Page 87 of Scandalous Heiress
Victor’s stomach lurched.Richard had come to London after the house party, not to his own home as he’d told everyone he intended.Could he be so hideous as to follow Ada?Stalk her?He had proximity, curse him.His London house faced Green Park.Two houses away.Steps away from Seton House.
He got to his feet.“Did she ever see anyone?Man?Woman?”
Lily shook her head and wiped at new tears.
“My lord?”Victor faced the earl.“May I ask you to summon the police?”
“I’d be at your service, Lord Victor.”
“Freddie, come with me, will you?”He leaned over Lily and took her hand.“I’m down to Ridgemont’s house.”
She pulled back, appalled.“Oh, you don’t possibly think—?”
“I pray not.But God forgive me for saying this, I think his actions yesterday at the earl’s and countess’s tea party inspired rumors that led Carbury tonight to assault his wife.His threats to me there yesterday lead me to question if he might be so…erratic as to do something rash.”
“If he did this—”
He squeezed her hand.
She trembled in her horror.“Papa will kill him.And Pierce—”
He swung toward the earl, his wife and daughter.“Give me ten minutes.I should know by then…but if I don’t return, if I need Freddie to help me, you’ll take care of the duchess and her family.”
He didn’t wait for an answer, but fled the salon and the house, Freddie on his heels.
“Where is he?”Victor demanded of the bleary-eyed butler who’d answered his furious pounding.
“My lord?”The servant stared up at him, harried and confused.
“My brother?”Victor scanned the foyer, the central stairs.The mansion was dark, deserted.“Is he here?”
“No, no, no, sir.Not.”The butler secured the sash of his robe around his middle.
“Where is he then?”
“Out.”The little man drew into himself, intimidated by the menace in Victor’s voice.“He went out with his friend.”
“Tildon?”
“Yes, sir.Lord Tildon.”
Freddie ran up the stairs to the next floor.He thrust open a few doors.“All dark.Not here, Victor.”
“When?”What was the butler’s name?Hell if Victor could remember.“When was he here?Samuels?Samuels, is it?”
“Yes, sir.Yes, Samuels.”
“When did my brother leave the house?”
The man thought a second.“An hour ago?More?”
“Drunk?Sober?”Befuddled by opium?
“Oh, sir.I couldn’t say, sir.”
“What did they say when they left?”
The butler scratched his head.“The first time?”
