Page 14 of A Flurry for a Duke

“Hope.”

“Oh, she must have gone off to the apothecary I mentioned to her.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s at the end of the road.” Astrid pointed in a direction where visibility severely diminished.

“Why did you tell her to go there?”

“One of the gentlemen I met earlier mentioned that it had some nice products.” She winked at him. God, he really didn’t want to know what kind of products were in the store. Furthermore, he really did not want to know when Astrid had met and flirted with theniceman. Where did she find all these men?

“Which gentleman?” Isaac was growing frantic. All he could think about was the note. He knew Hope had been threatened. She had tried to tell him it was nothing, but something in his gut told him that there was more to it this time. Berating himself, he clenched his fists and then grabbed at his hair, tugging on his scalp until the pain pricked him. He had vowed to keep her safe. He was their family’s closest friend. Her brothers trusted him. Isaac had never felt like more of a lowly worm than now. He had known, yet he had let down his guard. He had been thinking too much of how to prevent a future note from coming than to pay attention to the present note. What a fool!

Adrenaline surged through him. He recalled her precious body pressed up against his. Plied to him. She was made for him. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but suddenly he was desperate to find out.

He grabbed Astrid’s upper arms and shook her once. “Which man, Astrid?”

“Isaac, you’re scaring me.” Her eyes darted around. “He was…umm…I can’t see him anymore. He seemed nice enough.”

“Nice enough? That’s not good enough. They might have taken her.”

“Who?”

“Never mind.” Isaac plunked his sister down. Without any instructions or explanations, he took off toward the apothecary. In his panic, he hadn’t summoned anyone to join him. Not even one single burly footman.

Chapter 8

ISAACMADEITDOWNto the apothecary short of breath. He scanned the area. Flung open various shop doors one after the other. No Hope.

Then he looked up and paid attention to the sounds of a carriage rumbling out of the village. She had to be in there. It was nearly out of sight. He had to go now.

Realizing he would need a horse to catch them, he wildly looked around. Seeing a rider dismount, he rushed over.

“Did you see who was in that carriage?”

“Can’t say I did, sorry sir.”

“It’s Your Grace.”

Shock crossed the man’s face.

“Apologies.”

“You didn’t see anything?” Isaac tried again.

“Two men and a lady. I think she was wearing a blue dress.”

It was Hope. Relief flooded through him. At least he knew where she was. There was no time to formulate a plan. He needed to chase after her. He couldn’t lose sight of her.

“I need your horse.”

“So do I,” the man replied. “This is an award-winning horse. I’ve got trophies lined up on my shelves thanks to this one.”

“What good are more trophies when the one woman who matters needs me?” Isaac’s words shook through himself like an earthquake. The plates of his heart shifted, but he couldn’t reflect on it in the moment.

“I need your horse now,” he practically shouted. A duke never shouted. But right now he was not a duke. He was a man desperate to protect. “That woman is in trouble. You have my word that I'll return your horse here as soon as I can.”

When he offered the man money, all feeble protests ceased.

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