Now? Who?
She wanted to snap out the question, but instead, she sighed and glanced at Annie. “Aye, and then I will begin the search.” She gestured to the footman. “Would ye please stay and help my son’s nurse look for him? I will be back as soon as possible.”
The man was already agreeing as Athena hurried out of the nursery and down the stairs. Who would’ve sent a footman to fetch her?
The explanation awaited her in the foyer.
Athena skidded to a stop on the upper landing, her skirts bunched in her hands, as she realized who waited for her inside the front door.
The Duke of Cashard was waving off Kidder’s attempts to get him to wait in a parlor and was fiddling with a pair of spectacles she’d never seen before.
He looked up and saw her. Athena would like to claim there were sparks between them when their eyes met, or something, and hedidhesitate…but then he bounded up the stairs fast enough to cause her to step backward.
His expression… She’d never seen him like this. Almost frantic, if such a word could be applied to a man who normally kept himself strictly under control. Was he here forher?
He halted in front of her and waved the eyeglasses under her nose. “Tell me he’s here,” he barked out. “Oh God, Athena. Tell me he’s here.”
“Who?” She snatched the spectacles from him, turning it over in her hands, thinking of Olive’s missing pair. “Are these yers?”
“Matthew is missing.”
It was the way he said the words, bleak and hopeless, that had her gaze darting back to his. The pain in his eyes caused her to catch her breath, and her lips formed the word “Matthew?” without any sound emerging.
Then his hands were on her upper arms, his grip strong. “Tell me he’s here, Athena. Tell me he’s run here to be with Callan.” His voice was harsh, full of pain.
“Does he miss Callan as much as Callan missed him?” Athena managed, her own tears pricking at the memory, and at the sight of this man’s agony.
The man she loved.
The lads she loved.
“He was heartbroken when I told him we wouldn’t be joining you at the river again.” His grip tightened. “That was days ago, but this morning—Oh God!”
His voice cracked, and he hung his head, although he kept his hold on her as if it was the only thing that mattered. Instinctively, Athena dropped the spectacles by her side and lifted one hand to Cash’s cheek.
“He is missing?” A suspicion curled through her mind, and her heart began to pound.
“Tell me he’s here,” Cash croaked. “Please.”
It nearly broke her heart, but Athena had to shake her head, even knowing he couldn’t see it.
“Matthew is no’ here, Cash,” she admitted, and before he could do more than suck in a breath, she continued, adding, “And Callan is missing as well.”
His head jerked up, piercing her with an intense, inquisitive stare. “He is? Are you?—”
He broke off the question, and Athena ached to know what he’d intended to ask.
Instead though, he straightened, as if this news had revitalized him. “I was hoping Matthew was here, but afraid…” He shook his head, then jerked his chin at the spectacles she held, her other hand still cupping the side ofhis face. “I found them in the middle of the corridor outside of the Dumpkins nursery, where he’s been staying. I was afraid they belonged to whoever had taken him.”
Taken him?
Shocked, Athena lifted the eyeglasses once more to study them. They were round and delicate, the kind a lady might wear. “Why would someone want to take…?”
“He’s a duke’s heir,” Cash reminded her dully, releasing her arms and stepping away from her.
Athena dropped her chin. “Of course,” she whispered.
Of course, hewasa duke.
