A Little Bit Scandalous Page 0,75

dear. No one in London knows of my relation to Mr. Lamb. That isn’t even his real name,” Hildy said.

Caroline didn’t argue. The woman was quite clearly mad so there would be no point in discussing this any further. But Caroline knew Roe would find her. He’d have to, he’d proposed, certainly that mean he cared somewhat for her.

Hildy glanced at Caroline. “Are you good?”

“I am.” Caroline looked from one of them to the next. This conversation was absurd. How could they calmly discuss this? “I can count the cards, figure out the probabilities, make my plays based on that,” Caroline said.

Hildy waved her hand. “I don’t care how you do it. I just want you to do it.”

“So if she earns back your money, then you shall give me my inheritance?” Mr. Lamb asked. “Allow me to purchase a decent house. I tire so of living in that tiny, dirty flat.”

“We shall see,” Hildy said.

…

Later that evening when Caroline still had not returned home, Roe’s mother came to him quite concerned.

“She was very distressed this morning after your wretched display of masculinity. Honestly, Roe, she deserves much better, you said so yourself.”

“It is done now, Mother, there is nothing I can do to rectify it.” Had he to do it again he would have brought up marriage in a slightly more sensitive way. But he’d been so damned afraid she’d tell him no that he hadn’t given her an option. Once he’d decided to marry her, the thought of not having her for his wife filled him with dread. But now she seemed to be gone.

So it was that Roe found himself standing in her darkened townhome. She was not there, nor was there any sign of her. He went to Rodale’s and made a quick run through the back room, but she was nowhere to be found. In fact, the room was rather empty. So then he quickly made his way to his Aunt Aggie’s house. As he walked into the blue parlor, he spotted Boomer sitting in a wing-backed chair, reading.

“Just the man I wanted to see,” Roe said.

Boomer looked up at him over his book. The man looked at Aggie and she shrugged.

“Have you seen Caroline?”

Boomer shook his head.

“Is she missing?” Aggie asked, a frown furrowing her brow. “Is Millie simply beside herself with worry?”

“Yes, my mother is quite concerned, but I don’t think Caroline is missing. I suspect she’s gone to play again.” Perhaps she’d decided she needed to win the rest of the money she needed so she could follow her plans of moving out and living on her own devices. His mother had told him earlier when he’d returned from making arrangements for their wedding license that Caroline had left and she’d been distressed, claiming she wanted to be alone for while. That had been more than six hours ago and no one had seen her since.

Damn her stubborn hide. He would find a way for her to continue to play if it was that important to her. And she could keep all her bloody winnings. He couldn’t have her sneaking away though. Then a sickening feeling hit him. What if Justin had been correct and Nigel Lamb had recognized her? He could have come after her, and she could very well be in danger.

“Do you know anyone else I can ask?” Roe asked. “Anyone else who might know where she is?”

“Finley,” Boomer said.

“The gossiping butler, right?” Roe asked. “Caroline told me about him. Where would I find him now?”

“He wouldn’t be at Rodale’s because he’s working. Lord Bromley’s townhome.” Boomer came to his feet. “I’m coming with you.”

The ride to Lord Bromley’s seemed to last an eternity. He’d been prepared to find her at Rodale’s. He’d been prepared to catch her in Grey’s disguise, sitting there playing. He’d have been angry, but at least she would be safe. But it simply wasn’t like Caroline to run away. Even when she’d left before, after her proposal to him, she’d told him she was going.

If Lamb had her, though, there was no telling where she’d be. In all of his investigations of the man, Roe had been unable to locate a residential address for him. Roe made a quick stop off at Dover House earlier in the day because he wanted to check in with Mrs. Hancock and let her know that Mr. Lamb was being investigated, and that she should report back to Roe any unusual goings on.

At the time Roe hadn’t known