Page 85 of His Duchess' Mischief

They emerged from the stables into the light rain that fell all around them, creating a hazy softness to the world that seemed unreal in the quiet.

As they crossed the lawn, Seth could see the gardeners and workers going about their business and spotted Langham in the distance.

Spurring the horse onward, he saw the man’s surprise as he looked up from where he was digging into the soil.

“Have you seen a white cat this morning, Langham?” Seth asked.

The gardener squinted around the patch he was tending. “No, Your Grac?—”

“She is a kitten, not a cat,” Alicia interrupted. “Quite tiny. You might not have seen her!”

Her voice broke, and Seth’s arm tightened around her waist. He felt a thrill as she leaned into him, her back finally coming to rest against his torso.

Langham bowed to her reverently. “I am familiar with her, Your Grace. She is a feisty, little thing. She often comes into the gardens during the day and knows these parts well. I am sure she is out exploring. If I see her, I will sound the alarm.”

His crooked grin was rather endearing, and Seth felt Alicia relax.

“Thank you, Langham. I would be most grateful.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Have no fear, I shall alert the other gardeners to keep an eye out for her.”

He winked at Seth, who stifled a grunt as they continued on.

He was not overly worried about Dove. She had gotten herself into all sorts of mischief these days, and he suspected they would find her asleep beside a fireplace somewhere in the manor.

Alicia, on the other hand, was wiping her eyes again.

Seth sighed. “We will find her, do not worry.”

“You told me the house was too big for her,” she insisted. “This is my fault. I should never have allowed her to escape my room.”

“Cats like to explore. She would have been unhappy to be cooped up all night. I imagine she is having the time of her life on the estate—all this wide country to explore.”

Alicia looked around frantically as the horse cantered along the gravel path behind the small walled gardens on the east side of the estate.

The clouds were heavy in the sky, and humidity permeated the air, clinging to Seth’s coat and making him hot and uncomfortable.

The drizzling rain was lighter now, and as he looked out over the lake in the distance, he could not help a fond smile. His lands were truly beautiful in any weather. He had seen them covered with snow and baking in the heat of summer.

The idea of coming here and showing them to Alicia throughout the seasons filled him with strange hope.

Perhaps if I can rid myself of the darkness in my past, I can summon a lighter future.

The lake was sparkling before them as they made their way toward it.

“Do you think she might have drowned?” Alicia asked desperately. “Perhaps a carp in the lake has swallowed her whole.”

Seth sighed as she twisted in the saddle and leaped off the horse, walking across the dewy grass to the edge of the lake.

He dismounted, cursing quietly as he tied the horse to a tree branch before following her.

“Alicia, cats hate water. She would not have willingly gone in the lake.”

“What if she fell?”

“She is a sure-footed little thing.”

“Youjust saidthat she is always getting herself into trouble. Stop placating me!”

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