“Marigold!” Edward swept into the young lady.
“Oh, Your Grace…” Marigold did not appear nearly so elated to see him. “You’re here.”
“Celestine,” he asked without preamble. “Is she here tonight? Did she come?”
“She…” Marigold hesitated. “Yes, she is here.”
Edward exhaled again. “Where is she? I need to speak with her.” Again, Marigold hesitated. “Please, Marigold. I have made a terrible mistake and Celestine must know it. I am not here tohurt her. I do not wish to upset your sister. All I want is a chance to explain to her that I –” He caught his tongue. “Please…”
Marigold considered further and it looked as if she might still deny his request. But then her eyes fell on Millicent, a frown passed her brow, and she sighed deeply as if in defeat.
“I saw her five minutes ago,” Marigold explained. “She said that she needed air, so I assume that she is headed into the back garden.”
Edward nodded and turned, searching above the crowds until he found the back door which led into the garden. There were no lights outside, as it was not a part of the ball. But he pictured Celestine there, alone, likely wondering why she had come.
And maybe praying that I would come for her…
“The garden?” A woman’s voice spoke up from just over Marigold’s shoulder. “I was just there.”
Edward looked past Marigold to who had spoken. He did not recognize the woman, but that made little difference. “Did you see my wife? Her Grace?”
“No…” The woman pursed her lips. “I did pas Lord Grundon on the way back inside, however. Perhaps he knows where she is?”
Edward’s face paled and his stomach dropped through the floor.
He had been so concerned about Lord Grundon’s vendetta against him as it concerned Millicent that he had not once considered that Celestine might be in danger. A foolish mistake, because Lord Grundon did not care who he hurt or who he used, so long as the final blow was felt by Edward.
And if Celestine was outside… if Lord Grundon found her alone…
“Go,” Millicent said and let go of his hand. “I will only slow you down.”
“Are you sure?”
“Go!” she cried and pointed across the ballroom. “Hurry!”
“Is something wrong with Celestine?” Marigold asked. “What is going on?”
Edward did not remain to explain to Marigold what was happening. Rather, he turned and he rushed across the ballroom as if his life depended on it… no, as if Celestine’s life did, because that was far more important.
“Move… out of the way…” He growled as he dodged through the masses. “Move!”
It was slow going, Edward was forced to push and shove. He caused a scene, in fact, happily knocking people to the ground as he raced forward. This had some crying out, many calling hisname, but he did not slow down or look back. Nothing would stop him.
Edward stumbled into the back garden and came to a stop.
It was a moonless night, casting the garden in near darkness. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the bushes, the hedges, down the winding pathways. The garden was twice the size of the one on his estate, dozens of places that Celestine might be.
Heart racing, panic rising, Edward was about to call her name when he heard something… voices… spoken in hushed whispers.
He couldn’t hear what was being said but it made no difference. Those voices could only belong to two people, so he turned toward them and ran.
As he ran, the voices grew louder, and a second later saw him burst around a large hedge where he found exactly what he had been looking for. A moment of joy when he saw Celestine… turned to fear and then rage when he spotted Lord Grundon.
Celestine had her back against a stone balustrade while Lord Grundon stood in front of her, close, cutting her off and penning her in so that she had nowhere to run. Edward started in surprise, he saw the terror in his wife’s eyes, and he heard the fury in Lord Grundon’s voice.
“… I am done playing games,” Lord Grundon seethed. “And if you will not do as I ask, you will rue the day that –”
“Lord Grundon!” Edward roared and strode ahead. “Step away from my wife!”
