Page 47 of My Dangerous Duke

“Darling, wait, do you not want to talk some more?” Penny asked, stilling Eleanor’s hand before she could pick up her first knife. “You were starting to open up.”

Eleanor looked over at her, her eyes full of raw emotion, and Penny’s look of worry disappeared.

“Right then,” Penny agreed, lifting her hand away from Eleanor’s.

Eleanor picked up the knife, palmed it, then took her aim. As the tip buried itself into the top center of the board, Penny began to clap behind her.

“Good throw, darling!” Penny praised eagerly. “That’s it, let him have it!”

“She is not here, Your Grace,” Victor Langley stated, sounding almost bored with Xander’s line of questioning.

Rage pooled in Xander’s heart and he clenched his fists. It would not do to just go around throwing punches and he knew it. At least, not anymore.

“Have you heard from her?” Xander asked, his tone tight and short. “She has been gone for a few days now and I have not received any word.”

Xander knew that he should have never let her leave that day Richard ruined everything. He should have stayed his anger, followed her, and explained that he had fallen in love with her. The problem was, he had not realized such a thing until after she had left him. Now, he was a in fury trying to find her and bring her back.

“I have not,” Victor replied in his bored tone, “Which is a blessing. It seems whatever Eleanor touches is destroyed. Even if you are done with her, I do not want her back in my home.”

Victor waved to his butler to shut the door before Xander could snarl back his reply. His entire body vibrated and begged to slam his fists against the door. But it would not do, and he knew it. The only thing hecoulddo was go on to her sister’s house, in hopes that she was there.

“Your Grace?”

Xander looked wearily up at his valet, and the man’s shoulders sagged. He did not have to say anything for him to understand; Eleanor was not there.

“Youwillfind her, Your Grace,” Jared insisted, letting loose his defeated posture. “I am sure of it.”

“I do not know where else to look,” Xander confessed, pressing his knuckles to his lips as he peered out the carriage window.

He had been everywhere. To her sister’s, to Lady Cordelia’s, Lady Marina’s- even to his grandmother’s house in Bath. He had spoken with Rhysand at the club and the man said he had not seen her. If she was not with them or her family, where could she be?

For a moment, his thoughts briefly flitted to Patrick Hislop. She had affection for the man that was plain, but would she trust him enough to run to? A dark, possessive feeling took over Xander as he thought of Eleanor running to him for protection.Protection from you, you bastard,his conscience seethed. Xander winced inwardly and pulled himself out of thought.

“Have you checked up on Patrick Hislop?” Xander asked Jared.

Jared nodded.

“Our investigator says he left for Ireland two days before Her Grace left and has yet to return,” Jared informed him. “He was able to speak with some of the servants and they have confirmed that no lady of any sort has been to the house for months.”

Xander settled slightly, relieved to hear the information. He would still check on the house personally tomorrow, though, to be sure.

“Pardon, Your Grace,” Jared said as they neared home.

He had not said a word in hours. Neither of them had.

Xander dragged his eyes to the man and saw that his faithful valet looked just as downtrodden as he felt.

“I have never seen you this way,” Jared went on, bowing his head humbly. “It is not my business, but it is most worrying, Your Grace. If there is anything else I can do to help. Anything at all, please tell me.”

Though their relationship could and would never be familial, Xander felt a surge of appreciation for Jared. He was a faithful valet, always had been, and he was grateful for his help more so now than ever.

“I am going to go into the house on the chance that she has returned,” Xander replied, “But if you could get the driver to gather some fresh horses and then head into town, it would bemost helpful. Check around the market, the shops. Listen for any gossip that might lead us to her.”

“It is done,” Jared replied solemnly, opening the carriage door for his master.

Inside the manor, Xander paced through the rooms one by one. Mrs. Gaines insisted that Eleanor had not returned home during his absence, but he needed to check for himself. The house was vast, with well over twenty-five rooms. But he checked them all, his heart sinking every time he found each one lacking her presence.

He had been wrong,sowrong about wanting to get out of their marriage. He should have given them a chance. Should have givenhera chance. He should not have fought what his mind, body, and heart were telling him. But he had, and now she was gone.

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