“I anticipated that he might be unhappy, but if he was confined to his quarters, there would be little he could do.”
“And how did you expect us to confine him? I warned you this would be messy. We couldn’t put him in his room. He would have climbed out of a window. He is a resourceful man.”
“What did you do?”
“We locked him in a storeroom in the inn’s cellar. There was no way he could escape from that room.”
“You expected him to stay there for two days?” Gavin would have gone half mad being shut in for even a day.
“We had no choice. I said he was difficult.”
Gavin nodded. He knew. He also discovered that knowing his twin was confined in such a brutal manner did not set well with him. His already roiling conscience became even more restless.
“However, what we did does not matter, Your Grace,” Perkins said. “He has escaped.”
“What?”
Perkins nodded, his expression bleak. “He left sometime in the night. I came here because I feared he would come for you.”
“He hasn’t.”
“Thank God.” Perkins meant the words. “He is a fighter and he is very angry with you, Your Grace.”
“Understood. If the door was locked, how did he leave? Did you not post guards?”
Perkins looked even more beleaguered. “I used two of the footmen, reasoning they would keep each other alert. They won’t admit it but I believe they fell asleep. They saw nothing, which if one’s eyes were closed would stand to reason. I then rousted the two other Americans from their beds. One had a local tart with him and I don’t imagine he left her to save Lord Jack. The other, the older gentleman, has no love for your brother, Your Grace. He was well pleased that the meeting has been canceled and the delegation remanded, especially since Your Grace is paying their expenses and passage home.”
“Where the devil could Jack be?”
“I have men checking the wharves.”
“He wouldn’t go there.” Gavin pushed away from the table and stood. He found himself imagining he was Jack. What would he do?
Lady Charlene. If he were Jack, he would go to the true center of their conflict—to the woman they both wanted.
He strode to the breakfast room door and threw it open. “Henry,” he called.
The butler hurried from the front hall. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Have a horse saddled for me immediately and fetch my hat and coat.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Shutting the door, Gavin faced Perkins. “Keep searching for my brother. Try Whitehall. He may go there to salvage the meeting I canceled.”
“Do you have any other idea where he is?” Perkins asked carefully, obviously suspecting by his actions that Gavin did.
However, Gavin had no desire to drag Lady Charlene’s name into this. He could smell scandal. It was important to him to keep her reputation safe, and having his men surround her home would only raise interest from his enemies and the gossips. He needed to go alone, especially since, considering how perceptive she was, he knew she would ask uncomfortable questions.
So Gavin now added to his list of sins lying to one of his most trusted confidants. “No, I don’t. However, I must see to another matter.”
Perkins did not believe him. However, he did not argue. After all, Gavin paid his wages. He bowed. “If I may leave, Your Grace?”
“Yes, go. Take whatever men you need from the servants.”
“I may need all.”
“Fine.”
