Page 76 of The Best of Friends
“What about the maid who accompanied her?” Duke pressed.
Tobias shook his head. “She never asked for a maid, and no one saw her leave, but she isn’t at home.”
Colm, for the first time since Toss had made his acquaintance, held himself with the fierce rigidity of a soldier. When he spoke, it was with the authority of one who had led many into battle. “Charlie and Fennel, go to Lampton House and discreetly inquire as to whether the dowager countess has heard from Daria. Tobias and I will return to his parents’ home and ascertain what is being done there. Toss and Duke, you two go to Miss Martinette’s and confer with the Huntresses. Determine what they know, if they know of places we ought to be looking and things we ought to be doing.”
Quick as that, they had tasks and focus. But Toss’s mind was growing increasingly ill at ease. Just trying to take in a breath was proving difficult. Where was Daria? How could they possibly find her in a place so large as London?
It was possible she was simply walking about the green near her home or curled up in the corner of the garden and hadn’t been noticed or that she had arrived at the dress shop after all and they would soon discover all was well. He hoped they would discover her in one of those scenarios. He tried to believe they would, but he didn’t entirely.
Oh, Daria. Where are you?
The others left to fulfill their assignments.
Toss held Duke back. “I think there’s someone else we ought to ask for help.”
“If word of her disappearance becomes widely known, it will deal tremendous damage to Daria’s reputation,” Duke warned.
“I know this person’s discretion can be counted on. And he has resources we could only dream of.”
Though he clearly didn’t know who Toss was speaking of, Duke agreed without further hesitation, and the two of them made their way to His Grace’s book room. Charlie’s brother-in-law had allowed Toss to practice his pianoforte after Laurence had sold theirs. And he hadn’t batted an eye when Toss had arrived on their doorstep that morning looking for a temporary place to stay. He would help now; Toss knew he would.
Both the duke and duchess were in the book room, and both looked up as he stepped inside.
“Please forgive the interruption,” Toss said. “A friend of ours—of Artemis’s—is missing, and we have come to ask if you might be willing to assist us in searching for her. Obviously, we have to be discreet, but there are so few of us, and London is so large a place...” He shook his head as the words trailed away. His heart demanded that he not finish the thought.
What if something had happened to Daria? What if she was in danger? Injured? Had been abducted?
The duke and duchess exchanged a quick glance. Toss truly hadn’t expected hesitation. The duke’s reputation was terrifying, yes, but Toss had heard stories enough from Charlie and Artemis to know that His Grace was usually the first to come to the aid of the vulnerable. And the duchess was known for her kind and compassionate nature.
“Please,” Toss beseeched. “She might be in danger or injured somewhere. London is too large a place for us to search alone.”
Another look passed between the couple, then Her Grace stood and excused herself, leaving the room without explanation.
“I assure you,” His Grace said, “we are not ignoring your pleas on behalf of a young lady in need, just as we did not ignore your pleas on your own behalf this morning. The situation is simply more complicated than you realize.”
“But you will help?” Toss pressed.
“Of course.” Why was it that even when His Grace was agreeing to help a person, that person still felt oddly threatened?
But Toss would endure all the threats in the world if it meant finding Daria faster. If she were in danger, time was of the essence.
How long would they be made to wait? Without knowing the entanglement that needed to be addressed, there was no way for Toss to predict the delay.
Dropping his voice a bit lower, Duke said, “I will go consult with the Huntresses. Join us, or send word when you are able.”
Toss gave a quick nod and, in a flash, was alone with His Grace. He didn’t fear his admittedly fearsome host, but he also knew not to try the man’s patience. Thus, he stood still and silent, waiting for the help he prayed he was soon to receiveand resisting the urge to pace.
She needs me, and I’m failing her.
It felt nearly impossible to stand still, doing nothing. His mind was certainly not calm. He tried mentally tracing the path she likely would have taken to the dress shop, making note of the various places she might have stopped. They needed to discover for certain whether she had attempted to make the journey on foot, as that changed the possibilities.
The duchess returned. Staring down a lady was not precisely smiled upon in Society, but Toss watched her closely and unblinkingly, needing to know what help was at his fingertips.
“Please, come with me.” Her Grace motioned him toward the corridor.
He opened his mouth to object to further delays, but the duke, who, unbeknownst to Toss, had risen from his seat and already crossed the room, set a firm hand on his shoulder. “Trust her, Mr. Comstock.”
What choice did he have, really?
