Page 119 of The Trouble with Tigers
He was gone.
Heart racing, he jammed both hands into his hair and stalked the hallway. Why? Why would they leave and take Kitty? Surely they didn’t plan to harm her. Not Hastings at any rate.
He could not lose her. Especially after last night.
“Think, damn it,” he growled to himself, and started for the stairwell.
Lillian said she’d heard Hastings demanding Kitty do something for him. Something she mustn’t tell a soul. And now he, Kitty, and James were gone.
Pounding footsteps sounded in the corridor. He looked to see Caden and Randall charging in his direction
“Zeke, what is it?” his brother demanded.
“Kitty’s gone. They’ve taken her.”
“What do you mean, Kitty’s gone?” Caden asked.
“And who’s they?” Randall added.
Zeke shoved past them.
“Where are you going?” Caden demanded.
“To the stables. I want to know when they left, and where in hell they’re going.”
“We’re coming with you,” Randall said.
“Suit yourself.”
Zeke cut a swatch through the servants’ wing and kitchens, the most expeditious means of reaching the stables.
One of the stable lads greeted him. “My lord? May I saddle a horse for you? Oh, there’s several of you here.”
“Where’s George?” Zeke asked, not bothering with the niceties.
The young groomsman’s eyes went wide with alarm. “I’ll fetch him.”
But George was already coming their way, wiping his hands on a towel. “My lords, what might I do for you? I understood only the viscount and Mr Thurgood would be leaving this afternoon.”
“My fiancé,” Zeke snarled.
George’s salt and pepper hair riffled in the wind as his gaze flicked between Zeke, Caden and Randall. “Are you asking about the party what went out this morning?”
Zeke rolled his shoulders, interlaced his fingers, cracked his knuckles.
Caden stepped forward, positioning himself between Zeke and the head groom. “Precisely, George.”
Anxiety tightened George’s features. “Is there something wrong? I only did what was asked of me.”
“Just tell us of their departure,” Caden said.
George nodded. “I got word last night to prepare Lord Hastings’ barouche for an early morning departure, and have it waiting at the carriage house, by the front gate.”
“How early?” Zeke ground out. He was incapable of pushing full sentences past his lips. His insides felt like he’d swallowed broken glass.
George cleared his throat.“They were here at the break of dawn. Roughly five hours ago, I’d say.”
Caden Frowned at Zeke. “Up at the gate house, eh? Explains why no one heard anything.”
