It was empty, and he didn’t hear a sound.
“Where the bloody hell is everyone?” His voice echoed off the marble floors, but no one appeared. His boots rang across the polished stone as he strode down the hall toward the drawing-room and pushed open the half-closed door.
“I ’spose it’s aw right if ye play, but ye didn’t find me, ye know. I came out on my own, and that don’t count as finding.”
Ethan whirled around just as one of the Munro boys slid out from the behind the drapes. Good Lord, one or the other of these urchins seemed to be always appearing out of nowhere. They were the slipperiest children Ethan had ever come across.
“Play what, ah . . . George?” If he did play, perhaps he could be rid of the little scoundrel as quickly as he’d found him.
“I’m Henry. Hide and seek, of course.” Henry spoke slowly, as if Ethan were simple. “So, are ye going to play, then? ’Cause there’s rules—”
“Yes, yes. I’m sure there are,” Ethan agreed, though he hadn’t seen any evidence of rules in this house thus far. “Where might I find Miss Sheridan, Henry?”
“I can’t tell ye that.” Henry gave him an offended look. “That’s cheating. It’s hide an’ seek. You’ll have to find ’er yerself.”
Find her? That could take all bloody night. Cleves Court was massive. “Earls don’t play hide and seek. Tell me where she is at once.”
“Can’t.” Henry shrugged. “Don’t know where she is. She’s hiding, innit she? Ye’ll have to wait till she comes out.”
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to keep his temper in check. “I’m going to ask you once again, Henry—”
“There you are, Henry. It’s time for your—” Becky came bustling into the room, but as soon as she saw Ethan, she skidded to a halt. “Oh! I beg your pardon, your lordship.”
Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. At last, a rational adult.
Becky, however, seemed far less pleased to see him than he was to see her. She shrank back, away from him, and began sidling toward the door. “I—I didn’t realize you were awake, Lord Devon. I’ll just . . . that is, I have to—”
“What? Ye just woke up?” Henry smothered a derisive snort. “Ye’re a fine one, aren’t ye, lordship?”
“Hush, Henry!” Becky scolded him, then cast a nervous glance at Ethan.
“I need to speak to Miss Sheridan at once, Becky. Can you tell me where she is?”
“Don’t tell ’im!” Henry crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Ethan. “He’s a cheat, he is!”
“Do be quiet, Henry! Miss Sheridan is . . . oh, dear. Where is she? Oh! She’s hiding in that narrow cupboard under the stairs.”
Of course she bloody was.“Thank you, Becky.”
Becky darted out the door, and Henry followed on her heels, still muttering about “lordships what cheat” under his breath.
Ethan marched from the drawing-room toward the hallway, but in spite of his irritation, he couldn’t quite smother the grin twitching at his lips. He and Thea and Andrew used to play hide and seek when they were young, and even then the cupboard under the stairs was Thea’s favorite hiding place. They’d teased her about it, because she was always the first to be found, but she insisted she didn’t care—that it was peaceful under there.
An unexpected hollow sensation settled in Ethan’s chest as he opened the cupboard door. He had the strangest urge to run, before he could see Thea’s face, or she could see his . . .
But then her muffled voice came from inside the cupboard, and it was too late. “That took ages! I was beginning to think I’d have to spend the night in here.”
He didn’t say a word, but reached into the cupboard and held out his hand.
Her warm fingers wrapped around his as she climbed out. “Who’s found me?”
“I have.” His voice was hoarse. “I’ve found you.”
“Oh, Ethan!” She smiled up at him, the way she used to do when they were children, and all at once everything inside him wished he was still the boy he’d been then, before everything had fallen apart and he became the man he was now.
But then her smile faded, and she snatched her hand away. “That is . . . I meant to say, Lord Devon. Awake at last, are you? I do hope you slept well.”
Her tone snapped him back to himself. “I’ve been ringing the bell for an hour, Miss Sheridan. I hate to interrupt something as important as a game of hide and seek, but I’ll have my tea at once, if you please.”
