Page 84 of The Mister I Married

Because she doesn’t want to.

Because she does not wish to be happy here.

She’d practically said as much, hadn’t she?

And there was nothing he could do about it. If she were truly unhappy here, he would attempt to work out why, and once he had his answer, he would do all he could to rectify the matter.

But if she didn’t want to be happy…

Well, there wasn’t much he could do about that, was there?

“Alex?”

He looked at his sister.

“Give her time,” she said, her tone soft, her small smile encouraging. “If you are patient, I know she will come ‘round.”

Emmy’s brother had said much the same. Be patient. He nodded. “I hope you’re right. I—”

A throat cleared, interrupting his words, and he and Tess turned in tandem to find Dottie standing in the doorway, visibly agitated.

“Begging your pardon, sir, for the interruption, but I…” She trailed off, wringing her hands.

“What is it, Dottie?” Tess asked in a tone intended to soothe.

“It’s your father, miss. He—he isn’t in his bedchamber and I…I cannot find him anywhere.”

Tess frowned. “Did you check the gallery? Or the green salon?”

Dottie nodded. “Yes, miss. I’ve checked every room I’ve ever found him in.”

“Have you seen Mr. Whitcomb at all today?” Alex asked her, concern knotting his stomach, though he swiftly tamped it down. It was too early to be concerned.

“No, sir.” She shook her head, her brown eyes round with alarm.

Alex looked to his sister, but she also shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since last night,” she said. “At dinner.”

It was the same for him, too. Their father had been quieter than usual ever since Emmy’s departure yesterday, but not so much as to cause any worry.

“He’s probably napping in some corner of the house,” Alex said, as much for himself as for the two worried-looking ladies. “Come. He can’t be far. We will find him.”