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“And may I ask why you wish to speak with the Duke of Kelbrook, Mr. Greenwald?” Vickers asked.

“There’s been an accident.”

Sebastian did not wait to hear more. “Let him in, Vickers.”

The butler opened the door wide and admitted the man. He stood in the entrance hall, wringing his cloth cap in his hands.

“Good day, Yer Grace,” he said, bowing. “Me name’s Bill Greenwald. I’m from over Guildford way, but I’ve been at the Becketts’ place, puttin’ new tile on the cottage roof.”

The roofer. That explained why the man was so wholly unfamiliar.

“You say there’s been an accident?”

“Yes, Yer Grace,” Greenwald said. “I was on the roof when the lady who’d come to visit Mrs. Beckett left the ’ouse. She were in a bit of a rush, but I didn’t think nothin’ of it. None of my business, see.” He swallowed. “It weren’t until I spotted Mr. Beckett comin’ across the field, runnin’ like ’is life depended on it that I figured somethin’ was wrong.”

Sellers had already pushed Sebastian’s patience dangerously close to its limit. If the roofer didn’t come to the point soon, Sebastian would lose what little patience he had left. “What exactly was the problem?”

“The baby was comin’. Right then. Mrs. Tucker stopped by to see Mrs. Beckett on ’er way ’ome from the market and found ’er in a state where she needed the midwife right away.” He glanced at Rosalind, and his cheeks reddened. “I reckon Mrs. Beckett’s pains were bad enough that Mrs. Tucker decided there was no time to go fer the midwife, ’cause she set off fer the big ’ouse instead.”

Sebastian stared at him, the first hint of dread entering his chest. No matter the urgency, surely Mrs. Tucker would not have been foolish enough to cross the bridge. Not with the river running as high as it was presently.

“We have not seen her, Mr. Greenwald,” Rosalind said, joining the conversation for the first time.

“No, Yer Grace. She got stopped on the bridge. Mr. Beckett ’eard the wood crack an’ Mrs. Tucker’s scream from where ’e was workin’ in the pasture and raced over there. ’E says part of the deck’s missin’ and Mrs. Tucker’s ’anging on to the post underneath.”

Sebastian could imagine the nightmarish scene all too well. “Is Mr. Beckett with her now?”

“That’s just it, Yer Grace. Seein’ as ’ow Mr. Beckett’s ’elped bring so many lambs into the world, Mrs. Tucker shouted at ’im to get ’ome t’ be with Mrs. Beckett. ’E’s deliverin’ the babe as we speak, and ’e sent me ’ere to get ’elp fer Mrs. Tucker.”

Refusing to contemplate what may have happened to Mrs. Tucker during the time it had taken David Beckett to reach the cottage and Mr. Greenwald to arrive at the manor, Sebastian focused his attention on what must be done now. “Send word to the stables, Vickers!” he said. “I want the cart, ropes, blankets, and half a dozen strong men sent to the bridge directly. Have Wesley saddle my horse and send a footman to inform Grayson of what has happened. Grayson is to go to the Tuckers’ home and have Mr. Tucker join us at the bridge.”

“Right away, Your Grace.”

Vickers’s clipped footsteps crossed the hall, and he disappeared through the servants’ entrance.

“We could use your assistance, Mr. Greenwald,” Sebastian said.

The roofer didn’t hesitate. “Of course, Yer Grace.”

“Sebastian.” Rosalind’s eyes shone with concern. “What can I do?”

He pressed a brief kiss to her forehead. “Pray that we reach her in time,” he said.

She nodded, and without another word, he led Mr. Greenwald outside.

Chapter 26

Rosalind stood at the window, watching the cart full of men roll down the drive at breakneck speed. Mr. Greenwald’s cart was just ahead of them. Sebastian and Dawson had left on horseback and were now out of sight. She had already offered up multiple silent, heartfelt prayers for the safety of all involved, but there had to be something more she could do. If not for the poor woman in peril, then for her family.

Vickers’s measured tread on the entrance hall tile announced his return.

Rosalind swung around to face him. “Tell me about Mrs. Tucker,” she said. Learning more about the woman might make the situation more difficult, but she needed to know.

“She and her husband have been His Grace’s tenants for decades,” Vickers said. “She’s a good woman, always ready to help a neighbor in need.”

“Does she have children of her own?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Two girls and a boy. But they’re all grown and gone now.”