Page 60 of Cinderella's Charade With the Duke
She nibbled her lip.
‘Trust me,’ he said and then winced. ‘Poor choice of words, perhaps, but I promise I will not let you fall.’
She said nothing, but set her boot in the stirrup, gripped his hand and allowed herself to be lifted. She settled in front of him, trying hard to maintain some distance between their bodies. Even still, she could feel the heat off his form and a delicious desire budded up in her against her will.
Curses.
He sighed. ‘As much as you must detest me, you must tuck into my body as we ride. It is safer that way,’ he explained. ‘And less strain on the horse.’
She cringed and closed her eyes.Focus on Millie.
She said nothing, but settled back against him. His arm slid around her waist and pulled her gently and more firmly against him. Her body was aflame with want.
He cursed aloud from the contact. ‘It will be a long ride,’ he murmured. Although she shouldn’t have been pleased, she felt some comfort in their shared agony.
They rode in silence for several minutes. The wind and the beginning of a soft mist of rain helped cool her desire and clarify her thoughts.
‘When did you last see her, Your Grace?’ she asked, trying to sound as formal as possible.
‘Before you left with Eddie. Mrs Chisholm said she was most distressed to see you leave. She left Millie’s room to get some milk and biscuits after she finally fell asleep. When she returned, Millie had vanished.’
‘I am so sorry. I didn’t know how it would upset her, but I should have,’ Hattie replied. She should have known. She had been Millie once.
‘Nor did I. Truth be told, I was in my own grief. Too distracted to think of anything or anyone else. It was my fault. I should have known. This happened before…’
Of course. Hattie knew the answer, but asked the question anyway. ‘When your wife died?’
There was a weighty pause before he answered, ‘Yes.’
‘And when she disappeared then? Where did you find her?’
‘She was in her mother’s room, cuddled in her closet.’ He paused, clearing his throat before beginning again. ‘She was snuggled in with her gowns. I think she missed the smell of her.’
Hattie’s chest tightened. She pressed her lips together and gathered herself before responding. ‘I did something very similar when my mother died. I wrapped myself in her favourite blanket, desperate to have her back.’
His hold around her tightened. Whether it was intentional or instinctive didn’t matter. She was grateful for the immediate comfort it brought. It didn’t matter that she was still heartbroken and angry about how he’d treated her earlier in the day. It felt as though a lifetime had passed since then.
‘I think you had become a mother to her in the time you were with us. I should have realised your departure would bring all that loss back up to the surface.’
‘So should I, Your Grace. Let us each forgive ourselves for now and focus on finding her. Agreed?’ she offered, pressing her forearm over his and threading her fingers through the hand that held her so firmly about the waist.
‘Agreed,’ he whispered against her ear. She closed her eyes, leaned into him and they travelled in silence. Soon there was only the wind on her face, the rhythmic rise and fall of their bodies against the saddle as the horse moved, and the pounding of hooves against the dirt. Minutes passed and finally the Manor came into view. They travelled up the drive quickly and Eddie rushed from the stables to receive them.
His smile was genuine and warm. ‘My lady, pleased to see you back to help in the search.’ His smile flattened as he greeted William. ‘Still no sight of her, Your Grace, but we are all looking. Lady Buchanan has also returned with more assistance.’ He nodded towards the small search party of gentlemen gathered around her with maps in hand.
Daphne turned and paused. After excusing herself from the gentlemen, she rushed over to greet Hattie and William. ‘Thank goodness you are both here. We are about to split up and set out in pairs.’
‘Thank you for returning with more help, Cousin,’ William said, clutching her hands in his own and kissing her cheek. ‘I must check in with Simmons.’ He nodded to Hattie and left.
‘What can I do?’ Hattie asked her. ‘Just tell me and I will do it,’ she pleaded. All these people and still they could not find Millie? Fear threaded through Hattie’s veins and she thought she might scream.
‘Where do you believe she has gone?’ Daphne asked her. ‘You know her in a way we cannot.’
Hattie scanned the grounds, the Manor and stables. Her gaze continued past all of it to the gardens and the lake. She shrugged.
‘I would hazard the lake, but William told me they had searched there first, thinking just the same, but she wasn’t found.’
‘Perhaps she did not wish to be found.’ Daphne clutched Hattie’s hands. Her eyes watered. ‘My hope is that if she sees you or hears you, she will allow herself to be seen.’
