A Rogue to the Rescue (The Rogue Chronicles #4) - Lana Williams Page 0,72
again, that would be pressure of a different sort and would only leave him wondering.
At last her gaze returned to his, holding steady on him. “I would like to marry you as well.” She held up a finger. “With one condition.”
“Which is?” He was willing to agree to anything to convince her to remain his. But he waited with bated breath all the same.
“If either of us should decide we won’t suit, we will be honest and share that with the other person.”
“Of course.” He already knew he wouldn’t change his mind. Thank goodness he wasn’t standing. His legs wouldn’t hold him as they were weak with relief. “I agree.”
Her reserved expression made him wonder if he should offer her a handshake to seal their agreement. How had what he hoped to be a confirmation of their relationship shifted to something that felt like a business dealing?
“Perhaps it would be best for us to wait a bit longer to announce our betrothal then,” he suggested, hoping she’d disagree.
She nodded almost reluctantly.
Why did he feel as if he’d disappointed her?
“Good morning.” Caroline entered the room with Richard at her side. Her steps slowed as she glanced between the two of them as if sensing the tension in the air.
“And to you.” Daniel rose to greet her and nodded at his brother.
“Come to drink my coffee again, eh?” Richard asked, seemingly unaware anything was amiss.
“Mine is still better, but yours will do in a pinch.”
“Before I was expecting, I mixed a bit of coffee into my warm chocolate,” Caroline advised Beatrice. “I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, coffee no longer seems to agree with me.”
“You don’t care for fish anymore either,” Richard added as the butler arrived with their plates.
“One has to wonder if that means your child won’t care for those things either.” Daniel smiled at Beatrice but the one she returned was only lukewarm. Blast it all.
After breakfast, a footman brought in the post.
“Another letter for you, Beatrice.” Caroline handed her the envelope.
“It must be from Sarah, telling me of her travel plans.” But from her expression as she studied the handwriting, Daniel wondered if it was from someone else.
She quickly opened the letter. “Oh dear. Sarah arrived in London yesterday, according to her mother.” She stared at Daniel. “And she intended to go to the same registry office that I mentioned in my letter.”
“But you told her you didn’t like that one,” Caroline protested.
“Yes, but apparently she still thought it was a good place to start.” The worry in Beatrice’s eyes brought Daniel the same concern. “I should’ve told her the truth.”
“To what end?” Caroline asked. “The fewer people who know what happened the better. We agreed on that.”
Beatrice shook her head, clearly not convinced. “Perhaps her mother has it wrong. Why wouldn’t she contact me upon her arrival?”
“She might yet do so,” Daniel said. “If not, there has to be a way to find her.” He glanced at Richard, but his brother shook his head.
“I’m not certain how,” Richard said. “She could’ve gone anywhere.”
“I need to visit the registry office and see if she’s been there.” Beatrice rose, the letter still in hand.
“Allow me to do so.” Daniel’s stomach sank when Beatrice shook her head.
“You don’t know what she looks like.”
“Then I’ll accompany you.”
“Very well. I’ll get my things.”
Daniel shared a look with Richard. He had a terrible feeling about the situation.
Chapter Sixteen
“Beatrice, wait.” Daniel’s plea had Beatrice turning back to face him, chin lifting. “What if she’s not there?” He pushed back his chair to stand, what she assumed was disapproval evident in his narrowed eyes.
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Since she arrived only yesterday, had nowhere to go, and knows no one other than me, chances are she went directly to a registry office, just as I did. That makes it the best place to begin the search. If she were coming to Aberland House, we would’ve seen her by now.”
Her thoughts raced at the possibilities, one too grim to consider. Surely what had befallen Beatrice wouldn’t happen to Sarah as well. Beatrice couldn’t bear the thought.
“If she’s not there,” Beatrice continued, “I’ll find a way to look at the registry’s ledger to see if her name is listed.”
“If the same clerk is working, he will recognize you. He won’t tell you anything, let alone allow you to see the ledger.”
“After the way you frightened him, I don’t think you’ll have any luck either,” she argued.