Page 64 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“Mother.”

“I didn’t say anything. We spoke at breakfast, and I don’t even recall what the topic was. Just pleasantries. Nothing about marriage.”

Reese didn’t know if he believed that for it seemed to be the only thing the woman could talk about of late. Still, he didn’t think Harlow would leave because his mother pressured her about marriage. Lo was made of sterner stuff than that.

She wouldn’t be reckless enough to set off on foot, no matter how mad she may have been. Which meant she didn’t leave.

“If she didn’t leave, she is still on the grounds.”

“Unless someone took her,” his mother mentioned with genuine worry.

Reese wasn’t one for mathematics but even he knew the odds of Harlow being kidnapped twice in shy of two months was unlikely. Merrick didn’t know she was at his home. He probably thought her dead. Which means he wouldn’t have come looking for her.

Reese would start with the most rational place she could be. In the garden. As he descended the stairs, his stomach twisted with worry. The fact that Harlow hadn’t returned to the house by now meant she wasn’t able to. Which meant she was injured, or…

He shook his head. He’d not allow that thought to take root. He was going to find her and she would be fine. She had to be.

Yet even as he headed down the main corridor, he knew it was not a good sign that Belle had returned alone.

Stopping in the study he saw the dog lying in front of the unlit hearth. As if waiting for him. Her head picked up when he entered the room.

“She’s been worrying by the door, but every time we leave her out she runs for the steps to the beach and then comes right back.” Finch shrugged.

Reese cocked his head, knowing his dog was bright and knew not to go down to the beach without him.

“Was Belle wet when she showed up at the kitchen?” Reese asked the butler, having had an idea.

“Aye. I guess she was. She must have been down…” He turned to Reese with wide eyes. “Ye don’t think the lass went down to the beach by herself, do you? We’ve not checked there. She’s never gone down there without you.”

Reese cut through the drawing room to the terrace. He crossed the lawn to the stone steps that led down to the beach. It was too dark now to see down to the shore but he knew the tide would be coming in. He recalled seeing her lying on the sand with the waves crashing around her legs and worried he’d find her in the same state as before. Or worse.

Taking a lantern from Finch, he started carefully down the steps. He paused at the third landing where the stairs turned, for the banister was missing.

His heart nearly came out of his throat to see the splintered wood. If she’d fallen from here she would have surely landed on the large boulders strewn across that part of the beach.

“Oh, dear,” Finch said.

“Harlow!” Reese shouted. His stomach twisted when the only answer to his call was the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. He set the lantern down so he could cup his hands around his mouth and yelled again. “Harlow!”

He tilted his head, listening. He thought he heard her voice, but wasn’t sure if in his worry, he’d imagined it.

He went down another flight of stairs and called, “Harlow!”

Please answer, he begged. But there was no response.