Inwardly, Ellie snickered. Apparently, the woman didn’t know the duke had already approved of the wedding and just waited for the right moment to sign the papers. After all, he was the reason she and Vincent were marrying in the first place.
“Then let me suggest you do something quickly,” Edgar snapped. “We are running out of time.”
Ellie frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
“Leave it to me,” Augusta said. “I can persuade the duke. But I cannot do this alone. If you want to impress Ellie, now is the time.”
“I have something planned.” Edgar chuckled. “I’m sure Ellie will love it.”
Ellie’s stomach lurched, and she moved away from the window, not wanting to hear more. Her father needed to know about this. Certainly, he wouldn’t allow Augusta to get away with this trickery.
Hurrying out of the room, determination guided her steps. From room to room, she searched for her father, but to no avail. Not even the butler knew where the duke was this time of the morning.
She stopped at the side door near her father’s study. Looking outside, she scanned the west yard carefully. The sweet fragrance from her mother’s prized flower garden carried through the light breeze. Thankfully, Ellie still had something on the estate to remind her of Mother.
Rubbing her forehead, she tried to focus back on her father, and what his schedule might be today. The frantic pounding in her head made it impossible to think clearly. As far as she recalled, their family didn’t have any pressing engagements until this evening, when they would attend another ball.
A horse’s neigh from off in the distance snapped her out of her thoughts. Perhaps her father was riding this morning.
Without another thought, she rushed outside and down toward the stable. Oliver, their main stable man, stood in front of the double doors, brushing down her father’s horse.
“Oliver,” she said, out of breath.
His gaze snapped up to her before he bowed. “Yes, Miss Middleton.”
“Have…you seen my father.” She tried to catch her breath, but it was difficult.
“Not since he went riding this morning.”
She blew out an exasperated breath, moved to the outside wall of the stable, and leaned against it. Her headache throbbed harder, and she rubbed her forehead as she closed her eyes. This was ridiculous. Where would he have gone?
“Miss Middleton?” Oliver asked sheepishly. “Did something happen to your horse, Pegasus?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” She peeked at the servant beneath her lashes. “Why?”
“Because Pegasus is missing.”
Headache forgotten, Ellie jumped away from the wall and turned to enter the structure. She scanned inside, searching for her beautiful white and gray Gypsy Vanner horse. The stall was empty.
“Oliver,” she shrieked as she ran out to the servant. “Where is Pegasus?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “When I awoke this morning, your horse was gone.”
Panic filled her, squeezing her heart and bringing tears to her eyes. “We must find her. I’ve raised her since I was ten years old.”
“Yes, Miss Middleton.” He nodded. “I shall alert the other stable hands, and we’ll search the area.”
Oliver led her father’s horse inside the stable as he shouted instructions to the other servants.
She dashed, unladylike, across the yard, heading toward the glade. Pegasus liked to graze nearby the glade, and she prayed this was where she had wandered.
From a distance, her name was called. She stopped and looked toward the rider coming toward her, waving a hand. When she recognized Vincent, she released a sob and covered her mouth, waiting for him to reach her. Concern etched his expression as he stopped his horse and jumped off.
“Ellie, what’s wrong?” he asked, taking large strides toward her.
“Oh, Vincent.” She ran to him. His strong arms wrapped around her shoulders as she pressed her head against his muscular chest. “Pegasus is gone.”
“Your horse?” He stroked her unbound hair that she hadn’t had styled yet.
