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“My Lord?” he spoke up with a frown and watched as Lord Gillet swiveled at the sound of his voice, letting out a small gasp of a surprise. James drew closer, looking around the room. He saw nothing that could give him some insight as to the Earl’s odd behavior.
“Lord Horenwall! I did not hear you come in.” Lord Gillet made his way to the sideboard in the corner of the room, gesturing to the decanters that sat atop it. “Would you like a drink?”
“Whiskey would do,” James accepted with a nod. He didn’t take his eyes off the Earl, watching his slightly agitated behavior as he poured the drink. Lord Gillet managed to keep his face neutral, even wearing a little smile as he brought the drink over.
“Is something the matter, My Lord?” James asked, once he’d taken a sip. He sank into a nearby armchair, watching as Lord Gillet did the same and ran his hands down the length of his trousers.
“I am only a bit taken aback by your appearance, My Lord,” Lord Gillet responded. “When I’d heard you’d come to call on Elizabeth, I was not prepared.”
“She is my betrothed, after all. I did not think it would be such a shock to see her so soon again. Where is Lady Elizabeth?” James sipped his drink slowly. Lord Gillet had not touched his. He had not stopped moving since James entered. Fiddling with his fingers, touching his brow, tapping the armrest of his chair. Something was evidently wrong.
Lord Gillet licked his lips, scratching a spot on his chin before saying, “She is unable to meet with you right now, My Lord.”
That made James frown, sitting up a bit straighter. “Has she fallen ill? We have only just returned from the ball last night. I surely hope she has not passed along the illness to me. I am quite an important man, My Lord, so I cannot afford to be bedridden.”
“No, My Lord, that is not the case.” Lord Gillet finally reached for his drink and downed the harsh liquor in one go. That only made James nervous, but he said nothing, waiting for the Earl to gather his courage. “I assure you, My Lord, it is no issue.”
“It doesn’t appear that way,” James pointed out without hesitation. He leaned closer, his pose casual even though his eyes narrowed slightly. “Lady Elizabeth and I are to be married in a matter of weeks, My Lord. I think if something has happened to my betrothed, I should know of it. Unless you will disrespect my position as her future husband even further?”
“I would not do such a thing, My Lord!” Lord Gillet gasped.
James only tilted his head to the side. He knew what tone to take with noblemen, knew very well that a gentle yet cold tone was the best way of getting what he needed out of them. Commoners never got that level of grace, but it was no matter to James. “Then?” he probed.
Lord Gillet obviously still did not want to say. He could not hide it form his face, evident in the way he bit his lip to the anxious way he moved his hands about. He looked James in the eye, no doubt seeing how serious he was, and then the Lord Gillet’s shoulders sagged.
“I do not know how best to say this,” he began, taking a deep breath. “It appears as if Elizabeth has disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” James echoed, frowning deeply.
Lord Gillet nodded. His white-blond eyebrows knitted together in worry, no longer holding back his distress. He shot to his feet and began pacing back and forth. “I only just learned of her disappearance myself but I cannot understand how it could have happened. After we returned from the ball last night, she retired to bed. What could have happened since then?”
The only thing James could think of was that she’d run away from home but it didn’t make much sense to James, either. Last night, Elizabeth had been perfectly fine. A bit quiet, yes, but he’d learned that was simply in her nature. She’d shown no signs of discontent and why would she? She was set to marry one of the most handsome, most eligible bachelors in London! She should be ecstatic, eager.
Which only meant one thing. “She must have been taken,” James claimed.
Lord Gillet stopped his pacing, looking at James in complete horror but no surprise. As if he’d considered the possibility but hadn’t wanted to believe it. At that moment, there came a knock on the door and Lord Gillet visibly collected himself before he called out, “Enter.”
James didn’t turn to see who it was but recognized the butler’s voice when he said, “Here is Lady Elizabeth’s lady’s maid, My Lord.”
Only then did James look over his shoulder. A woman stepped forward, chestnut hair sticking out from under a mobcap. She clasped her hands before her, her eyes lowered to the floor before she made a small curtsy.
