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“He did not say.” Lady Radley assisted Charlotte into the carriage for the drive to the park. “Good day, Miss Drake.”
Louisa stood there with her mouth agape as the carriage rolled away. She had always known that Lady Radley disliked her, but the woman was insufferable today. With a determined stride, Louisa headed for the door where Jenkins stood watching her.
“Jenkins, can you please tell me where His Grace has gone?”
For once, the older man’s face softened. “I am sorry, miss. I cannot.” He leaned slightly closer and whispered, “Lady Radley has informed all the servants that they will be let go if we should give out any information on the duke’s whereabouts to anyone.”
Her shoulders sagged under the weight of disappointment. “Thank you, Jenkins. You have been most kind.”
“It is a fine day to go to Hell, is not, Miss Drake? There is always a great deal to learn there.”
She smiled at the butler, surprised he would disobey Lady Radley. “Thank you, Jenkins.”
As she walked home, she wondered how she could meet with Simon Kingsley. His gaming hell was in a decent section of town but one that even she would never dare go to alone. She supposed her only option was t
o write to him and pray he replied quickly.
Entering the house, she thought of a way to accomplish her mission without writing. “Emma, is Mamma at home?”
Emma looked up from her sketch of roses in a vase. “No, she and Lady Huntley went to pay a call on Mrs. Amberley.”
“Did she take the carriage?”
“No, they went in Lady Huntley’s. Why all the questions, Louisa?” Emma put her pencil down and tilted her head.
“I need your help with something,” Louisa whispered. “But we must do this in secret and tell no one where we are going.”
Her sister sat up straight, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Where are we going?”
“To Hell,” Louisa whispered.
“To where?”
“A gaming hell owned by Mr. Kingsley. It is imperative that I speak with him today.”
Emma’s face scrunched. “I do not like that man, Louisa.”
Louisa knelt by her sister and clasped her hands. “I understand, Emma. I need to go with someone. I shall do all the talking. You can stand in the back by the door. Please do this for me. Normally, I would ask Tessa but with her being with ch—”
“I will do it!” Emma rose and then smiled. “I never thought you would include me in any of your adventures. I still long to know where you went on Christmas Day. I am quite certain you didn’t go to aunt’s house as Mamma told everyone.”
“Do this for me, and I will tell you all about my trip on the drive back home.”
“Very well. I shall call for the carriage.” Emma started toward the door and then stopped. “But Louisa, what if the driver tells Mamma where we went?”
“Once I have my answer from Mr. Kingsley, it won’t matter.” Because she had no intention of being here to listen to Mamma’s screeching.
Louisa went upstairs and threw a small amount of clothing into a valise. With Emma now on her side, Louisa felt confident that nothing could go wrong. She raced back downstairs to where Emma stood with her bonnet in her hand.
“Why do you need a valise?”
“I just do. Now, please hurry,” Louisa said with a bright smile. Hopefully, in an hour, she would be on her way to find Harry.
Once they had situated themselves in the carriage, Emma asked softly, “Does this have anything to do with the duke?”
Louisa nodded. “I am taking your advice, Emma. You told me to tell him how I felt. I cannot do that if I have no idea where he is.”
Emma’s eyes lit. “You mean to run off to him.”
