Page 74 of Her Duke Next Door
“I will not rest until she is found.” He looked outward. “I wish to try theSilver Vanityalone.”
However, when they met back up a while later, he had found no traces of Katie. And even the barkeep refused to help him.
“This is why I moved out of the damned city,” he spat as they strode onwards. “Where else does she visit? We have tried everywhere. The gardens, the stables, cafés, the cake shop, her favorite park. We have even tried the bookstore. She knows Eloise enjoys books so it felt fitting to at least try.”
“She shall turn up soon,” Mary told him. “I believe that she will.”
“I made her run away, Mary.”
“No, you did not.”
“How do we know that for sure until she returns to tell me otherwise?”
“Try not to despair, Dominique.”
“Mary, if this was Eloise, you would be hysterical! You understand the protective natures we have over our children, surely? I do not think I am acting irrational.”
His loud voice raised the attention of several people walking by.
“I am sorry,” he said again, as he had several times that night. “I am merely stressed and exhausted. I rode hard to return here and now I cannot find my daughter.” He dropped his head into his hands.
Mary was about to suggest another place to look when she noticed a familiar tumble of dark hair walking past. A tall, broad man walked beside her, the two of them as in love as they had been the day they were wed.
Mary’s heart rose in hope. “Anne! Dear sister.”
Anne paused, looking around to find Mary and Dominique, who rose from the bench.
“Alexander.” He nodded.
“Dominique. How was your journey back? I hope your other meetings with the prospective tenants did not run too long.”
“Not entirely pleasant, I am afraid,” Dominique said. “My daughter has gone missing, so I was not able to meet with every tenant we had hoped to inspire with our lands.”
“Another trip soon, then?”
Dominique glanced at Mary, who was assured by eavesdropping on their conversation about her husband’s delayed return. “I think I shall be holding off on any trips for a while. Perhaps some written correspondence could be sent to me while you and Christian handle the rest.”
“Indeed.” Alexander nodded. “Your daughter has gone missing?”
“Oh, I am terribly sorry,” Anne said in sympathy. “You must both be beside yourselves!”
“We are,” Mary said.
Anne turned to Alexander; her eyes were full of hope. “Could you assist them? Your connections have a great reach.”
Alexander thought about it. “Yes. Yes, I can see what I can dig up on any networks that are not as well-known in the Ton.” He clasped Dominique’s shoulder. “Let me help you, Dominique. I shall use my connections to help you out. But I must ask the hardest thing from you.”
“Anything.”
“Go home and rest. Wait for any news I can provide.”
“I cannot simply sit at home waiting?—”
“It is all you can do,” Alexander said gently. “You both look exhausted. Go home and rest. Katie will need to come back to a healthy, rested family. One where emotions are not running high. You cannot be cross with her when she returns.”
“I will not be cross with her!” Dominique shouted.
But Mary only looked at Anne as if to sayhe would be cross.
