Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alice had tossed and turned during the few hours of sleep she’d managed to snatch. Finally, the rain forced her out of bed. She had woken with a stuffy head, aches in places that had never ached before, and a crotchety temperament that boded well for no one.
She’d given her innocence to Jamie and asked for nothing in return, not that he’d offered anything.
Which was what they both wanted. The problem was that when his hands had held her, and his kisses had caressed her body, she had hoped for a brief moment that they could have more, and that had been a dangerous thing for two people who had vowed never to love.
“What a mess,” Alice muttered as she sat on the side of her bed.
But she’d never regret what happened last night.
She’d asked him to show her what could be between a man and a woman, and he’d done that with tenderness and passion.
But she was not foolish enough to think what they experienced had been commonplace.
Alice had once read a book that had the words, their souls had touched, and laughed.
She was not laughing now. In fact, she felt desperate and off-balance.
Jamie had taken her to a place she’d never thought to go before.
He’d made love to her as if she was important to him—well, she thought he had—but perhaps he did that with all the women he’d slept with.
The thought annoyed her enough to pick up one of her pillows and hurl it across the room.
What has become of me?
She prided herself on being strong, and yet right then she was not. He’d done this to her. Jamie had made her feel and made her think about a future he didn’t want. You don’t want it either!
God’s blood, Alice, get yourself together!
When Maggie arrived, she called for a tub and bathed, forcing herself to smile when a staff member came close.
“That look would scare rodents,” Maggie said, holding out a drying cloth. “What has you out of sorts this morning?”
“Nothing, I’m just weary, and I loathe the rain, as you know. How is Lord Stafford this morning?”
“No one has gone to him yet, because his lordship needs sleep to heal. Perhaps you could check on him after you’re dressed, my lady, and call me to come and look over his injuries?”
She nodded, but said nothing further. Jamie’s skin would be warm when he woke, she was sure of it. Last night it had felt—
No, don’t go there, Alice. You wanted a single experience with a man, and you got it. Now focus on being who you’ve always been. She could do that, had been doing that for years. Hide what was really going on inside her head behind a cool, emotionless facade.
She dressed in soft lilac, one of her favorite colors. A light-gray shawl rested over her shoulders, and after Maggie had threaded a lilac ribbon through her simple bun, Alice finally felt ready to face Jamie.
As she walked down the hall, she focused on her breathing, slow and steady. At his door, she paused and tapped softly before pushing it open.
The bed was empty.
Her gaze swept the room, searching, hoping, but he was gone. Sometime during the few hours she’d slept, he had left.
Alice sank onto the edge of the bed, the truth hitting harder than she expected. She hadn’t realized how much she’d wanted to see him this morning until now. Foolish woman. Because in that instant, she understood that she’d never felt like this before.
“Dear God,” Alice whispered, voice trembling. “Is it possible that what I’m feeling is love?”
With a shaky sigh, she let herself fall back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Surely not.
She spent a few minutes composing herself before leaving the room.
Alice then made her way downstairs to the front door.
Opening it, she looked up and down the street as sheets of rain fell.
If Jamie had walked, he would be soaked in minutes.
Surely he must have taken a hackney considering the condition he was in.
When had he left?
Alice was about to shut the door when she saw someone running down the street toward the townhouse. As they drew closer, she noted it was Bobby. Did that boy never sleep?
When he noticed her, his pace increased, and seconds later he was beside her on the doorstep, dripping wet. A single look at his face told her something was very wrong.
“What has happened, Bobby?”
“Lord St-Stafford,” he wheezed. “I saw him leave and followed. Th-they got him before I could reach them.”
Icy cold fear slithered its tendrils through Alice.
“Who got him, Bobby?”
“Men. They snuck up behind him and placed a cloth over his mouth. He fought, and then stopped, and they threw him into a carriage. I recognized one of them. He was the same man who helped hurt Lord Stafford last night.”
“No!”
“Yes. I tried to follow, but they were moving too quick,” Bobby said, his face pale. “I ran down lanes, but they were always out of my reach, and then they were gone.”
“What’s amiss?” Ezra said the words from behind Alice. “Why are you wet, boy?”
“I ran in the rain,” Bobby said.
“Well, get to the kitchens and dry yourself. I’m sure there will be something warm for your belly too.”
“Ain’t no time,” Bobby said, not moving. But he was shivering now from the cold.
“Do you need my assistance, my lady?” Phipps asked, appearing next.
Numbing fear was crippling her. Not Jamie. Please don’t hurt him anymore.
“Lady Alice, what is wrong!” The boom of her footman’s voice snapped her out of it.
Her butler gasped, horrified.
“C-carriage, we need it at once, Ezra.”
“Why?”
“Go with Ezra to get the carriage, please, Bobby,” Alice said, taking off her shawl and wrapping it around the boy. “Tell him what is going on. I need to collect some things, but be as quick as you can. There is no time to lose, as Lord Stafford is in danger.”
“Phipps, tell my aunt when she rises. I have to leave, and I will return as soon as I can.”
“Of course, my lady. Do you need anything else?”
“Food. Please pack a hamper as quickly as you can,” Alice said, knowing she’d be hungry soon. Not much put her off her appetite, and she knew that Ezra had a large stomach that was always empty too.
Alice ran as Ezra and Bobby sprinted to the stables in the rain, the ends of her shawl flapping behind the boy as he moved.
In seconds she was in her room, pulling out a cloak.
After fastening it around her neck, she collected gloves and changed her footwear for sturdy boots.
All the while, her mind was whirling. What should she do?
Lords Hamilton and Corbyn. Yes, she’d need to find them; they would help. They would know how to find Jamie surely?
Plan made, she went to her desk. Unlocking a drawer, Alice took out money and a pistol. She then hurried back out of the room and downstairs to wait.
“Alice, what is going on?” Her aunt was in the entrance way.
“I need to go out, Aunt Gwen, and I’m n-not sure how long I will be.”
Thankfully, her aunt had slept through last night’s commotion, and Alice had hoped she’d not learned about it, but now she wasn’t so sure. Her aunt had a very determined expression on her face as she approached.
“Where are you going, Alice? It is pouring with rain out there.”
She felt the tears then. Last night’s events combined with today’s were clearly taking their toll on Alice.
“A-Aunt Gwen.” She stepped into the open arms and let them wrap around her briefly. Her aunt’s familiar scent settled her.
“Tell me what is going on, Alice. I am stronger than I look, you know. Now speak to me. I’ve felt like you’ve been hiding things from me.” Her aunt eased back, gripping her arms.
“I need to go and help find Lord Stafford, Aunt. You see, he and I have been searching for someone, and that someone has now kidnapped him.” Alice held up a hand when her aunt opened her mouth to speak. “I will tell you the whole of it, I promise, but I must do this first.”
“I’m worried for you, Alice.”
“I know, but I promise I will be all right. But what I need you to help me with is the address of either Lord Hamilton or Lord Corbyn’s townhouse, Aunt Gwen.”
She was subjected to a long, studied look, and then her aunt told her the address of Lord and Lady Hamilton.
“Thank you.” Alice pressed a kiss to one soft, sweet-smelling cheek. “And I promise to tell you everything when I return. No more secrets.”
“I shall hold you to that, child. But first I wish to know one thing before you leave.”
“What’s that? Alice asked as she heard carriage wheels outside, rolling through the rain.
“Is Lord Stafford important to you because you care for him very much, Alice?”
Shock held her motionless. “Wh-why would you ask me that, Aunt Gwen?”
“Something Agatha told me had me wondering.”
“Ah, well, as to that—” the door behind her opened much to her relief, and Ezra stepped inside, shaking himself like a large dog.
“The carriage is ready, my lady,” he said. Then bowed deeply to Aunt Gwen, who all the staff adored. “I will take a moment to retrieve my coat, and one for the boy.”
The slap of Ezra’s wet boots had him running to the servants’ quarters.
“I will return and we will talk about everything, Aunt.” Alice kissed her cheek. “I really must go.”
“Bring him home safely, my dear, and then you and I are going to talk,” Aunt Gwen said.
Alice raised a hand and ran out the door to where Bobby stood, still wrapped in her shawl.
“If you wish to stay, then I understand,” she said. The boy had already done so much for her.
“I will come, as you’ll need me.” The solemn words made her want to weep.
“Right then, where is it we’re going?” Ezra said, arriving in his heavy coat with a hamper in his hands. He put that inside the carriage and then handed Bobby the coat he had across his arms.
Alice gave him the address to Lord Hamilton’s house, and he helped her climb inside. Bobby climbed up beside Ezra, now dressed in a huge coat that dwarfed him.
“Stay strong, Jamie. We are coming,” Alice whispered as the carriage started rolling and rain battered the windows.
She worked through several plans, as was her wont to do when things needed resolving, and she needed something—other than the gripping fear over what Jamie was enduring—to keep her mind busy.
The carriage rolled to a halt minutes later, and she hurried to open the door and step down, straight into an ankle-deep puddle.
Shaking her booted foot, she began to walk up to the front door.
Raising the large lion’s head knocker, she banged it down twice.
It opened and there stood a tall, bald, immaculately clad butler.
“I wish to speak with Lord Hamilton at once. It is extremely urgent. My name is Lady Alice Smythe.”
The butler bowed and stepped aside to let Alice enter out of the rain. He then bade her to follow him into a small parlor.
Alice paced the room, seeing but not really noticing the elegant legged furniture and gold paper on the walls.
God, Jamie. She should have told him—what? That she cared for him, that she loved him? No, that would have sent him running, as it would have had he said it to her.
How did Jamie feel about her?
The sound of running feet had her looking to the door. Lord Hamilton appeared in his shirtsleeves.
“Lady Alice, what has happened? Dibley told me that it was extremely urgent.”
“Lord Stafford,” Alice added quickly. “He has been taken.”
“Taken?” The gentle smile he’d entered with disappeared, and in its place was a look so fierce Alice nearly took a step back. Nearly, but not quite.
“Abducted. Please allow me to explain, my lord.”
He gave her one curt nod. “However, if, as you say, my friend has been taken against his will, there is not a moment to lose. Dibley!” he then bellowed.
The servant appeared in the doorway. “You called, my lord?”
“Send word at once to Lord Corbyn to come here, and make sure he’s armed.”
“At once.” The butler left, not appearing overly concerned by the order.
“Before you continue, Lady Alice, are you unharmed?”
“Yes, I am, but Lord Stafford is not.” Lord Hamilton’s lips tightened over that comment.
“Continue,” he said.
“It’s my fault he was hurt,” Alice whispered. Until then, she’d not really acknowledged that. He’d come to find her last night and ended up hurt.
“Tell me everything, my lady, because I know my friend, and know that it’s very doubtful anything that happened to Jamie was your fault.”
She did, leaving nothing out, the words pouring out of her. Alice felt relief that she had someone to share her fear and concern with. He would help her get Jamie back—he had to.