Page 59 of His Sinful Touch

Alex wanted to snatch the spyglass away from her and look through it himself, but he refrained. He wasn’t sure why he felt so restless. There was nothing the man could do, just sitting there in the carriage.

“He’s moving now,” Lilah said.

“Who? The carriage?”

“No, the man standing beside it, the one watching the house. He’s headed away from here. I think he’s leaving.”

“What about the man in the carriage?”

Lilah shook her head, then stiffened. “He’s leaning forward now, he’s looking up at the house.” She jumped back, lowering the spyglass. “I’m sorry—he just seemed so close. Yes, that’s Mr. Dearborn. I don’t know if Peter is with him. I only saw the man on this side.”

“Maybe he’s going to take over the watch,” Con suggested. “A chap loitering about the lamppost was sure to draw attention eventually. A carriage will provide better cover.” He glanced at Alex. “Alex? What’s the matter?”

“What do you mean?” Alex jammed his hands in his pockets.

“You’re nervous as a cat,” Con retorted. “You keep glancing around.”

“I don’t know. Just Dearborn watching the house, I suppose. It’s only... Something feels wrong.”

“Wrong how?” Con narrowed his eyes at his brother.

“Alex!” The duchess stretched her hand out to touch his arm. “Are you all right? Is it one of your—” She stopped, casting a little glance at Lilah, and continued, “Are you feeling something?”

“It’s nothing, Mother.” Alex shook his head. Lilah Holcutt was not someone they should be discussing his peculiar abilities in front of.

“About Sabrina?” Con asked intently. “You’re sensing—”

“Good God.” Alex froze. His chest felt peculiarly...empty. “You’re right. It’s Sabrina. She’s gone.”

Chapter Twenty

“WHAT?” LILAH HOLCUTT gaped at him.

Alex whirled and took off down the hall toward Sabrina’s bedchamber. “Sabrina!”

The others hurried after him, and Lilah cried out, “Wait. No. Sabrina’s sleeping. You can’t barge into her bedroom!”

“The hell I can’t.” Alex flung open the door. He saw, as he had expected, a bed still pristinely made up. He began to curse.

“How did you know...what happened?” Lilah looked around in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“Alex can—” Con paused, glancing at Lilah. “He has a connection to Sabrina.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Alex told Lilah tersely, grabbing her arm. “Where is she?”

Lilah stared at him in astonishment. “I don’t know. How would I? I thought she was in here asleep!” She winced as his grip tightened.

“Alex...” Con took his twin’s wrist. “Ease up. You’re hurting her.”

“Oh.” Alex looked down at his hand in surprise. “I beg your pardon, Miss Holcutt.” He released her and stepped back, shoving his hands into his hair, willing himself to think. “Where could they have gotten in—”

“Don’t be daft,” Con told Alex. “She’s probably just gone to...to the library. Or Wellie got loose and she’s chasing him.”

“Chasing Wellie! Who’s that?” Lilah stared at him.

“No, she’s not here. She’s—I can’t...” Alex felt as if he were drowning.