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“Good day, My Lords,” she greeted, her voice strong.
“Ah,” Lord Gillet spoke up. “You are Patience, are you not? You have been at my daughter’s side for the past two years, if I remember correctly.”
“You do, My Lord,” Patience responded. For a brief moment, her eyes flickered up to James, filled with curiosity. Even when she saw him looking at her, she did not avert her eyes until a moment after.
“Very well, then,” Lord Gillet continued. “You should be able to tell me what has happened to my daughter. Why is she not in her bedchamber? Where has she gone?”
Patience didn’t move a single inch, her eyes glued to the floor. “I am unsure, My Lord.”
Lord Gillet let out a frustrated hiss, stalking away. He lifted his hands to his hair, clearly growing more agitated, so James thought it best he stepped in. He rose and faced the maid. “You are her lady’s maid and you are not privy to her movements?”
Patience looked up and had the audacity to meet his eyes head-on. James tightened his grip on his glass. “As it were, My Lord, I retired to bed shortly after Lady Elizabeth did. When I awoke today, I found her gone. I decided to go in search of her, thinking she might have gone for a walk in the gardens, but my attempt proved futile. Only then did I report her missing to the housekeeper and the butler.”
“Then are you saying you have no idea where she might have gone?”
She shook her head slowly. “I do not.”
Annoyance lanced him. No maid dared to look him in the eye like this. He was an Earl, more important than such a lowly woman could ever dream of being. It was obvious Lady Elizabeth and Lord Gillet had been quite lax in their control over the help, but once Lady Elizabeth joined his home, she would see just how detrimental her actions could be.
Treating the help kindly will only inspire them to be defiant.
Patience did not look away from him until the Earl spoke again. “Does she go to the gardens often in the morning? Even before being dressed?”
Patience nodded. “Yes, she does, My Lord.”
“Goodness.” Lord Gillet let out a shuddering breath before he waved a hand. “That is enough for now. You may leave.”
Patience curtsied again, glanced at James, then turned to leave. James downed the rest of his drink, his annoyance shooting through the roof.
The Earl came to James side, eyes filled with worry. “Do you know what this might mean, Lord Horenwall?”
“Yes, Lord Gillet,” James responded slowly. He tempered his aggravation, putting the maid’s brazen behavior to the back of his mind as he faced the Earl. “It appears our fears might have been true. Lady Elizabeth has been kidnapped.”
Those words became a lance that pierced through Lord Gillet and he sank into his armchair, raising a hand to his temple. James calmly made his way over to the sideboard and poured himself another drink, lifting it to his lips. It was quite bothersome to have his betrothed taken so close to the wedding. If this were to cause a scandal, he would have to find some way to punish her for being foolish enough to be kidnapped.
But at the same time, it could prove beneficial to him. Many would not stop talking about the length he’d gone to in order to find his betrothed, in order to bring her back to safety.
It was his duty, after all, to maintain the reputation he’d done so well to develop. Soon, Lady Elizabeth would be by his side once more and all things would fall back into place the way they should have from the very start.
Chapter 6
Glass splintered against the opposite wall, expensive brandy running down the dark wallpaper. William watched the liquid go to waste and wished desperately he had another glass he could chuck, just to rid himself of the rage boiling within. It was all he could do not to throw everything off his desk.
His steward, Samuel, managed to keep himself out of the way. William hadn’t been aiming for his head when he’d thrown the glass, but with the way the man shook, it was clear he believed so. Samuel clutched the papers in his hands with such a grip, they were being crushed. William let out a long breath, then looked at the documents Samuel held.
“O-oh!” Samuel exclaimed, realizing his error. He rushed forward, placed the papers on William’s desk, and returned to his spot five feet away. “Forgive me, Your Grace.”
William nearly told him that there was nothing to forgive, that the reason for his anger did not lie with him nor in the fact that he’d crushed such important papers. But he didn’t bother. He only picked up one of the letters Samuel had brought, sent from the solicitor of the late Duke informing William of the estates that had fallen out of the hands of the Dukedom. Even after his death, the late Duke caused nothing but trouble.
