Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,106

at once.

When he approached the vehicle, his driver rose to his feet at the reins. “My lord....”

Seger raised a hand. “Not now, Mitchell.”

Not giving the driver another thought, Seger opened the door of his coach. His eyes darted from one seat across to the other. Clara was gone.

He stepped back and looked up at Mitchell. “Where is the marchioness?”

The man’s face was lined with worry. “Begging your pardon, my lord. She slipped out of the coach so quietly, I didn’t notice until she was driving away. She got into a hack, my lord.”

Panic ignited in Seger’s veins. He made a fist and pressed it against the side of the coach. “Which way did she go?”

The man pointed. “That way.”

Seger ran around the back of the coach to try and see down the street. “How long ago?”

“Just a few minutes.”

There were a number of carriages in the street. There was very little possibility of finding hers among them.

Seger bolted around the back and got in. “Take me back to Rawdon House.”

He said a prayer that she had simply gone home.

Chapter 23

Seger pushed through the door of his London house and did not stop to remove his hat or coat. He dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and went straight to Clara’s boudoir.

“Clara!” He knocked once on her door and entered, only to find the room empty. He then went to his own bedchamber and looked there, then headed for the drawing room.

He stopped in the open doorway when he saw Quintina and Gillian both sitting demurely in chairs, embroidery on their laps and a tray of tea and scones on the teacart.

“Seger, you look troubled,” Quintina said sweetly. “Whatever is the matter?”

“Did Clara come home?”

She laid her embroidery aside and stood. “No. Why? Gracious, I hope she hasn’t gone off with that deplorable Mr. Tucker again. Is that what has you worried? How can we help? Gillian, did Clara mention anything to you? Did she say where she was going this morning?”

Gillian opened her mouth to reply, but Seger moved fully into the room and stopped her with a look. “Don’t even bother.”

“I beg your pardon?” Gillian said, as if she were bewildered by his tone.

He stood before his stepmother, glaring down at her coldly. “Clara is not with Gordon Tucker, nor did she ever receive him in this house.”

“Seger, how can you take Clara’s side, when she has been dishonest and—”

“She has been wronged, Quintina. By both you and Gillian, and I will see the two of you gone from this house by nightfall.”

Both women were shocked into silence.

Quintina managed to gather her composure. “Seger, you married Clara impulsively, without a clear understanding of her nature. We now know that she is deceitful, and she has seduced you into believing her. It is not too late. We can get you out of this.”

He shook his head. “No, madam. You are the deceitful one. You destroyed me years ago when you came between Daphne and me and informed me that she was dead. You will not do so again.”

“I did not come between you. It was Daphne’s choice to leave, and you cannot blame me for her death.”

He took another slow step toward Quintina. His voice became hushed, almost a whisper. “We both know that Daphne is very much alive.”

All the sounds in the room—the ticking of the clock, the snapping of the fire in the grate—seemed to recede into nothingness.

Eyes wide, Quintina stared up at Seger. “I know no such thing.”

“I’ve heard enough of your lies.” He turned his steely gaze to Gillian. “And I’ve seen enough cruelty. Clara is my wife, and her happiness is my primary concern.”

Quintina made a desperate move to grasp his arm. “You are not thinking clearly, Seger. Jealousy over this Tucker fellow has turned your head.”

He moved toward the door. “There has never been more clarity in my mind than there is at this moment.” He stopped, however, when Gillian tossed her embroidery onto the floor and shouted at him.

“It wasn’t my doing, Seger! Quintina was the one who talked me into everything!”

He recognized the desperation in her voice, saw it in her eyes, but it was too late for that. “You have a mind of your own, Gillian. You could have used it.” He faced his stepmother. “I will wire your brother in Wales and inform him that you and Gillian are on your way to his home. I will also ensure that you are settled with an adequate