AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I wish I could help you,” Lady Danbury said, “but I do have guests. Perhaps you would like to conduct a search on your own. There cannot be more than five or six rooms where you are likely to find it. And the servants know you have free rein of the house.”
Elizabeth straightened and nodded. She’d been dismissed. “I’ll go look right now.”
Suddenly the man standing next to Lady Danbury jumped forward. “I’d be happy to assist.”
“But you can’t leave,” one of the ladies whined.
Elizabeth watched the tableau with interest. It was clear why the ladies had been so interested in remaining at Lady D’s side.
“Dunford,” Lady Danbury barked, “I was just telling you about my audience with the Russian countess.”
“Oh, I’ve met her already,” he said with a wicked grin.
Elizabeth’s mouth fell open. She’d never met anyone who couldn’t be cowed into submission by Lady Danbury. And that smile—good God, she’d never seen anything like it. This man had clearly broken many hearts.
“Besides,” he continued, “I rather fancy a good treasure hunt.”
Lady Danbury frowned. “I suppose I had better introduce you, then. Mr. Dunford, this is my companion, Miss Hotchkiss. And these two ladies are Miss and Mrs. Corbishley.”
Dunford looped his arm through Elizabeth’s. “Excellent. I’m sure we shall find that errant notebook in no time.”
“You really needn’t—”
“Nonsense. I cannot resist a damsel in distress.”
“It’s hardly distress,” Miss Corbishley said in a waspish voice. “She lost her notebook, for goodness’ sake.”
But Dunford had already whisked Elizabeth away, through the terrace doors and into the house.
Lady Danbury frowned.
Miss Corbishley glared at the terrace doors as if she were trying to set the house on fire.
Mrs. Corbishley, who rarely saw reason to hold her tongue, said, “I’d dismiss that woman, were I you. She’s far too forward.”
Lady Danbury fixed her with a scathing glance. “And on what do you base that assumption?”
“Why, just look at the way—”
“I have known Miss Hotchkiss longer than I have known you, Mrs. Corbishley.”
“Yes,” she replied, the corners of her mouth pinching in a most unattractive manner, “but I am a Corbishley. You know my people.”
“Yes,” Lady Danbury snapped, “and I never liked your people. Hand me my cane.”
Mrs. Corbishley was too shocked to comply, but her daughter had the presence of mind to grab the cane and thrust it into Lady Danbury’s hands.
“Well, I never!” Mrs. Corbishley sputtered.
Thump! Lady Danbury rose to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Miss Corbishley asked.
When Lady Danbury answered, her voice sounded distracted. “I have to talk with someone. I have to talk with someone right away.”
And then she hobbled off, moving faster than she had in years.
“You do realize,” Mr. Dunford said, “that I shall be in your debt until the day I die?”
