Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,55

least. “Surely, she cannot be...”

“What is it that you are speaking of, Miss Mullins?” Miss Jamieson asked, sounding quite exasperated. “I do not understand!”

Delilah turned to her friend, shaking her head. “There is too much to explain at present,” she said, still wanting to keep as much of what had been happening to herself. “We must find Lady Newfield. I believe, however, that you and I, Lord Coventry, should be very careful around Lord and Lady Parrington, as well as Lord Chesterton.”

Lord Coventry held her gaze for a long moment, his expression troubled, and then, finally, he nodded. “I understand.”

“We cannot be certain of anything as yet,” Delilah reminded him, reaching out to take his hand in hers so that she might comfort him in some way. “But I do think that it would be wise to be very cautious indeed.”

He nodded, his brow still furrowed, and worry written into the grooved lines of his forehead. “Then we should go to the carriage, yes?”

“It is the only place I can think to look,” Delilah answered, feeling herself growing a little desperate. “But I fear she will not be there, for the expectation is that I shall be present alone, seeking her and eager to depart so that she might recover at home. When I reach the carriage, I do not expect her actually to be present at all.”

“Then we shall attend together,” Miss Jamieson answered, her voice determined even though Delilah knew she would still be confused by all that was going on. “The three of us together will ensure that you are quite safe, Miss Mullins.”

Closing her eyes for a moment, Delilah nodded and tried to smile. “I shall be contented with any plan, just so long as we find my godmother.”

“We will,” Lord Coventry answered as Delilah took Miss Jamieson’s arm and began to slowly make her way across the ballroom.

Chapter Eleven

Timothy set his jaw as he followed after Miss Mullins and Miss Jamieson. He had not enjoyed this evening thus far, having been the center of attention from the moment he had stepped inside. He had little doubt that Miss Mullins had found it difficult also, for she would have been noticed by almost everyone.

His jaw worked hard as he battled the sudden anger that had burned in his veins when the lovely Lady Parrington—or the once lovely Lady Margaret—had come to speak to him. The vile words that had come from her lips had not only shocked him but made him question, for what was the second time, what he had ever seen in her. He had once wanted to marry her. There was none of that in him now. Rather, all that was left was a deep sense of regret that he had ever allowed her into his heart.

Stepping out into the hallway, he saw Miss Mullins and Miss Jamieson hurry forward, although he had to avoid one or two others seemingly returning to the ballroom. Thinking to catch up with the ladies as soon as he could, Timothy hesitated for a moment, getting the attention of a nearby footman.

“You there,” he said as the footman snapped to attention. “Have you been standing here for most of the evening?”

The footman nodded, his face impassive. “Yes, my lord.”

“And did you see an older lady leaving recently?” Timothy asked as the two ladies disappeared out of the house. “She was making for her carriage, I believe.”

The footman shook his head, looking a little confused. “I did not,” he answered slowly, frowning. “There has not been an older lady alone leaving the house.”

Timothy made to follow after the ladies, only for something the footman had said suddenly slamming into his mind. “Wait a moment,” he said slowly, coming back to look at the footman. “Do you mean to say that a lady such as I have described left the house with someone else?”

Nodding, the footman cleared his throat, his hands behind his back. “She was accompanied by a lady and a gentleman, my lord,” he said, looking confused. “I presumed they were—”

“Thank you,” Timothy said sharply before moving quickly towards the front door to catch up with both Miss Mullins and Miss Jamieson. To his relief, they had not gone far, for they were both standing on the steps that led down from the house to the road, staring straight ahead at a carriage that was waiting for them. The door was open and, as Timothy hurried forward, he saw that there were no occupants inside.

“What has happened?”