Page 13 of When Dashing Met Danger

Lucia’s head shot up, and she bit her cheek to keep from exclaiming. Her father eyed her narrowly. “The details are not important, but approximately a fortnight ago, it was brought to my attention that, though he has been gone for almost two months, the boy hasn’t made a withdrawal from his bank account, and that’s not at all like him.”

Lucia felt a frozen finger of fear glide along each bump and ridge of her spinal column. “John?” she blurted out, forgetting her intention to stay quiet. “He hasn’t withdrawn any money in two months? Father, do you think something’s happened to him?”

John had left for the Grand Tour in March, and though she hadn’t received any letters from him, her brother was such a bad correspondent that she’d not been concerned. Until now.

“Calm down, Lucy. I know you two are close, but there is a reasonable explanation. It just needs looking into.”

Lucia almost rolled her eyes. He sounded as though he were giving one of his speeches in the House of Lords. “I’m not upset, just concerned.” She kept her voice level. “When did you last hear from John?”

Her father cleared his throat and loosened his crooked cravat again. “I haven’t.”

“You haven’t?” Lucia stared at her father. “Why haven’t you said anything sooner?”

“Lucy—” The warning in her father’s voice was unmistakable. She sat back, clamping her lips shut, but now her heart was racing.

Ethan spoke up. “Your father asked me to make inquiries, Lucia. I contacted several friends in Greece, and the information I received indicates that Mr. Dashing never arrived.”

Francesca clutched his arm, and Ethan gave her a reassuring look. “He has not been seen in Athens or any of the other major cities, and there are no records of him at any of the hotels.”

Lucia’s mind was racing. “Perhaps he decided to start his trip in one of the smaller villages or”—she waved a hand, trying to focus her thoughts—“he might have stopped at one of the islands.”

Ethan shook his head. “I considered that, and when I investigated further I learned that John never even booked passage to Greece.”

“What do you mean?” Lucia sat forward.

“It means that wherever your brother is,” Selbourne said from his station at the fireplace, “he’s not in Greece. Lord Brigham—” He turned his attention to her father. “Ethan told me that before Dashing left he withdrew two hundred pounds from his account with the intent of withdrawing more once he reached the Continent. When exactly did he leave?”

“The end of March,” Ethan answered. “Right after you returned to England.”

Her father nodded, smoking his pipe. Lucia dug her toes into the carpet. She felt like screaming at his casual attitude. She had a hundred questions. Why did they need to plow through what they already knew?

“So as far as you know, Dashing hasn’t withdrawn any additional funds since March?” Selbourne asked.

“We’ve gone over this already,” Lucia interrupted. “Have you—”

Her father frowned at her, and she had to bite her tongue to hold it. They were wasting time!

“It’s unlikely that a man of Mr. Dashing’s habits could meet his needs for any extended period of time with a mere two hundred pounds.”

“Yes, this is all very informative,” Lucia interrupted, unable to stop herself. “But I think we should—”

“Franny, take your sister upstairs. She’s become far too agitated,” her father ordered.

“Father, I’m not agitated.” Lucia tried to keep the frustration out of her voice. “And I’m not going upstairs. This is John we’re discussing—John, my twin brother.”

“I’m well aware of that,” her father said. “And Selbourne is merely trying to ascertain the facts of the situation.”

“But this has nothing to do with him.” She dismissed him with a flick of her wrist.

“Lucia,” Francesca chided.

“I asked my brother to help,” Ethan said. “Alex has lived on the Continent off and on and has extensive contacts. Your father agreed that his experience might prove helpful.”

Lucia huffed. Right. If the rake wasn’t distracted by the low cut of some trollop’s gown first. “Very well,” Lucia conceded reluctantly. “Where on the Continent should we start searching?”

Selbourne frowned at her. “I am going to start the search here in London.”

Ethan nodded, but Francesca and her father erupted into a barrage of questions. Lucia gaped at Selbourne. Had the man’s wits been warped by too much exposure to women’s perfume?

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