Page 114 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
‘Do you know where she is? I wish to speak to her.’
Startled, she stared at him.
Xavier reined in his impatience. He did not want to scare the poor lady out of her wits. He wanted answers.
Miss Lowell adjusted her shawl as if trying to decide what to tell him. ‘She went to a house party in Greenwich, with her brother-in-law, the Count of Lipsweiger and Upsal. I do not know when she will return. She planned to stay the night.’ The words came out in a breathless rush.
He frowned. After all the Count had said about his widowed sister-in-law and the way he had participated in her ruin, why had the man taken her off to Greenwich?
‘A house party?’
‘At the home of a— Hmm… Let me think. It was not someone I know, but Barbara was determined to attend. The strange thing is, no one else I have spoken to seemed to have received an invitation. I wondered if I had made a mistake letting her go. Her father will be very annoyed if so.’
He could not imagine this frail little spinster being able to stop Barbara doing anything once her mind was made up.
No one could.
‘Can you recall who it was?’ Was he mad? Did he think to follow her like some mooncalf? Just because he had the strange sensation that something wasn’t right. Simply to make sure she was safe.
It would be an idiotic thing to do. The sort of thing his father had done. And the sort of thing that had got his father killed.
But the thought of doing nothing, of leaving Barbara to her own devices, was untenable.
For once he had a strong feeling of sympathy for his father, if the man had felt half as strongly about his wife as Xavier did about Barbara.
It was a madness he couldn’t seem to quell.
‘I am trying to think, Your Grace.’
Xavier bit back his impatience. ‘Take your time.’
The carriage pulled to a halt and Charles opened the door.
When she got out, Barbara was surprised there weren’t any carriages in the imposing circle infront of the house.
There was a light at the front door, but it seemed rather too quiet. And no one came out to meet them.
‘Are we here on the right day?’ she asked.
Charles took her arm. ‘I think perhaps we are a little early.’
It was past nine, but then some parties did not start until eleven. She tried to recall the time on the invitation.
‘I hope Lady Wells isn’t put out, if so.’
‘It will be fine,’ Charles said cheerfully, urging her forward with a little more enthusiasm than was warranted.
They marched up to the front door and a footman opened it.
He did not seem surprised to see them.
‘Send a man out for our bags,’ Charles said.
‘Yes, my lord. Her Ladyship said to bring you to the yellow drawing room.’
He led the way down a long corridor to the back of the house.
Well, at least they were expected.
