Chapter Sixteen #2
Hell, if he were honest with himself, after their dance, he would probably spirit her away, bring her home, and then fall into bed with her so he could claim her body and chart her tempting curves.
With a frown, he looked about the room but didn’t immediately see her. Perhaps she’d stepped out to a ladies’ retiring room. After he’d lingered about the perimeter and watched two sets in succession, she still hadn’t returned, worry went through his gut.
Where the devil is she?
Surely, she hadn’t decided to leave without him. Was she feeling ill? He needed answers, so when he caught sight of her friend Lady Catherine, he immediately made his way through the crowded room. When he reached her location near the double doors, he stepped in front of her.
“Lady Catherine?” At her nod, he quickly continued.
“Captain Buckthorne. A pleasure to meet you.” He was rushing the introduction, of course, but he was a bit frantic.
“Have you seen Hannah recently? She promised me a dance, but I can’t find her, and she hasn’t made an appearance in this room since I went to speak with your brother. ”
“Oh, after she and I exchanged gossip, I went to greet a couple of other friends.” A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. She smoothed a gloved hand down the front of her gown in a marigold-hued silk. “I assumed she’d gone to the retiring room for a bit of quiet.”
“That was my assumption too. Will you go downstairs and check for me?”
“Yes, of course.” With a nod, she dashed out of the drawing room.
While she was gone, Foxcroft sauntered over to him.
“What seems to be the issue? I tried to speak with my sister, but she refused to pause long enough to give me even a few words.”
At that point, worry knotted his gut as he scanned the crowded drawing room once more. “I sent her to check the retiring room for Hannah.”
“Is she missing?”
“God, I hope not.” His frown deepened when Lady Catherine returned, alone. “Was she down there.”
“No.” She shook her head. A tendril of blonde hair tumbled from its pins to bounce about her shoulder. “I didn’t see her anywhere, so I asked the butler if she’d requested her outer things in preparation for leaving. He said he hadn’t seen her.”
“Damn.” Evan glanced at Foxcroft as panic began to build within in chest. “Lady Catherine, can you think of where she might have gone? As I said, she had promised me a dance.” Had she lied to him?
The woman shook her head. Worry reflected in her eyes. “I don’t. I hadn’t seen her for a couple of days, but we had a good gab tonight to catch up on things.”
He nodded. “Did she tell you about anything that’s been bothering her lately?” God, was it him? Had she lost patience with him due to his high-handedness or his intention to claim the title from his half-brother? Thank goodness he hadn’t told her about the duel, which loomed soon.
“No.” The lady shook her head. With a glance at her brother, she shrugged.
“In fact, Hannah has been surprisingly happier than she has been in months. I’d wondered if it was because she was with you.
” When she focused again on his face, the concern in her expression grew.
Then a gasp escaped her. “Oh, she did mention a former client who won’t leave her alone.
She wasn’t afraid of him, per say, but she was concerned. ”
The bottom fell out of his stomach. “Who was it?”
“I think she said his name was Mr. Littleton.”
Damn and blast. The same man he’d run off twice before. “Was he here tonight?”
“Littleton?” Foxcroft scowled. “The name doesn’t sound familiar, so I didn’t invite him.” He looked at his sister. “Did you add a name at the last minute.”
“Of course not.” Shadows haunted her eyes. “Especially not someone Hannah was wary of. She already has no use for society in general.”
Foxcroft nodded. “This rout was mostly for club members because I’ll be leaving for my country estate soon for the Christmastide holidays, and my fiancée will accompany me.” Yet he didn’t seem all that excited about the endeavor.
“Shit. Littleton snuck in here and took her, didn’t he?”
“It’s possible.” Foxcroft shrugged. “Everyone was busy and having a good time, and we were closeted away for a good hour or so. That probably worked to his advantage, if it was indeed Littleton who abducted her.”
The panic in his chest rose until he was nearly frantic and needed action. “Let’s assume he did sneak in. Where the hell would he have taken her?”
Lady Catherine frowned. “Hannah mentioned to me that he would continually talk to her about wanting to grow old with her and watch the geese on a pond like she enjoyed at Hyde Park.” She shook her head as the worry in her eyes intensified.
“She confided that she didn’t want to find herself alone with him again, and that she would need to avoid the park because he might lurk there. ”
“Fuck.” Then heat rushed up the back of his throat as he peered at the lady. “I apologize for the vulgarity, but I’ll wager Littleton has taken her to Hyde Park. I warned him away from her there the last time.”
I should have put a ball through his head at that time for daring to bother her.
“Don’t apologize, Captain.” She shoved at his arm. “Go! If this Mr. Littleton has indeed forced Hannah away from this townhouse, you need to rescue her.”
“Agreed.” Foxcroft nodded.
Evan wrenched his pocket watch out from his waistcoat to check the time.
It would cut everything close, and he checked the time.
He had to make a decision, for every moment counted since he didn’t know exactly when Hannah was spirited away, but the end game with his brother was coming to a head.
In fact, in an hour, he would need to seek James out for the duel.
At least he would already be in the vicinity.
“Foxcroft, do you come? I’ll need a carriage.”
The other man nodded. “Of course. Thornton and Ravenhurst can go separately in his carriage. Shall we bring pistols?”
“Since I’ve asked you to be my second later, I think you already know the answer to that question.” Then he pocketed his watch. “Lady Catherine, please remain here in the event we’re wrong. If Hannah is somewhere in the vicinity and she comes back, let her know what has happened.”
“I will.” The lady nodded. “Do be careful. Hannah will be beside herself if anything horrid happens to you.”
He gave her a tight but small grin. “Here’s hoping the night will end in success.” How that was measured, he didn’t quite know, but the task right now was to retrieve Hannah.