Page 73 of Finding Hope
“Moreover, where have they taken Miss Whitford? She is not in her chamber and was to wait for me here. Make enquiries as quickly as possible. Check all of the doors and send Mrs. Watson to me immediately.”
“Yes, my lord,” he said and hurried away in as much of a panic as Rotham had ever seen him. It was good that he understood.
The Whitford sisters rushed into the hall, and Lady Westwood was with them. “Is Hope not here?” She was pale and looked alarmed. “But she was waiting for you specifically.”
“It is as I feared. Someone has either kidnapped her or lured her away under false pretences,” Max all but shouted, nearly pulling his hair out in his anguish.
Westwood arrived with Gus, Carew, Montford, Cunningham, Stuart, and Fielding. They looked ready to hunt. Quickly, Max explained his fears without fully implicating the Duchess. There would be time enough later for that. Now, the most important thing was finding Hope before any harm came to her.
“I think we need to do this methodically. She cannot have been gone more than an hour, at the most,” Westwood reasoned aloud.
“I would say, not even above half an hour,” Lady Westwood added. “I went to her room and stayed with her while she dressed.”
“At least that limits how far they might have gone.”
“I do not think we should waste time searching the house, but for the sake of thoroughness, I would ask you ladies to take that task under the direction of Mrs. Watson.” He turned to the Dowager. “My lady, if you would discreetly gather the rest of the party and help account for them while we conduct a search? I would ask Courtenay and Lady Diana to assist you.”
Max began to pace about as he thought frantically. “Where do you think she could have been taken?”
“Perhaps it would save time to put the dogs on the scent?” Gus suggested.
“An excellent idea,” Max agreed. “Two are in the Duke’s chambers as we speak.”
Lady Westwood entered Hope’s rooms and returned with some items for the dogs to smell as Mrs. Watson arrived and led the ladies away to search within the house. Meanwhile, Max racked his brain for places the Duchess could have taken Hope. “Let us remove to the study where the maps are,” he said and led the way as the others followed.
“I will fetch the dogs from Father and meet you there,” Gus said.
“Tell the grooms to prepare to search as well,” Max ordered as they parted.
When they reached the study, Gilford was there, waiting with two of the footmen.
“My lord, this is Jack and James. They have something to tell you.”
The two young men, with barely eighteen years if Max had to guess, looked terrified.
“You may speak freely. Miss Whitford could be in danger. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lord,” they answered.
“Tell his lordship what you told me,” Gilford ordered impatiently.
“Tommy and John offered to take our post this morning.”
“Is that all? Did you see or hear anything untoward?”
“I saw Tommy leading Miss Whitford towards the ducal apartments,” Jack said.
“You are certain of that?” Max asked.
“Ain’t nothing else that way, my lord.”
He was correct. Max nodded. “If that is all you can tell me, then you will be best employed assisting with the search.”
“There is one more thing, my lord,” James said. “It may not be related, but I seen the Duchess speaking with Tommy and passing him notes.”
“You have done well in telling me, lad.”
“Also, my lord, no one has left the house by any of the outer doors,” Gilford added.
