Page 75 of Her Daring Earl
“Yes, as a matter of fact, that is exactly what I was going to do.”
“If you see a threat, tell our escort,” Henrietta said, pointing to the detective who had accompanied them and was now leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, not exactly blending in, in Eliza’s opinion.
“Very well,” Eliza grumbled, looking up to find Fitz, only to discover to her horror that while she and Henrietta had been talking, he had disappeared.
And so had the woman who had been watching him.
“He’s gone!” Eliza exclaimed.
“Who is gone?” Dot asked, her eyes still on Lord Mandrake.
“Fitz!” Eliza said, annoyed as she felt that Lord Mandrake could wait. Fitz was the one currently in danger. “Where did he go?”
She stood and turned to their escort. “Mr. Mouse, we must find Fitz.”
He shook his head, looking troubled as he pushed himself away from the wall. “Call me Mouse. That is not my job. I am here to protect you. This place is full of men on the watch for him. I’m sure he hasn’t gotten far.”
“Do you think he was taken to the private room?” Eliza asked Henrietta, who seemed to be the only reliable one among them. Sloane’s eyes were hooded as she continued to gaze about the room.
“We must assume this is all part of the plan,” Henrietta said, although her overly optimistic attitude was not much help at the moment.
“I am sorry, Hen, but we must assume the worst and hope for the best. We have to find this room.” She looked to Dot and Sloane. “Why do the two of you not stay here and keep an eye out for him in case he returns?”
“Lady Fitzroy, I cannot allow you to separate from one another,” Mouse said, looking pained.
“Not to worry, I will be with them.”
Eliza turned at the familiar voice and nearly sagged in relief to find Levi standing there. “Oh, Your Grace, I am so happy to see you. Where is Fitz?”
“I am trying to determine that myself,” he said in a gravelly voice. “But first, please tell me you did not bring my wife along with you.”
“I did not,” Eliza said, despite the momentary pang of guilt at knowing what Siena would think at being left behind. “I didn’t want to put her at risk, not in her condition.”
“A condition in which you find yourself as well?” he said, quirking his eyebrow.
“Fair point. But this is my husband we are talking about. I could hardly sit at home and?—”
“Allow men who do this professionally to take care of it?”
“Exactly,” she beamed before remembering how dire their situation was. “But we can concern ourselves with that later. We must worry about Fitz now. Did he go to one of the back rooms?”
“Yes, but Archibald is with him.”
“Who accompanied them?”
“Madeline.”
Eliza narrowed her eyes. “I don’t trust her.”
“Lady Fitzroy, I understand, but?—”
“It is not the history,” Eliza said firmly, shaking her head. “Call it women’s intuition. Something is amiss. I am certain of it. I hope I am wrong, but I cannot take that chance.”
Levi sighed. “Very well. Come with me.”
Eliza and Henrietta followed him along the side of the dark corridor, Henrietta hiking up her dress, which threatened to fall below her bosom.
Eliza’s breasts were pushed up far higher and plumper than ever before, her pregnancy helping them up.
