“No, Your Grace. I didn’t think to ask and the butler didn’t mention it.”
Could she have gone out with Abigail or Hannah?
“I need to go out.” He turned to Lady Rutledge. “Can you take Edward with you as Josephine asked?”
“Of course!”
“Good. We’ll come to collect him as soon as we can.”
With that, he was striding toward the door, his mind abuzz with possibilities, strategies, plans. Stanhope House was just across the square. He would go to Gabriel and Hannah’s home first. If she was not there, he would pay a visit to Lord Hartfield next.
But first, some instinct made him take a quick detour to his study. From the safe, he grabbed a pistol, knife that slid inside his boot, and a concealed weapon designed to attach to his forearm. It would go undetected under his shirtsleeve, but with a flick of his wrist, he could activate a spring mechanism that would shoot out a blade. He had designed it himself and had used it more than once on the field. It was particularly useful for covert operations and rescues.
His mother followed right behind him. Saw him handle the weapons.
“Do you think there’s trouble afoot? She could have gone to visit some friend, just as she said.”
He hoped to God he would find Josephine with Hannah or Abigail. Maybe she would be annoyed at his highhandedness in searching for her. He would laugh and gladly apologize for his overreaction if that was the case. But if this inkling of trouble turned out to be right, he had better be prepared.
“I don’t know, Mother. But something about this doesn’t sit well with me. I’d rather be prepared for any eventuality.”
His mother nodded, a slight frown pinching her brow. “Take care, my son. And send word as soon as you know something.”
“I will.”
With that, he strode out of the study, donning his greatcoat on the way out of the house.
Stanhope House, where Lord and Lady Brentworth resided, was across the square from his own London mansion. He was there in less than five minutes.
“Michael!” Gabriel greeted him as he descended the stairs. “What brings you around, old chap? Hannah and I were about to sit down to dinner. Care to join us?”
He shook hands with his friend. “Thank you, but I can’t. I came only to find out if Josephine was, or has been, with Hannah today.”
Gabriel frowned, and like him, he could tell some instinct bred in the military made him alert to the possibility of trouble.
“No, not today. Hannah and I spent all day out. Went to Greenwich with the little one. We only just returned an hour ago.”
Damn it. But she could still be with Abigail. Or one of the other ladies.
“Thank you. Please give my regards to Hannah.” He turned on his heel.
“Wait!” Gabriel called. “What’s going on? Has something happened to Josephine?”
He hesitated, unsure what to say. He had nothing to go on but this nagging feeling that something was amiss.
“I don’t know. My mother saw her this afternoon and she appeared to be well. Lady Rutledge also visited. She was spending time with her grandson, but when she returned, Josephine had left her a very strange note asking her to take Edward to her home. The butler said she went out with a ‘friend’ but we don’t know who that friend is. I was hoping it was Hannah or Abigail. That there would be a perfectly innocent explanation for all this. I’m going to Hartfield House next.”
“I’ll go with you,” Gabriel said instantly.
“You were about to have dinner with your wife. I don’t want to bother you for what is probably nothing…”
“Wait for me. I’m going to tell Hannah. I’ll be back in a second,” Gabriel tossed over his shoulder as he took off at a clip.
They arrived at Hartfield House just as the family was having dinner. Being friends of the family, the butler ushered them to the dining room. Six pairs of eyes turned toward them. And none of them belonged to Josephine.
“Aycliffe, Gabriel,” Hartfield said, standing. “I would ask you to join us for dinner, but I have a feeling this unexpected visit is not a social one. Is something amiss?”
“I’m looking for Josephine. I was hoping that she would be with Abigail.”
