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“Quickly!”
Flinching, the butler threw him a frightened look and scurried off.
“I’ll go and fetch Victoria,” said Amelia, coming in behind Julius.
She had just reached the stairs when Richmond appeared. “What is the meaning of this? What are”—he spied Julius—“what is he doing here?”
“I’ve come to ask Victoria to marry me,” Julius announced. “I’ve made a terrible mistake, Your Grace.”
“We all have, Papa,” cut in Amelia. “Especially me. Victoria is innocent.”
“Innocent?” he whispered, his eyes opening wide. “Do you mean to tell me that—”
“Yes, Your Grace. And I have been a complete fool,” Julius said softly.
The color bled out of Richmond’s face. “The things I said to her…my God, she’ll never forgive me!”
“We must go to her,” said Amelia, tears forming in her eyes.
“We will all go,” answered her father, turning. “Come, Cavendish. She will listen to you.”
“Victoria?” Julius shouted, after his knocks received no answer.
“Victoria, I demand that you open this door immediately,” bellowed her father, beating on the door. “Be reasonable!”
Nothing.
Amelia’s hands went to her mouth. “She’s been so upset—you don’t think she might have…”
Julius planted his shoulder against the door, turned the handle, and shoved with all his might. There was a loud crack as the bolt on the other side split its moorings and gave. He stumbled through, followed by her family.
The bed was still made—save for one pillow out of place. Its pillowcase was missing.
“Her jewelry,” said Amelia, pointing to the empty box on the vanity.
Julius swore. “She’s gone.”
“She asked me to send her to France this morning,” said Richmond. “But that was not to happen until a week hence.”
Amelia began to cry. “We had a terrible argument this morning. She must have decided not to wait.”
“Now, now,” said Richm
ond, patting her shoulder. “She cannot have been gone more than a short while. She might still be on the grounds.” He turned to the crowd that had gathered just outside the door. “I want everyone out looking for her. I don’t care if we have to send the scullery maids out on horseback, I want her found. You”—he pointed to the butler—“organize the men and have them begin looking along the London road. And have someone ask if she’s been seen in the village.”
The servants scattered.
Horseback…“She wouldn’t have gone on foot,” Julius said, turning.
As he strode toward the stables, Charlie ran out, his little face scrunched with worry. He stopped when he saw Julius. “Oh, m’lord. Primero’s just coom back, an—”
“Where is Lady Victoria?”
“That’s just it—she’s not with ’im. ’Is saddle’s on ’im, but no rider. An’ I found these.”
Ice gripped Julius’s innards when he saw the gleaming pile of pearls held in the boy’s grubby hands.
“Oh, my God,” gasped Richmond, taking them from the boy. “What if she’s fallen? Or been accosted?”
