Mia shrank back into the corner as the duke rose slowly from his seat. “Hurt me? Do you think I give a damn about myself? You and your husband attempted to kill Miss White. And for that I will see you both hang.”
Mrs. Wells fainted into a lump on the floor. Mia knew she should do something but was unable to move. Sudden fear of the two men overwhelmed her. Thankfully, her mother checked on the younger woman and found hartshorn to waft under her nose.
Mrs. Wells awoke with a jerk. “What happened?”
“We were trying to determine why you and your husband would attempt to kill Miss White,” the duke said in a menacing tone.
“It wasn’t me,” she insisted. She pointed at her husband. “It was all him.”
“Your Grace,” Mr. Wells said, “I didn’t mean to hurt you or Miss White.”
“Oh?” The duke raised a dark brow at him. “Then what was your intention?”
The man had the grace to flush and then stumbled over his words. “We, I just wanted to scare her. I, we just wanted her to know the pain we have suffered. I was hoping this would make her want to leave the estate.”
The duke glared at the man and then grabbed him by the lapels. “Do you think she didn’t feel any pain when your wife lost that child? I found her outside of my house that night, crying in the rain because she was so upset about what had happened.”
“I had no idea, Your Grace. I wasn’t aiming for her or you, Your Grace. I aimed high but the sight is off on my pistol. I would never try to hurt you.”
The duke pulled the man closer. “Where is she?”
The man frowned. “Who? Miss White?”
“Of course, Miss White. She left here this morning and hasn’t been seen again. Did you hurt her?”
“No, Your Grace,” Mr. Wells said quickly. “I ain’t seen her since last night at the ball.”
“Get him out of here, Hart,” the duke said, pushing Mr. Wells away.
“What do you want me to do with them?” Hart asked as he grabbed them both by the arm.
“Escort them off my property.” The duke stared at them both. “And do not ever return.”
They both nodded and as they left Mia finally stepped forward again. “Your Grace, in order to help find her, we might need to know what exactly caused her to leave so suddenly.”
The duke sat back down and stared at his cooling soup. “When she was telling me what had happened with Mrs. Wells, I made a comment about her mother.”
Mia looked at her mother and frowned. “What did you say?”
“I told her that what had happened to Mrs. Wells was no reason to shoot a person. And that I had wanted to kill her mother after I lost my wife and son but had never acted on that thought.”
“Oh, dear God,” Mia said and then slapped a hand over her mouth.
Selina woke the next morning after a fitful night on Tia’s small sofa. Tia had been so happy to see her last evening and had started packing for London immediately. She would leave on the next post this afternoon.
“You’re awake,” Tia said, fumbling with the kettle. “I was just putting on some tea.”
“That sounds lovely.”
“Once you’ve had breakfast, I’ll show you where everything is. Do you want me to introduce you to the tenants?”
Selina rose and folded the blanket. “No. I would prefer to keep my presence here quiet for a short time.”
Tia shrugged. “Very well. Do you want some toast or eggs?”
“I can’t eat this morning.” Her stomach was in knots. She had lain awake half the night wondering if Colin was all right. Then berating herself for caring about a man who could be so cruel.
“I have no appetite either. I can’t believe I’m going to London to find Jonathon.”
Selina took a seat at the small, scratched table. “Do you really think this is a wise idea?”
“Of course it is. That dratted Middleton forced Jonathon to go to town to get away from me. He thinks I’m going to seduce his brother.”
“Isn’t that exactly your plan?”
Tia rolled her eyes. “Not exactly. I hope to ring a proposal out of him first. Then I shall seduce him.”
“Good luck.”
“Thank you!” Tia fluttered around the fireplace and readied the tea. “I just wish you had made this decision a fortnight ago. It may take me some time to find Jonathon in town.”
“You don’t know where to find him?”
Tia laughed. “He is either at the viscount’s town home or at the Albany. Where else would he be?”
Selina rubbed her forehead. Her friend needed to be stopped but she was more stubborn than Mia when she made up her mind. Nothing was going to stop her from going to London. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“Yes, I wrote to one of the former tenants’ daughters. She has a small place with her husband. She will let me stay there until Jonathon proposes.”
That was one saving grace, Selina thought. She sipped her tea and worried again about Colin. It was a little too early to have started a fever. She shook her head, angry with herself for caring.
“So why did you leave, Selina?” Tia blew at her tea and then sipped it.
Selina stared at the steam rising from her cup. Slowly, she told her friend everything that had happened.
“Selina, he was devastated by the loss but it’s been eight years. You said he had changed over the past two months. You have to tell him.”
“I cannot,” she cried. “I can’t look into his eyes and tell him the truth. He shall hate me forever.”
“But you can’t live a lie either. He deserves to know.”
She’d never felt like such a coward in her life. “I know. I just need a few days to think about the best way to tell him.”
“There is no best way,” Tia said softly. “Just tell him. If he loves you like I believe he does, he will forgive you.”
“He should have been told eight years ago.”
“Your mother was protecting you.”
If her mother had really wanted to protect her, she shouldn’t have been too drunk to deliver a baby that night.
Colin rose from his bed determined to return to his home and start his search for Selina. Mrs. Featherstone had given her blessing as long as he remained feverless. Other than his shoulder still giving him pain, he felt fine.
Kate opened the door to his room. “The coach is ready, Colin.”
“Excellent. Any word?”
“Nothing. Mr. Roberts sent Randall over this morning to say there was still no sign of her at the house or her cottage.”
He nodded sharply. “Did you think of any place she might have gone?”
“No, I asked Miss Featherstone again last evening before she left. Did she seem particularly upset by what you’d said? I thought it odd that she appeared so pale after you told her about the exchange between you and Selina.”
“I agree. I will go to Hart’s today and speak with her. I do believe she is withholding information.”
The entire ride home, he stared out the window, praying he would see her walking along the road. But he arrived home with no sign of her. Even though Mia had already checked her cottage, that was the first place he went. Entering the cottage, he found the remnants of that beautiful green gown she’d worn. He picked up a piece and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.
He returned to his house and checked every room. With a house this size, he knew she could be hiding here again. After turning up nothing, he sat down in his study and poured a brandy.
“Did you find anything?” his stepmother asked, walking into the room.
“No, I have no idea where else to look.”
“I am so sorry, Colin.” She walked to the small table and poured herself a glass of brandy.
He had never seen his stepmother drink anything but a glass of wine or sherry. And never at three in the afternoon. “It is not your fault or Kate’s. I know what you were doing. It was the right thing to do. Bringing her to a small country ball would give her the confidence she needed to see that she could marry me.”
“That is what I thought.” The duchess sat down across from him. “She is a lovely young woman, Colin. And I only want to see you happy. Eight years is too long.”
“I know that now, Mother.” It was the first time he had ever called her that. He had been nine and defiant when his father had married her. Colin had refused to call her anything but the duchess or Georgina.
She wiped away a tear. “You will find her, son. I know you will.”
He finished his brandy. “I will find her. I’m heading to Hart’s to speak with Miss Featherstone. I believe she is hiding something from me.”
“Good luck. If she makes an appearance here we shall send word.”
More determined than ever to find her, he headed in the direction of the Featherstones’ cottage. Again, he scanned the woods as he rode hoping for a sign of Selina. He reined in at the cottage and carefully dismounted. His shoulder was still aching.
“Your Grace,” Mrs. Featherstone said, opening the door. “What brings you here? Is your wound bothering you?”
“Only a little. I came to speak with your daughter. Is she at home?”
“She went to help one of the servants.”
“Thank you. I shall ride up to the house, then. Thank you again for caring for me.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
Colin rode up to the main house. After giving his horse to a stableboy, he was welcomed inside.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” the butler said with a bow. “I shall tell his lordship that you are here to see him.”
“Actually, I came to speak with Miss Featherstone. Her mother told me I would find her here.”
“I’m sorry, Your Grace, but she left about ten minutes ago. She said she had a few more visits to make.”
Damn.
He didn’t feel like returning to Mrs. Featherstone’s cottage to wait for her. That older woman had a stare that would frighten any man.
“Shall I tell his lordship you are here?”
“Yes.” Perhaps a bit of brandy with Hart would ease his frustration.
The butler sent a footman to search out Hart while Colin waited in his study. He poured two snifters of brandy and set one on a table for his friend. Then he walked to the window and stared out at the overcast day.
He prayed she was all right. The more time that passed, the more he worried some harm may have befallen her. He’d never forgive himself if that were true because of some foolish words he’d spoken in front of her.
“Any word?”
Colin shook his head. “No. I actually came to speak with Miss Featherstone.”
“She left only a few minutes ago.”
“I know.”
Colin sipped his brandy and let the heady liquid wash over his tongue. Maybe getting completely sodden would ease his mind. He doubted even that would help.
“Where the hell is she, Hart?”
“I wish I knew.” Hart sat down and drained his glass in one large gulp. “Is there any possibility she went to London?”
“She once told me she had no desire to leave the countryside for the ills she would see in town. I just can’t imagine she’d run there.” Even still, he would contact a Bow Street runner tomorrow to start searching.
Hart placed his glass back on the table. “I asked Miss Featherstone about Selina’s family and she told me Selina had never met her father’s family. Mrs. Featherstone admitted the man married down. He was the second son of a squire in Suffolk.”
“How can I find her when I have no way of knowing where she might be?”
“You might not be able to, North. She might be out of your life forever.”
Colin clenched his fists. He would not stop searching for her until he found her. As the evening wore on, the men continued to drink until they were so deep in their cups, Colin knew he would be spending the night.
Mia awoke the next morning feeling sick to her stomach. It just wasn’t like Selina to leave without a note to her. She slowly sipped her tea while her mother paid a visit to a sick tenant.
A knock scraped the door. “Come in.”
One of Middleton’s tenants opened the door. “Good morning, Miss Featherstone. I have a message from Miss Tia for your mother.”
“Thank you,” she said and reached for the message. “Would you like some tea?”
“Thank you, no. I am off to the village.” He bobbed his head. “Good day.”
Mia glanced at the missive and decided to open it in case Tia needed assistance with a delivery. Scanning the note, she muttered, “Stupid girl.”
Then she read more and raced out of the house. She lifted up her skirts and ran up the hill toward Hart’s stables. She had to get to the duke’s home as fast as possible. The earl wouldn’t mind if she took one of his fastest horses to deliver this message.
“What are you about this morning, Miss Featherstone?”
She slowed down and breathed in deeply. She shouldn’t be surprised to see him at the stables. He was always an early riser. “My lord, I need to borrow your mare.”
“Is there a problem with your horse?”
“She’s too slow. I know where Selina went. The duke needs to hear about this.”
Hart’s face relaxed and his molded lips lifted. “Then there is no need for a horse. He is in my house probably still abed.”
“He’s here?”
“Yes. Most likely with a raging headache like I have this morning.” He laughed gruffly.
“I will give you something for it.” She followed his quick stride, barely able to keep up without breaking into a run. Obviously, his headache was not as bad as he stated.
Hart ran ahead and into the house. Just as she arrived, she heard him tell a footman to wake the duke immediately. “Come with me. We shall wait for him in the library.”
Mia walked down the marble-floored corridor to the library. She had only been in here a few times but loved the pale blue walls and shelves filled with books.
“So where is she?” he asked after the tea arrived for all of them.
“She went to my sister’s house. I must have arrived before Selina did so Tia hadn’t seen her at that point.” She stared down at the letter in her hands and fought back tears.
“What is wrong, Miss Featherstone?”
“She’s gone,” she whispered.
“Miss White is gone?”
She shook her head. “No, Tia. She decided to chase after the viscount’s brother. She went to London. I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again.”
“I’m sorry, Mia,” he whispered.
“What is going on?” the duke asked as he entered the room. “Why the hell am I up at his hour?”
Mia smiled at the grumpy man. “Your Grace, we have found her.”
“What? Where?”
“She is at my sister’s house.”
“Thank God,” he said and raced from the room without even saying good-bye.
Selina spent her morning in her new home organizing the shelf near the fireplace so she could find what she needed. She then checked Tia’s herbs and found her supply lacking many basic items. She created a list of things she either would need to buy or forage for in the woods.
But none of the busy work kept her from thinking about Colin. She still worried that a fever may have set in. Perhaps he was lying in bed right now . . . dying. Oh, God, she couldn’t think like that. She had to stop before she went mad.
Tia was right. At some point, she would have to face him and tell him the truth.