Page 52 of The Widow Wore Plaid

A long pause, then a tiny nod.

“No one here wishes you harm, Mrs. Seton.” Keeping her voice soft and calm, Georgie edged forward on the chair, closer to the distraught woman. “However, we are concerned about your husband. Have you seen him since breakfast?”

This time there was a short shake of Mrs. Seton’s head. She still refused to meet Georgie’s eyes, but at least her response had been quicker. Still not quick enough, however. Patience exhausted, Matthew wanted to tear his hair out at the slowness of the questions and answers, but a warning look from Fanny and he took a deep breath, willing himself to wait.

“Do you know where he is?”

Again the woman gave a shake to her head, but this time it was more hesitant. Not as if she didn’t know, but as if she didn’t want to say.

Georgie shot a look at him and Fanny, then renewed her attention to Mrs. Seton, a sweet smile on her lips. Fanny’s friend might have gentled horses if her manner in dealing with this woman was any indication. “We were worried about him, you see, Mrs. Seton, because Lord Kinellan and Lady John have also been missing since early this morning. Naturally, we thought there might be a connection between the three missing people.”

Wrapping her arms around herself, Mrs. Seton began to rock back and forth in her chair, her sobs increasing.

Wild-eyed, Georgie stared at the woman before reaching out and touching her hand. “Please, Mrs. Seton, for the love of God, if you know anything at all about the disappearance of Lord Kinellan, please tell us.”

The slight contact with another person may have tipped the scales, for Mrs. Seton raised her head and looked directly at Georgie. “I . . . I don’t know where they are, my lady.”

Matthew blew out the breath he’d been holding. Another dead end and time running out to find his friend.

Georgie searched her face. “But you do know something, don’t you, Mrs. Seton?”

With a great sob, the agitated woman nodded.

Grasping her hand, Georgie leaned toward her. “What is it?”

Mrs. Seton clutched Georgie’s hands as though they were a lifeline to a drowning woman.

“My husband . . . Rory . . . said he was going with Lord Kinellan today, wherever he decided to go.” Her sobs intensified until she keened, as grief-stricken as any mourner. She gazed into Georgie’s face, tears streaming. “He said he intends to kill Lord Kinellan and his bride-to-be so he can inherit the title. And I very much fear he has done so.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

All the blood seemed to have rushed out of his body, leaving Matthew cold and stony. “Where did they go, Mrs. Seton?”

“I swear I don’t know. Rory said only that he would find a way to accompany Lord Kinellan wherever he went today and make an end to him.” The grubby handkerchief that Mrs. Seton clutched was soaked through, though she continued valiantly to stem her stream of tears with it. “I thought he’d be unable to go through with it. I thought he’d be back by now.”

Georgie passed her one of her own handkerchiefs, and the wretched woman grasped it as tears cascaded down her face. “Why has your husband planned this heinous act?”

Mrs. Seton shrugged and wiped her eyes. “Rory has always thought his father should have inherited the title, despite the fact he was the younger son. The seeds of that obsession have sprouted and grown wildly since his father’s death.”

“You don’t think he’s managed to succeed, do you?” Lord Brack had moved into the room and spoke sotto voce to Matthew.

“I’d lay my money on Kinellan to have avoided this treachery.” But the sinking feeling in his gut would not abate. “However, we won’t know for certain until we find him and Jane.” Mrs. Seton, who seemed more forthcoming now, apparently had no further information to give them. So the question of where Kinellan and Jane had gone was once again paramount to rescuing them. What other bodies of water were within easy reach of Castle Kinellan?

“What must we do with Mrs. Seton, Matthew?” His wife’s question brought him out of his musings.

“I believe she’s harmless, unless she wished to leave to tell Seton that we are onto his scheme. I doubt that is true, but have the servants continue to watch her, nevertheless. Make certain she doesn’t leave the castle.” Matthew dismissed the woman and strode out into the corridor. “Gentlemen, please follow me back to the library. We must mount a rescue of Kinellan and Jane immediately.”

Trotting down the stairs, his friends around him, Matthew couldn’t help but miss Kinellan. If this were someone else they were trying to locate, he’d have had his head together with Kinellan’s, discussing the options for rescue. If something happened to his friend, he’d never find another boon companion as perfect. They must find Kinellan alive.

He swept into the library and rang immediately for Grant. While waiting for the butler to appear, Matthew helped himself to another cognac. Apparently, he was going to need one. Or several.

“What’s the plan, Lathbury?” Hugh Granger grabbed a tumbler and filled it almost full.

“We need to discover where they have gone. Nothing else matters until we know where we need to look for them.” Matthew clenched his fist. “Where is Grant?”

“Here, my lord.” The unruffled butler appeared just as Matthew was reaching for the bell again.

“Ah, good. Grant, fetch the estate steward.” Matthew relaxed a trifle. “He must have worked closely with Kinellan for years. If anyone knows where his haunts are, it’s the steward.”