset’s many sisters, though Harlowe failed to recall which one. That was no surprise for a myriad of reasons. “Have you had word of Sebastian?” she said.
“Sebastian?” Harlowe echoed. The flowers in Maeve’s hall.S. Rhododendrons… Rhododendrons meant danger.
Harlowe sketched a short bow and ran for his horse. Chancé’s Salon was his strongest instinct and his best hope. But the ride to the salon near Haymarket was an extraordinary distance. His best option was the slight detour back through Hyde Park. He flew.
Thirty-Seven
A
m I gonna see Mellie anymore?” Penny whispered.
Maeve wrapped her arm around her and dragged her to her lap. “Yes, darling.” She glared at Mr. Jervis. “We’ll be home before you know it.”
