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I am going to hear Dahl’s side of the story. I am convinced there must have been some mistake. The man I met would not have harmed anyone. I shall return by morning, but I simply must know. Please do not worry.

Sincerely,

Violetta

No, no, no. Violetta had never been the impressionable one. Throughout her life, she had never stepped outside of Mama’s guidance, save her act of sheer desperation to be wed. She never did anything that might jeopardize her standing in society. To sneak out in the late evening hours would have been characteristic of Orris, at times Myrtle. Never Violetta.

Why would she do this for the Earl of Hartinton? She hardly knew the man. They had danced twice. Perhaps Lord Hartinton was more charismatic than Orris had given him credit for? Was she still interested, even though Samuel had shared the earl was promised to someone else?

She walked back inside the breakfast room, more than a little overwhelmed to find Violetta had intentionally placed herself in harm’s way.

Irritation licked at Orris’s nerves.

“What’s happened to her?” Myrtle asked as she burst into the room, still wearing her nightcap and robe.

“She’s gone. Violetta left to find Abram’s brother. Of her own accord. She could be anywhere.” As Orris showed her the letter, she wondered how Violetta would have even gotten to him. Unless she’d taken a horse… Had she taken a horse? She hated riding.

“This does not make any sense. She doesn’t even know him. All of us heard of his actions. What could she have been thinking?” Myrtle was still lamenting when Samuel walked into the room. He too appeared disheveled.

“Do we have any idea where she might have gone?” he asked. “I hardly believe she would have known where to go. I only just obtained the information based on Abram’s request. Violetta is not much of an adventurer. I sometimes worry about her getting across the street. And if anyone were to find out, she would be ruined.”

“At the moment, I am more worried about her life than her social calendar,” Myrtle said.

Gladys nodded in agreement.

Orris tried to rationalize. Tracking him down would be the first order of business. “Where would he be staying? He’s likely changed hotels by now,” she reasoned.

“We can try the Great Western on Praed Street. It isn’t far from the other, and he would not stay at one of the coaching inns,” Samuel said.

“Can you go there?” Myrtle asked. “Find out if he has a room. Then we need to get to Lord Abram. Perhaps he will be able to help us find him.”

“How would Violetta have known where to go?” Gladys asked.

“A very fine point. I am going up to her bedchambers. Maybe he sent her a note,” Orris said.

Myrtle held out a hand with a finger up as an idea came to her. “I am going to find Dorchester. He likely received the correspondence if anything was sent to her.”

Orris took the stairs and ran to Violetta’s room. The first place she checked was the writing desk. Searching first on top, then through the drawers, she did not find a note. She checked all the cupboards and chests before returning to the morning room.

“Have you located anything?” Gladys asked. She was wringing her hands, an outward expression of her fears.

“No, there was nothing,” she told her.

“Oh, Orris. What was she thinking?”

“I cannot imagine, Cousin. I am going to find Abram. Has Samuel left already?”

“I believe he has gone,” she said.

“Come, let us see what Myrtle found out with Dorchester,” Orris said. Taking her cousin’s hand, she led the way, headed to the stairwell leading downstairs.

Just as they rounded the corner, Dorchester and Myrtle were heading upstairs.

“She received a note last night,” Myrtle said, turning to Dorchester.

“The note was from Lord Hartinton. I must apologize, for I did not see a name or location on the envelope. There was only a name. Addressed to Miss Violetta,” he said. “She mentioned who it was from when she opened the letter. I remember I found it quite forward of him to write to her directly.”

“Do you know who delivered the note? Had you seen them before?” Myrtle asked.