He’d even sent a letter to Lady Wilhelmina, but in addition to indicating her shock that her former lady’s maid was an earl’s sister, Wilhelmina was also at a loss as to her location.
Finally, last night, Beau had arrived at Worth’s town house where Julianna, Frances, and Kendall were visiting. Beau had slumped into a chair in the salon where they all sat and declared defeat. “Why doesn’t anyone know where she is? How can that be?” he groaned, burying his face in his hand.
“Someone knows,” Julianna had said. “It’s simply a matter of speaking to the right people.”
“Well, all the people I’ve spoken to either don’t know or aren’t telling,” Beau had grumbled.
Julianna and Frances had exchanged a glance, but Beau had barely noticed. He’d picked himself up and dragged himself back to his own town house, where he finally fell into an exhausted slumber.
Today, he’d done nothing more than sit in his study and stare at the bloody brandy decanter.
Slowly, he raised his hand to remove the glass stopper, when a knock at the door startled him. “My lord,” came his butler’s voice. “You have two visitors.”
“You may open the door, Maxwell,” Beau replied, hastily pushing the decanter and the glass to the side.
The door to the study opened and his butler stepped inside.
“Who are the visitors?” Beau asked, clearing his throat.
“Lady Julianna Montgomery and Miss Frances Wharton,” Maxwell replied.
Beau frowned. “They’re alone?”
“Their chaperones are with them, if that’s what you mean,” the butler replied.
“Show them in,” Beau replied.
Minutes later, Julianna and Frances appeared in the doorwaysanschaperones. They’d apparently left the two older women in one of the salons at the front of the house.
“Ah, there you are, Lord Bellingham,” Frances said.
Beau glanced up at Frances, remembering the morning in Clayton’s library he’d told her a story about Kendall. He liked the young woman a great deal. She was a pretty, spirited brunette, who was set on helping Kendall introduce new bills into the House of Lords for the benefit of the working classes. Beau didn’t hold her father’s sins against her at all.
Next, his gaze swung to Lady Julianna. She was a gorgeous blond with perfect manners and a prestigious family name. She also happened to be the only other person in the world who seemed as stubborn and competitive as his friend Worth. The two made a perfect couple.
“It’s good to see both of you,” Beau replied.
The two ladies took seats in front of him. “I’ve never been invited into a study before,” Frances said, glancing around. “I quite like it. May I have some brandy, my lord?”
Beau gave her an ironic stare. “For some reason, I don’t think you came here to drink brandy with me.”
“Perhaps not,” Julianna replied with a sigh, “but I’m not opposed to it.”
Frances laughed. “Let’s put the poor man out of his misery, Julianna.”
Julianna sighed again. “Very well, if we must.” But the wide grin on her face belied the content of her words.
Frances leaned forward, a sly smile on her face. “We’ve come with some news that we think you may be quite interested in hearing, Lord Bellingham.”
Beau shrugged. “I’m not interested in much at the moment, but go ahead.”
The two exchanged a knowing glance.
“Well,” Beau prompted, narrowing his eyes on them. “What is it?”
Julianna took a deep breath. “We know where Lady Marianne is staying, and we’ve received her blessing to tell you.”
Beau shot to his feet. “You know where Marianne is?” His heart was thumping so hard it hurt.
