“As well he should, my lady. He’s a duke.” Her haughtiness matched Ryleigh’s, then her tone softened. “But I think it’s more,” Serena said with a rare stubbornness. “You didn’t see him, my lady. He wouldn’t let anyone near you when you were ill. Not even me.”
“What has that to do with anything?” Rebecca demanded.
“He slept with you twice! Three times if you count last night.”
“I don’t count last night. He was relegated to my sitting room.”
Serena came to her feet and paced with her hands at her back. “He changed, my lady. After you tossed that dog’s water in his face. He was shocked, he was, but he… he wasn’t angry. Helaughed.You take my word for it. He changed that day.”
Her words infuriated Rebecca. “Changed? That day? Yes, you have the right of it. That was the day he told me I should consider a suit from his cousin, the squire.”
Serena’s hand flitted out. “He’s just not used to being in love is all,” she said.
Rebecca’s shock could not have been more profound. “L-love. You don’t know what you are—”
Someone tapped at the door and Serena hurried over to answer it.
“Two missives for Lady Rebecca—er, Her Grace,” Lars said.
“Thank you.” The door shut and Serena brought them over.
With a show of impatience, Rebecca snatched them from her. “I believe you’ve somehow forgotten your place.” Rebecca broke the seal on the first one. Bold strokes—it was from Ryleigh.My dearest—nice touch in the event someone intercepted, resentment flooding her—I’m away to Addington. I fear I shall be later than expected. I’ll return as quickly as possible.
Perhaps, perhaps not. She didn’t recognize the seal of the second note and, frowning, she opened it. The author’s hand was unsteady and barely legible. “What the devil?” As she scanned the page an icy chill whispered over her skin. Every instinct Rebecca possessed had her wishing Sebastian had not been delayed today after all. His formidable, controlling nature would serve her purposes right about now. Even as stark terror rippled through her, she was seized by a blinding rage. She ran through the words a second time, committing them to memory.
“Is something wrong, milady? You’ve lost all color in your cheeks.”
Rebecca looked up then dropped her eyes back to the second note and flipped it over. The hair at her nape stood on end.
Gabby would be here soon, and Rebecca had no doubt her friend would insist on accompanying Rebecca, and if some ill-begotten misfortune happened to her, the duke would have Rebecca’s head. Again. It wouldn’t hurt to check the corner to see if there truly was a rig waiting. She set the note on the table and donned her sturdiest pelisse. She snatched her reticule from the table, it never hurt to be armed. The missive fluttered to the floor. “I’ll only be a moment.”
She dashed through the door, leaving Serena gaping and any words of love, or the possibility, or hopes of love behind.
Twenty-Six
Sebastian didn’t reach Rivers’ household until nigh on eight that evening. The tension was thick as sludge upon crossing the threshold. He followed the butler into the drawing room. He hadn’t noticed papered walls of light green and lavender flowers the night before. There was no question who’d done the decorating. There was a simplicity to the room that was, again, all Rebecca and, yet, not.
His sister’s pacing brought him up short and a glacial freeze spread through is veins. “What’s happened?”
Gabriella ran over, throwing herself into his arms. “Thank God, Sebastian. Rebecca’s missing.”
“What?”
Rivers thrust a tumbler of brandy in his hand. “You’d best fortify yourself, Duke. She’s right. My daughter is missing.”
Icy fear gripped his lungs, squeezing out the air. He tossed back the entire contents of the glass. “Since when?”
“Her maid said it was around six of the clock. She was packing her trunks when Rebecca received your missive and another,” Gabriella said, her voice trembling.
Sebastian snatched the note she held out and read through it.Lady, ye’ll pay for your lies. There weren’t one boy, but two, which shall bring me a comely price. ’Tis you or them. I leave it to you to choose. There be a hack at the corner awaitin’ ye.
Sebastian jerked out his fob. Two hours. She’d been gone for two hours. “Where is her maid?”
“Here, Your Grace?” Serena sat huddled in a dark corner. She rose and he took note of her red, swollen eyes.
Sebastian went to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Tell me everything you remember, Serena?”
“Her face all chalky like, Your Grace. Worse than when she got sick. Then flushed hot. I’ve never seen her so… so scared and so angry. I went to the window and watched her. There was, indeed, a hack awaiting her. The door opened and she tried to back away, but someone grabbed her arm. She fought valiantly, but then he tossed a sack over her head and dragged her in.” Serena broke down, her sobs uncontrollable.
