Page 34 of The Rakehell's Seduction
He struggled to sit up and realized he was still in his clothes from the night before. Why hadn’t he changed? Had Alex come to his room and he’d passed out and missed seeing her? He couldn’t remember a damned thing.
“Mr. Worthing!” The voice came again.
He tripped as he tried to get out of the bed. It took him a moment to realize Vaughn’s bed was empty. Then he reached the door and opened it, his head still pounding.
“Mr. Worthing?” Perdita was dressed and watching him with shocked wide eyes.
“I…Miss Darby, what’s the matter?” He tried to collect his scattered thoughts.
“It’s Alex. She’s missing. I thought perhaps…she might be with you.” Miss Darby glanced around the room, and he couldn’t help but wonder how much Perdita knew about him and Alex. “Where is Lord Darlington?” she asked suddenly.
The fog in his head was beginning to clear, and one thought jumped out and clubbed him soundly.
Vaughn and Alex were missing.
“I haven’t seen Lord Darlington since last night. Mr. Worthing, you look quite unwell. Are you all right?” Perdita touched his cheek and he flinched. Last night he and Vaughn had been talking, sharing old memories over a bottle of brandy…
“Bloody hell, the bastard drugged me!”
“What?” Perdita gasped. “Why?”
“To get to Alex when I couldn’t protect her. Christ, we’re in trouble, Perdita.” He stumbled out of his room carrying his coat as he rushed to Lord Rockford’s room. He pounded on the door until the earl opened it, his brows raised.
“Worthing? What the devil…”
“My lord, we have a situation.” He hesitated, feeling Perdita behind him. “It seems Lord Darlington has abducted your daughter.”
“What?” The earl’s face drained of color.
“My lord.” Perdita slipped past him and took the earl’s arm. “Why don’t you sit down?”
“Good idea,” Rockford murmured in a daze as he collapsed into a chair. “Now.” He looked up at Ambrose. “Tell me everything you know.”
Ambrose took a deep breath and told Alex’s father everything about the betting books, except the part where he had agreed to seduce Alex. He was lying to her father about part of this, and it made his stomach roll with nausea. Blood drained from Lord Rockford’s face as he listened to Ambrose, and his hands shook so hard he fisted them on his thighs as he sat facing Ambrose. Perdita stood behind the earl, her face a mask, hiding all emotion, which confirmed Ambrose’s suspicions that she knew more about him and Alex than he’d first thought.
“So you came to Lothbrook to protect my daughter from those damned rakehells at White’s?”
“Yes.” It was true, even if he had to omit the part that he was seducing her as part of her protection.
“Lord, what are we to do?” Rockford’s face suddenly seemed ancient with grief and worry.
“I will go after them. I believe Vaughn took her back to London. You must escort Miss Darby to London and take the coach. I will ride ahead on horseback. If I find her, I’ll bring her to your townhouse, where Lady Rockford should be able to receive us until you arrive.”
The earl stared at him, worry and hope colliding in his eyes, eyes that reminded Ambrose too much of Alex. He dared not think of how frightened she must be. If Vaughn so much as touched her, Ambrose vowed to run him through, their old friendship be damned.
“I suppose that’s our only option, isn’t it?” Lord Rockford said.
“I believe so, my lord.”
“Godspeed,” the earl said and held out his hand. Ambrose clasped it firmly, making a silent vow that he would find Alex and bring her safely home.
He left Rockford and Perdita to finish packing as he rushed down to the stables to hire out the best-looking horse he could find. It was still a sorry nag that he ended up with, but he had no choice. He kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks as he raced down the road that would take him to London. He guessed Vaughn would take Alex to his townhouse on Duke Street, but he must have some idea of how to conduct the public ruination, and that worried Ambrose more.
I’m coming for you, Alex, I swear to you.
*****
Two hours later, Ambrose slid off his horse and shoved his reins at a weary groom as he raced up the stairs to Vaughn’s townhouse and pounded a balled fist on the door. He’d had a long time to think and to worry, and he’d realized something. He had to save Alex at any cost because he cared about her, cared enough that he was afraid he was falling in love with her. If he couldn’t save her reputation from public ruination, he’d never forgive himself, and she’d have to endure society’s judgment. And it would be all his fault. He was not going to let that happen to the woman he loved.
