Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,51
honor.”
The two men stood there, looking at each other. So many words remained unsaid, but they did not need to be spoken. Not at all.
Eventually, the moment ended, and Stephen walked away.
Thomas followed closely behind, and, in no time, they reached the dining room.
He was the first to arrive. He took his seat at the end of the table and waited.
There was no use trying to prepare himself to see her. She would take his breath away, regardless.
As the clock struck six, he heard footsteps. Quickly, he shifted in his seat, squaring his shoulders, and raising his chin.
Soon, the footsteps entered the dining room, and it took all his willpower not to turn his head.
Eventually, she appeared in front of him.
Already smiling, he began to rise to greet her, but, as he looked up, he froze in his seat.
“Miss Mitchell!”
“Your Grace,” she greeted, sinking into a curtsy. He turned his head then, looking to see if Lady Judith was not far behind. She was nowhere in sight.
“Your lady wis not joining us tonight?” he asked.
“My lady? I have not seen her since noon. Why? I supposed she was with you.”
Stephen’s heart flew to his throat, and his eyes widened in alarm.
“With me? I haven’t seen her since lunch.”
Miss Mitchell’s face settled into a frown.
“Well, that is strange. I have just been to her chamber. She wasn’t there either. I know for certain she isn’t in the garden, or the atrium for that matter—she always leaves when it begins to grow dark.”
Stephen could no longer hear the maid’s words.
Lady Judith was nowhere to be found. She had gone missing!
With all thoughts of dinner forgotten, he rose to his feet.
“I want everyone in this house searching for Lady Judith. Send men to ride out into the fields. Check her chamber again, the atrium, the music room, the garden, the library! Every nook and cranny of Dunham, I want everyone searching. I want her found!”
He did not have to repeat himself. Before he finished giving the orders, everyone had begun to move about.
Fear filled him, but he did not let it cripple him. When he had not seen her all afternoon, he had assumed she was in her chamber, or with Miss Mitchell.
Goodness! What if she had ridden out into the fields and something had happened to her?
An accident? What if at that very moment, her very life was bleeding out of her, and he had locked himself in his study, believing it would be nice to give her time to herself?
No! He would not lose her too! He would not lose another person he loved!
He marched to the stables first, determined to speak with the groom.
“Roy! Where is Lady Judith?”
Roy looked so confused. “The Lady Judith? I do not know, Your Grace. I have not laid eyes upon her today. Is anything the matter?”
“She is missing. We have not yet found her anywhere. I would not put it past her to have taken a ride. Perhaps she has been met with terrible danger.”
Thomas was the one who spoke. “I would not be so quick to believe the worst, Your Grace. We must keep our thoughts hopeful.”
Hopeful. He was hopeful. Hope was all he had. It was the only reason he had not lost his wits!
“I can assure you, Your Grace, the lady did not ride today. Enora is safe in the stable. Lady Judith only rides the mare, and she wouldn’t leave without informing one of the stable hands of her whereabouts. Besides, all the horses are safely inside.”
“Well then, she must be somewhere!” he thundered. “She could not have left Dunham now, could she?”
As he said those words, he felt chill come upon him, as though he had been doused with cold water.
“Could she?” This time, his voice came out in a whisper.
“No, she wouldn’t have left. Not without Miss Mitchell, and not alone.” No. She would not have simply left him.
He felt the darkness begin to close in, but he was too weak to fight it.
The shadows appeared, and he could not look away.
Just then, he heard a voice, calling out to him in the distance.
“Your Grace! She’s been found!”
Immediately, the shadows vanished, the darkness fleeing in their wake.
He turned to see one of his servants running towards him.
The maid stopped as she reached him, taking her time to catch her breath.
“Where is she?” Stephen demanded. He had no patience.
“In the library. Sarah says she remembers taking some biscuits to her. As we speak, Amy has gone to find her.”