Page 70 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“Uh, no. I didn’t realize I needed one.”

Just then the door behind the young secretary opened, and a man exited, not paying her any attention. However, Lord Sidmouth rose from behind his desk when he saw her. “Lady Hawkins.” He rounded his desk and bowed. “Please, come inside and have a seat.”

Lizzie joined him, the young man closing the door behind them. She took a seat in front of his desk. A brief look around told her the office was in dire need of redecorating. The desk had to be at least fifty years old, the chairs worn, the carpet faded. Only a man would spend every day in such a place without noticing how run-down it was.

“Would you care for tea, Lady Hawkins?”

She patted her upper lip again. “No. Thank you.”

Sidmouth leaned his forearms on the desk. “May I ask why you are here? I thought Lord Hawkins made himself quite clear on his position regarding my plan.”

She took in a deep breath. “I want to do whatever it is you require. I want to help identify the man who aided my father in his treason.”

He leaned back and studied her, his thumb and index finger framing his face as he rested his elbow on the armrest. “Am I to assume that Lord Hawkins has had a change of heart?”

“Not at all. My husband has no idea I am here.”

Chapter Thirty

“What do you mean you don’t know where Lady Hawkins is? She is under orders not to leave the house without me.” Hawk glowered at the unruffled butler.

“My lord, as I stated, Lady Hawkins requested the carriage be brought around. Neither the coach, the driver, nor her ladyship have returned. I was unaware that Lady Hawkins was ‘under orders.’” Despite his usual demeanor, the man still made his opinion known, and it was obvious Lizzie had a champion in the butler.

“How long ago did she leave?”

“About an hour past, my lord.”

Hawk stormed down the corridor to the library. It was bad enough his head and stomach still suffered the effects of his overindulgence the night before, but now his wife was missing. A flash of panic hit him. Where was she? Did the person who wanted her dead abduct her? Of course not, man, the butler said she left in Cam’s carriage. There is no need to panic.

Yes, there was.

He walked to the brandy container and turned away, his stomach churning. Tea and food didn’t appeal, either. He should be doing something but didn’t know what. Had she gone shopping? With someone out there trying to kill her, she had better not have gone shopping.

After another hour pacing the floor and

imagining all sorts of danger, the front door opened, and Lizzie’s voice floated to him as she spoke with the butler.

A sense of relief flooded him, quickly replaced by annoyance. She sounded so happy, as if nothing had happened. He stood, facing the library door, his arms folded over his chest. Lizzie pushed the door open and smiled. “There you are.”

“Yes. Here I am. And where were you?”

She immediately stiffened, her smile vanishing. “I beg your pardon?”

He moved forward until his toes touched hers. “You are not supposed to leave the house without me. Do you not remember the threat to your life? The clandestine trips back and forth between here and my townhouse to avoid danger?”

Lizzie untied her bonnet and tossed the garment on the sofa. “Of course I remember, but I took the coach, a driver, and two footmen.”

“Were any of them carrying weapons?”

“I have no idea. Do they normally do so?”

“I don’t know, but given the circumstances, if I were traveling all around Town I would certainly ask.”

“I did not travel all around the town.”

“Aha! That leads me to my next question. Where did you go?”

All the air left her lungs, and she wandered around the room, dragging her fingertips along the furniture. “I went to…the Home Office.”