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Baldwin nodded. “My thoughts precisely.”
A knock came at the door.
“Enter,” Baldwin ordered.
The door opened, and his butler stepped into the room. “I am sorry to disturb you, milord. But a Mrs. Foster would like a moment of your time.”
“Mrs. Foster, you say?” he asked, wondering why Miss Dowding’s companion was here to call on him.
“Yes, and she says that it is most urgent,” Pratt asserted.
Leaning forward, he placed his drink on the table in front of him and rose. “Send her in.”
Pratt tipped his head and departed from the room, leaving the door open.
“Why do you suppose Miss Dowding’s companion is calling on you?” Oliver asked with a puzzled look on his face.
“I was just asking myself that very same question,” Baldwin muttered.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long. Mrs. Foster rushed into the study, her eyes frantically seeking him out.
“Whatever is the matter?” Baldwin asked as he hurried over to her.
Mrs. Foster placed a hand up to her forehead. “I’m sorry for barging in on you at this late hour, but I didn’t know where else to go.”
Baldwin placed a hand on her sleeve and led her towards an upholstered chair. “Why don’t you start by telling me what is wrong?”
After she was situated, Mrs. Foster looked up at him and asked, “May I have something to drink?”
“Yes, I can get you some tea,” Baldwin suggested. “That should help calm your nerves.”
Mrs. Foster shook her head. “I need something much stronger than that,” she replied. “Do you have any brandy?”
Baldwin blinked in surprise. “Yes, I do have brandy.” He walked over to the drink cart and poured a glass, then walked back and handed it to her.
“Thank you, my lord,” Mrs. Foster said as she accepted the glass with a shaky hand.
Pulling a chair closer to her, Baldwin sat down. “Can you tell me what is wrong?”
“It’s about Miss Dowding,” Mrs. Foster said hesitantly, “she’s gone missing.”
Baldwin could feel the air rushing out of his lungs at her stunning announcement. But in the next moment, he grew solemn and alert, knowing he had to keep all of his wits about him. He knew he needed to find out as much as he could about Miss Dowding’s disappearance, and quickly.
“I want you to start from the beginning,” Baldwin ordered, his eyes never straying from hers.
Mrs. Foster took a sip of her drink. “We went to the orphanage to look for any clues about Miss Hardy’s disappearance, but we didn’t find anything. Not that I thought we would,” she rambled. “I told Miss Dowding that but—”
“I need you to focus, Mrs. Foster,” Baldwin said, speaking over her.
Mrs. Foster gave him a repentant smile. “My apologies,” she replied. “I tend to ramble on when I get nervous.”
“There is no reason to be nervous here,” Baldwin assured her.
Mrs. Foster glanced over his shoulder, and he followed her gaze. Corbyn and Oliver were both standing there with stern looks on their faces.
Turning his attention back towards Mrs. Foster, Baldwin remarked, “Don’t concern yourself with them. They will be able to aid in the search for Miss Dowding.”
Mrs. Foster nodded. “As I was saying, we didn’t find anything in Miss Hardy’s room, so I thought Madalene would benefit from some tea. But, when I returned from preparing the tea, Madalene was gone.”
