Page 64 of The Earl She Once Saved

The girl beside him went white.

Verity heard her own voice and hated it. The maid was frightened. It was not her fault that a door stood open when the sky broke apart.

“Never mind,” Verity said quickly. “Search the kitchen yard again. Then the stables. Every stall.”

“We have, my lady.”

“Then we need to search them again.”

Thunder rolled above the roof. The sound seemed to move through Verity’s bones. Outside, rain struck the windows in sheets. It strengthened within minutes, swallowing the drive and turning the glass black. Sergeant was somewhere inside that darkness, frightened and alone.

The thought broke through every wall she had built.

“He may have gone to the garden,” Ezra pointed out. He stood near the study door, with his cane braced against the floor. “Dogs often hide close to home.”

“He does not hide in the garden.”

Not in thunder.

In thunder, Sergeant became a different creature. He crawled beneath furniture too small to hold him. He shook until his teeth struck together. Once, years ago, she found him inside an empty grain chest after a storm, with his paws bloodied from trying to dig through the wood.

But he had always been inside, always near enough for her to find him.

“Take lanterns,” she ordered. “Search along the wall and beneath the hedges. Check the orchard.”

The servants scattered. Verity turned toward the cloak stand.

Win caught her arm. “Where are you going?”

“With them.”

“My lady—”

“He will not come to a stranger if he is frightened.”

“You cannot go out in that.”

Verity pulled her cloak from the peg. Her hands would not find the opening.

“Do not tell me what I cannot do.”

Win took the cloak from her, not to prevent her, but to hold it steady. Verity thrust one arm inside.

Across the hall, the outer door opened. Wind drove rain across the tiles. A footman struggled against it while Rafe stood upon the threshold, fastening his coat.

“Have my horse saddled.”

Verity stared.

The groom hesitated. “My lord, in this storm—”

“Now.”

Rafe reached for his gloves.

“What are you doing?” Verity demanded.

He turned. “Finding your dog.”