Page 62 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“Your bravery was outstanding, and I thank you for leading the flock to the dance floor,” he told her. “You would make a fine duchess … and …”
Before the duke could finish his words, a commotion carried through to them from the main hallway. A woman could be heard screaming in distress, but Alice couldn’t make out what she was saying. Her first thought was that it might be Lady Davina acting out with her usual melodrama as a way to stop the dance. But as the music stopped, she recognised Betsy’s voice.
Letting go of the duke’s hands, Alice turned to rush to the hallway, realising that the nursemaid was in distress.
The duke grabbed her hand before she could leave him. “What is it Alice?” he asked with concern. “Do you know who it is?”
“It’s Nanny,” she answered, shaking his hand loose so she could leave. “I have to go,” she explained and ran off, forgetting she was in disguise. Her only thoughts were of the children, had something happened?
“Oh, Miss Alice!” Betsy called over to her as they met in the hallway. “They’re gone; the little ones are gone from their beds.”
Alice looked on in horror as tears ran down Betsy’s cheeks. The poor woman was shaking uncontrollably, almost buckling at the knees as Alice went to hold her up.
“Calm down, Betsy,” Alice managed as she whisked off her mask and threw it to the floor. “And tell me exactly what has happened.”
The duke was quick to arrive at her side, lending her courage for what she was about to hear, which she knew couldn’t be good.
“S … someone has taken them, Miss Alice,” Betsy sobbed. “They’ve taken the children from their beds.”
Betsy could barely stand up straight with her hysteria, so Alice held her, leading her to a chair.
The duke had disappeared, but Alice didn’t have time to wonder about it. Then, moments later, he returned.
“Here, Betsy, take a sip of this brandy; it will help to calm you,” he instructed the nursemaid.
“Did you hear what Betsy said, Lord Phillip?” Alice asked, trying to stave off her own panic. “It is the children; they are gone from their beds.”
“Yes, I’ve sent stewards up there to check on them. Come with me, Miss Alice,” he said pulling her away from Nanny, now being cared for by the housekeeper. “We must go upstairs and investigate. I want to see if there may be any clues as to who has done this.”
Alice followed his lead, right behind him as they climbed the staircase at speed. She was now beginning to feel the panic increase in her mind but forced herself to focus only on finding the children.
Upon entering the children’s bedchamber, everything appeared quite normal. Other than the beds being empty and their little bodies gone. Alice gasped in shock; even though she expected to see the empty beds, it was hard to understand how anyone would wish to harm such small children.
“I … I do not understand,” she cried out, leaning against the duke for support.
He took her in his arms, uncaring who observed them. “Who, Phillip? Who could do this?”
As she spoke the words, she started to feel light-headed, and the room began spinning.
“Come with me, Alice, and sit yourself down,” the duke said, but his words were distant.
She could see his lips moving, yet she heard nothing.
“Please, please don’t let any harm come to them,” she called out, not sure the words were coming from her mouth either, so confused was she.
A strong arm took her by the waist, but it was too late; her vision blurred, and she lost all sense of reality. Alice felt her knees give way, and her body began to fall; she was falling … falling … and the world was spinning around her. Blackness engulfed her vision as she spun into oblivion. Alice’s mind finally came to rest, even if only for a small moment in time.
Chapter 32
Phillip rushed to scoop Miss Alice up in his arms and went to lay her on Lady Beatrice’s empty bed. Pulling up a chair, he sat, waiting for her to come around. He could only guess that the shock had been too much for her, and she’d fainted.
“Poor Alice, so much happened this night … Ah, William,” he called over to the butler, who arrived in the room. “We need to bring the ball to a close. Can you kindly arrange for the guests to leave?”
“Yes, Lord Phillip, so you know about Miss Alice’s disguise then?” William asked, worried the duke might punish her for impersonating a lady at the ball.
“There is no time for that now,” Phillip replied, with a smile of fondness in his mind at how wonderful it had been to dance with her. Miss Alice whimpered, and her eyes flickered as she started to come around.
“I need the guests all gone so we can organise a search party for the children. Now go, man, and do my bidding!” His last instruction was said with harshness, but there was no time to delay; he needed the guests to leave.
