Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
It was the only other option that made sense—but his gut rejected it.
Ashley blinked, confused. “No. She would have told me. We were going to walk in the gardens later.”
Sebastian scrubbed a hand through his hair. “She’s not in the stables either. I thought—I don’t know. Someone said they saw her heading there.”
Thomas straightened, frowning. “So she left the house, but there’s no sign of her in the stables, and no one’s seen her since?”
Sebastian’s mouth tightened. “Exactly.”
Ashley stood. “Are you certain—?”
“Yes!” he snapped, then immediately softened. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—just… something’s wrong. I know it.”
A silence fell, heavy and pulsing with tension.
Then Rotheworth and Lady Charlene stepped into the room, brows raised at the gathering.
“What’s happened?” the man asked.
“Maddie’s missing,” Thomas said. “We’re trying to figure out where she’s gone.”
“How can that be?” Lady Charlene asked. She eyed Sebastian. “Why isn’t she with you?”
Sebastian’s chest tightened. For a moment, he should’ve been surprised they knew. But no—he should have expected it. If he weren’t so worried, he’d be flattered Maddie had told them. But there was no time for that now.
“If we’re all here, where could she have gone?” Ashley pressed.
Rotheworth nodded slowly. “I’m not sure, but I do know Paisley left the estate just under an hour ago. Took a carriage. Bumped my shoulder on the way out—with that air about him.”
Thomas made wide eyes and groaned.
Sebastian’s head snapped toward him. “What?”
“Yes.” Rotheworth crossed to the decanter and poured himself a drink, as if this were any ordinary conversation. “I saw it myself. Polished black carriage. Looked like he was in a rush.”
Sebastian took a slow, deliberate step forward. “Did he say anything?”
“Not to me. I didn’t think too much of it.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “Wait… do you think…?”
Lady Charlene shook her head. “Surely not…”
Thomas turned to Sebastian. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Sebastian’s voice came out low and rough, like gravel ground beneath a boot. “He would. If he thought he had no other chance, if he was desperate enough, he’d find a way to get her alone. To trap her.”
Ashley’s hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes were wide, shimmering. “Maddie would never meet Paisley alone. And someone would have seen if he carried her off—kicking and screaming—someone would have heard.”
Sebastian said nothing. His mind turned the idea over like a knife in his hand.
Not if she went willingly. Not if she didn’t know.
“Oh dear,” Lady Charlene said softly. “Do you think he forged a note?”
The floor seemed to tilt beneath him. Sebastian froze. His breath stopped.
That was exactly what Maddie would respond to, some cheeky invite…
His voice dropped to a whisper. “He could have. And if she thought it was from me…”
“She’d go,” Ashley breathed. Her voice cracked with certainty. “She’d go without question.”
“Hold on,” Rotheworth said. “Do you truly believe Paisley would do something like this?”
“Yes.”
The word dropped like a cannon shot.
Sebastian’s jaw tensed. His pulse surged with cold dread. Even if they were wrong, that would be fine. But if they were right—
“Then we haven’t a moment to lose.”
Thomas was already at the door. “We’ll check the route to town.”
Sebastian was right behind him, his strides swift and silent.
Maddie, where are you?
He turned to Ashley, every muscle tight with dread. “What does Paisley want with Maddie?”
Ashley’s lips parted—but no words came. She looked stricken. When she finally spoke, it was only a whisper. “There’s been talk.”
She bit her lip hard, as if to keep the rest inside.
Lady Charlene stepped in, her tone low and grim. “There’s been… a jest.”
Sebastian’s gut dropped. “What jest?” His voice scraped out, hollow with dread.
Charlene winced. “Her mother and his. And the two of them.” She sucked her lower lip between her teeth, as though ashamed to say it aloud.
His pulse roared in his ears.
“But Maddie would never take it seriously,” Ashley rushed to say, her voice cracking. “Not since…” Her hand moved vaguely, gesturing toward Sebastian. Her eyes shimmered with guilt.
Of course, he thought, jaw clenching. They all knew.
And yet.
Paisley…
Sebastian turned toward Thomas. “He wouldn’t—” The rest snagged in his throat. It was too dark a thought, too monstrous.
Thomas rose slowly, his expression carved from stone. He didn’t need to speak. The look in his eyes was enough.
Sebastian’s stomach knotted as a single, brutal truth slammed into him.
We’re already too late.
“We need to save her.” Thomas made for the door.
“Now,” Sebastian said, voice grim. If Paisley had done this, he wouldn’t draw it out. He’d have everything already planned and in place. He wouldn’t leave anything to chance again—not after he lost a wager with Linsey when his friend married Lady Ashley. “We check every church first.”
Rotheworth stilled. “You think he has a special license?”
“I think the rogue planned this.” Sebastian’s eyes blazed. “And if he means to make her his by force, he’ll have to kill me first. And nothing—and nobody—can help him if he’s laid a finger on her.”
Ashley’s voice trembled. “We must leave immediately!”
Thomas was already issuing orders to a footman in the hall. Rotheworth tossed back his brandy and crossed to the door. “Agreed.”
“I’m coming too,” Lady Charlene declared, chin lifted in a stubborn fashion.
“Of course,” Rotheworth said. “The men will ride ahead, you and Lady Ashley can follow in a carriage.”
Sebastian’s jaw flexed. He nodded once. “We’ll start with the churches within ten miles. One of them will have seen him. If we don’t find them by nightfall—”
“We’ll keep riding,” Rotheworth said grimly. “Church by church, house by house. We’ll find them.”
Charlene’s voice shook with barely restrained fury. “And when we do, I want the first slap.”
“No, the first slap is mine,” Lady Ashley said. “You can have the second.”
Sebastian gave a hard nod. “After I break his skull.”
He stormed from the room, rage and dread propelling him faster than reason. Behind him, the household erupted into motion—coats grabbed, boots stamped, doors flung wide.
But in his heart, only one thing mattered.
Maddie was gone.
And he would bring her back—or die trying.