Page 51 of To Win a Viscount's Heart
“I heard screaming…” Connery began. Before he could finish his sentence, Lady Fleur ran up to them.
“I heard the alarm and came running to help. Please let me help,” Selena’s mother cried out.
“Where is Selena?” Gerald demanded. A stark fear coursed through his body and his heart threatened to burst in his chest.
“She’s been visiting Diana and the babies in the mornings,” Lady Fleur said, her eyes wide and filled with fear.
“Is my wife inside with the children?”
“Yes, I just came from there they are safe with Lady Bellecoat, but I came out to see if I could help.”
“My lord, my lord,” Anna called out, running up to them. “Selena came out early this morning to feed Azure. She had Dutch with her… Dutch has been sleeping by her bed every night, since you left, milord. He followed her everywhere.”
“She went out with Dutch, and no one saw her?” he questioned. “No one was with her?”
“No, milord. I suggested she take a footman with her…” Anna began and stopped. Squaring her shoulders, the petite woman said stoically, “No, milord. I let her go without an escort. I am so sorry, I failed Miss Selena.”
“It’s all right Anna. It’s not your fault. She had Dutch with her and thought she would be fine, and he valiantly tried to save her.”
The young maid nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks.
A sob escaped Lady Fleur and she turned to Connery. “Oh, Angus, my daughter is missing. What can we do?”
“Gerald will find her and bring her home,” he said. “Everything will be fine, I promise.”
Paul ran up behind Gerald and tugged on his shirt. “Mister Gerald? Can we help? I’ve toted water before,” he said. “Kat and me…we want to help.”
“Who is this?” Connery asked, nodding at the children.
“We found them at Rose Point, hiding. Their mother left them…It’s a long story. We can sort it later.”
“I’ll take Dutch inside and tend to his wounds as best I can before Baker arrives. Fleur come with me, and we can help these children get out of harm’s way. I’ll be back as soon as I get the children settled,” Connery said. “Anna, you can help us.” Anna nodded and she rushed forward. Banbury handed Kat, who was sound asleep to Anna as Fleur took Paul’s hand. Connery, Lady Fleur, and Anna rushed toward the house, with Dutch and the children.
Gerald took a steadying breath as he realized Selena was truly missing. There was no longer a question. Vern and Grom had her and there was no telling what was happening to her at this very minute. Several days ago, when he turned around to wave goodbye, minutes before he rode away, he knew from her expression that she was begging him to stay. At this minute, he wished he had. I’m so sorry, Selena.I’m going to find you, nomatter where you are. I promise with all my heart.I’m not going to lose you.
Gerald’s father and Ben rushed out just as he and Banbury were nearing the stable. Wright had already rushed inside.
“Ben was there when it happened,” Gerald’s father said, panting from the exertion. “Ben, tell my son what you know.”
“You were in the stable when this happened?” Without waiting for a reaction, he pressed. “What did you see?”
“I saw Miss Selena, she was with Dutch visiting with Azure. I had some work to do at the other end of the stable. But as I was working, someone came up behind me and hit me, milord. When I came to, I saw that Selena and Azure were gone and Dutch was lying in a pool of blood. I found Azure running around outside the stable in a frenzy. When I was able to secure Azure, this was what I found on the ground next to him. The older man withdrew a delicate, white shawl from his coat pocket and handed it to Gerald. “I think he took your new mare. It’s the only horse that’s missing.”
Taking the shawl, Gerald swallowed past the large lump in his throat. All he could think about was that his dear, beautiful Selena was in that vile man’s hands, fighting off God knows what. “Thank you for the information.”
“Son, do you know where he might have taken her?”
“I have a theory—” Sudden shouts came from the barn. Wright and Banbury were dragging someone out. The man appeared to be unconscious. Gerald ran up to the men, followed by his father and Ben. The unconscious man was a giant. “Who is he?” Gerald rasped, trying to slow down his racing heart.
“It’s Grom,” a stranger’s voice said from behind them.
Gerald spun around to behold a tall, dark-haired man striding toward them, flanked by two men on each side.
“Who the hell are you?” he demanded.
“I’m Percival Bowles.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before Wright said, “I’m glad you’re not dead, my friend.”
