Dotty increased her pace and reached the front door a second before it opened. “Parkin, do you know where the town coach is going?”
“Miss Henrietta took it a while ago to go rescue a child.”
There must be an injured child in the house. “Where is the child?”
“There is no child.” Parkin shook his head, as if he did not understand. “Miss Henrietta has not returned.”
None of this was making any sense at all. “But where was the town coach going in such a hurry?”
“I have no idea, my lady. Would you like me to send a messenger to Phoenix House?”
“Yes. That would be the best thing to do.” Dotty hoped nothing had happened to her sister. But if it had, surely she would have been brought here. “Thank you for thinking of it.”
Parkin bowed. “You are welcome, my lady.”
* * *
Dotty was finishing the luncheon tray she had had brought to her in the parlor when Dom strolled in and fixed her with a hard look. “You have been weeping.”
“I did for a while. However, I will be fine.” She wondered what he knew about the contretemps. “Henrietta and I spoke.”
“Loudly, from what I hear.” He lifted a blond brow.
“I believe we became quite loud at times.” Dotty bit her lip. “After that Henrietta left to rescue a child, but she has not returned home.”
“The messenger was reporting to Parkin when I arrived,” Dom commented calmly.
She hated when she had to pull information from him. It was always when he did not wish to upset her. “What is wrong? Where is Henrietta?”
“She is at Fotherby House with him,” Dom said.
Dotty could not believe what he had said. “She would not go there. It is not proper.” Pushing herself back from the table, she rose. “I am going to get her. She must come home now.”
“Thea, please sit down. There is something you should know.” Dom rarely spoke to her in such a firm tone.
“What?” She found herself sitting again. “What has happened?”
He sat in the chair across from her, planting his elbows on the table. “First, tell me what was said in your conversation with her.”
Dotty twisted the glass of porter she still had not finished. “The long and short of it was that when I forbade her to marry Fotherby, she informed me that she already had permission to wed him. I told her if she did, I would not have anything to do with her. That was when she announced she would move to Exeter House and left the parlor. I did not know she went to rescue a child until I returned from taking Vivi for a walk.”
“Fotherby was called upon to assist as well. He suffered an injury to his head. Henrietta is nursing him.”
“You went to Fotherby House?”
Dom nodded. “I did.”
“Have you forgiven him?” Dotty forced herself to breathe.
He leaned back in the chair and touched his fingertips together. “When he abducted you I was furious. If you had wanted it, I would gladly have sent him to India or the Antipodes. But you did not wish me to do that. By giving him to his mother to discipline, you gave him a second chance.” Dotty shifted in her chair, suddenly uncomfortable with the conversation. “You know I spoke with him.” She nodded. “I also fought with him at Jackson’s.”
“Men.” She closed her eyes. “Why is it that men can have a fight and all is well?”
Dom shrugged one shoulder. “I have no idea. But back to the matter at hand.” He sat up again and leaned his arms on the table. “You were the one who gave him a second chance. An opportunity to better himself. You should know that your actions succeeded beyond what I ever thought could happen. I’ve known the man most of my life and never thought he could change as he has.” He caught her eyes with his. “My love, you should be proud of the results. What I do not understand is why you are angrier now than after the event occurred.”
“I do not know.” Dom was right. Ever since she learned he might be in Town, she had become angrier with Fotherby than she ever had been before. “I am going to see Grace.”
“I’ll be here when you return.” Dom came around the table and drew her into his arms. “I love you. If you still want me to try to stop Henrietta from marrying Fotherby, I will find a way to do it.”
